Post-storm construction must be sea turtle friendly

Charlotte County Parks & Natural Resources has reminded residents and contractors that new development/re-development construction must adhere to Charlotte County coastal lighting review and inspections, per Sea Turtle Ordinance 98-41.

Alexandria Grant, Coastal Environmental specialist for Charlotte County, said that this is a problem they encounter after every hurricane.

“Not only is there major loss in vegetation, there’s also loss in elevation due to erosion of sand from high winds or storm surge, along with loss of our dune systems,” Grant said. “We also see a lot of turnover in property management companies, realtors, residents and rental agencies. A lot of new contractors will also come in after major hurricanes, but if any repairs, remodels or new construction are done properly then the appropriate permits will be obtained. If the property or structure falls under the Charlotte County Sea Turtle Lighting Zone, their permits go through a coastal lighting review and inspection.”

The following requirements must be met: Any light visible from the beach needs to be an approved FWC lighting fixture. This means fully shielded, downward-directed and fitted with a certified sea-turtle-approved bulb. Tinted glass or film must have a visual transmittance (VT) value of 0.45 (45%) or less. This includes the seaward and shore perpendicular sides of structure. 

In addition, mount fixtures should be kept low and use the lowest bulb wattage necessary. Bulbs must be amber, orange or red which produce wavelengths of 560 nanometers or greater. 

Additional Resources and Beachfront Lighting Guidelines: myfwc.com and sccf.org/blog/2023/09/13/how-hurricanes-impact-sea-turtles/.