Ordinance Chapt 108-Sea Turtle - Laserfiche WebLink

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r TO: VIA: FROM: DATE: RE: City of Sunny Isles Beach 18070 Collins Avenue Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160 (305) 947-0606 City Hall (305) 949-3113 Fax MEMORANDUM Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners Stan Morris, City Manager Amy Canales, Planning& Zoning Director February 19, 2026 Ordinance Amending City's Code of Ordinances, Chapter 108 Article III Revising Sea Turtle Protection Standards RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of this ordinance. REASONS: This ordinance is being presented as an update to the City's current codes for sea turtle protection. In the State of Florida, thousands of baby sea turtles die every year due to artificial lighting from properties along the coast. Artificial lighting disorients hatchlings and attracts them.to go into areas dangerous to them, rather than going into the ocean. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) is required by statute to establish guidelines that help local governments reduce the impact that artificial lighting has to sea turtle hatchlings. They have created a model ordinance with the latest safety guidelines for municipalities to implement. To date, numerous municipalities have adopted standards based on this model ordinance to keep up with the latest sea turtle lighting standards. The City's existing sea turtle lighting codes were originally adopted in 2009, with minimal updates since. As part of their annual inspections, Miami -Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department Sea Turtle Conservation Program has identified many properties within our City that are in violation of sea turtle lighting standards. By updating the City's current codes with FWC's model ordinance, we will reduce the impact from new and existing development properties within our jurisdictional beaches. The ordinance requires the exterior and interior lighting of all new construction proposed after adoption of the ordinance to be in compliance. Existing developments with lighting visible from the beach must bring all exterior lighting into compliance within three (3) years of adoption of the ordinance. The interior lighting of existing commercial properties, as well as the common elements of residential Item Number: 6.0 474