​It’s Sea Turtle Nesting Season

The Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program (BCSTCP) documented 3184 nests on the County's 24-mile coastline (including the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park) in 2024. Our beach is the desired nesting habitat for three species of endangered sea turtles: leatherbacks, loggerheads, and greens. It is vital that everyone does their part to ensure future successful nesting seasons on Hollywood Beach.

Sea Turtle Friendly Lighting

Lighting near the beach should be "sea turtle-friendly" and follow these three criteria established by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC):

Keep it low

• Fixtures should be mounted as low as possible to achieve their purpose

• Fixtures/bulbs should produce the lowest lumens (light output) necessary for the task

Keep it shielded

• The bulb, lamp or glowing lens should be shielded from the beach

• Interior lights should not be visible from the beach

• Close curtains, shades and blinds after sunset

Keep it long (wavelength)

• Fixtures/bulbs must produce long wavelength light (560 nm or longer) without filters, gels or lenses

• Amber and red LEDs are good examples of these types of light

Also keep in mind that even lights from cell phones can also disturb nesting and hatching sea turtles. If you visit the beach at night during nesting season, keep your cell phone safely stowed in your pocket or bag.

Turtle Friendly Lighting Recognition Program

The City of Hollywood has a Turtle Friendly Lighting Recognition Program to increase awareness and compliance with the City’s turtle-friendly lighting ordinance by way of recognition of those property owners who are certified compliant.

Hollywood’s turtle friendly lighting ordinance (§108, O-2011-07) requires that exterior lights be mounted as low in elevation as possible, shielded so that the light source is not visible from the beach, directed down and away from the beach, and have a low wattage amber or red bulb. To reduce or eliminate the visibility of interior light from the beach, tinted glass or film must be installed on north, east, and south facing doors and windows on new developments. Existing buildings can install window and door tint, move light fixtures away from windows, close the blinds and curtains, and turn off all unnecessary lights.

To receive recognition, a property must fully comply with the City’s turtle friendly lighting ordinance (§108, O-2011-07).

For information on how to apply for the Turtle Friendly Lighting Recognition Program, please visit: www.hollywoodfl.org/turtlelighting.