Guidelines for Lights

Be a part of the Nights of Lights

As a St. Augustine resident or business owner, you can participate in the Nights of Lights. In fact, much of the credit for the continued success of the Nights of Lights goes to the hundreds of private property owners throughout St. Augustine who voluntarily participate in the event. Because they join in, the City truly becomes a city of light. 

General Guidelines

Private property owners are asked to carefully install and to conduct regular inspections of all lights and to seek professional assistance where necessary to ensure safe and professional displays. The City of St. Augustine has worked with its contractor, Angels in the Architecture, to develop basic guidelines or standards to ensure consistent quality and maximum safety for all of its installations.  

  • Light line: 18-2 commercial grade line in either green or white. Commercial grade insulation suitable for long-term exterior exposure. 
  • Bulbs: C-7 watt long-life bulbs with nickel backing, Clear bulbs only. 
  • Electrical hook-ups: Never place extension cords down the face of a structure or run a power line across roof.  It is unsightly and unsafe. When necessary, have a professional install a new power source to support installation. 
  • Method of application: Light line must be attached with either a 3M electrical tab and zip tie, or a rust-proof staple (Monel). Consideration must be given to the nature of the property when determining method of application to prevent damage to the structure. 
  • Tabs:  When using a 3M tab, the tab must be placed directly under each socket and not between sockets or line.  To ensure a tight and secure line, no sockets should be skipped.  Use clear electrical zip ties (8 mm) to fasten each socket to each tab.  Selfadhesive 3M tabs must then be caulked on two (2) sides (at a minimum) with a clear adhesive as backup for each tab. 
  • Staples: When using Monel staples, the staple must NOT penetrate insulation as this will cause a short in the line.  Each socket requires two (2) staples, one on each side. The staples must be placed a maximum of one inch (1”) and a minimum of one quarter inch (1/4”) from each side of each socket. If staple is too close to the socket the staple will pull on the socket contacts. 
  • Tab-less installations: To protect historical structures and to extend the life of the light displays themselves, the City is increasingly making use of tab-less installations. Displays are pre-formed using lights attached to PVC pipe which are fastened to a structure during the season and removed afterward. Tab-less displays eliminate damage caused by tabs being affixed to structures or by staples puncturing wood surfaces

City Ordinance

To maintain the consistent quality and professional standards of the Nights of Lights, the City has enacted ordinances relating to the displays.  

Code of the City of St. Augustine Chap. 3, Art. II, Sec. 3-23 (e) (6)  

(6) a. Only clear colorless or white lights may be permitted for the exterior display of seasonal or holiday lights within the historic districts, except single-family residences within the HP-1 district.  

b. The exterior display of seasonal or holiday lights within historic zones is allowed only during the holiday season from the third Saturday of November of each year through January 31 of the ensuing year. The lights shall not be illuminated between February 1 and the third Friday of November of each year. The City Commission, by Resolution, may extend the last date for display of the lights to the Sunday following January 31 of any year. 

c. Commencing 1996 and each year thereafter, the lights must be removed from the exterior of the premises below ten (10) feet from either the grade of the right-of-way, sidewalk or the ground immediately adjacent to the building, whichever is applicable, no later than thirty (30) days from the close of the designated holiday season.  

d. Section (c) hereinabove shall not be applicable to properties within the entry corridors, unless such properties are also within the historic districts.