ST AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The City of St. Augustine wants to make sure its beloved Nights of Lights celebration stays true to its roots — and now it has a new tool to help do just that.
During its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, the St. Augustine City Commission reviewed and approved a Nights of Lights holiday illumination guidelines flyer. The one-page document is set to be distributed “far and wide” immediately, ahead of the upcoming 2026-2027 Nights of Lights season.
The city says the move comes in response to a growing trend of downtown businesses and property owners pushing the boundaries of their holiday lighting displays. In recent years, the increased intensity and creativity of those displays has drawn criticism that the installations stray from the original intent of the event — to highlight the city’s historic architecture and create a warm, classic, consistent look throughout St. Augustine.
City officials tell News4JAX the flyer is not introducing anything new.
“This is not new regulation; it is just new outreach. There have been different outreach efforts over the years,” Communications Director Melissa Wisseld said.
What the guidelines say
The flyer serves as a reminder that City Code Sec. 3-23 (e)(6) sets holiday illumination standards for commercial and institutional properties in the city’s historic preservation districts. Other sections of city code also outline regulations for illuminated and non-illuminated display signs.
Under the guidelines, white or clear lights are the only permitted option. Bright white, colored or LED lighting is prohibited. Animated, flashing or moving light effects are also banned, as are displays that form words, objects or patterns on vertical surfaces. Inflatable, mechanical, cartoon character or figurine decorations are not allowed.
Property owners are encouraged to use lighting to highlight architecture — outlining windows, doorways, rooftops and archways — and to accent outdoor features such as pillars, staircases, tree trunks and tree canopies.
Nights of Lights flyer (City of St. Augustine)Technical specs, key dates
The flyer also outlines technical specifications for compliant light strands. Commercial-grade line must be 18-2 gauge, green or white, with exterior-grade insulation. Bulbs must be C-7 watt, long-life with nickel backing in clear or warm white only.
Commercial and institutional properties in historic preservation districts may display additional holiday lighting from the first Saturday of November through the first Sunday of February, unless otherwise set by a City Commission resolution. Any lights installed below 10 feet must be removed within 30 days after Nights of Lights ends.
The city also notes that figurines, lights, signs and other attention-getting devices are regulated as advertisements under city code. Property owners are encouraged to consult the full code and city staff for applicability.
For more information, visit CityStAug.com/NOLcodes.
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