Guelph to restrict 'light pollution' of neighbouring properties

A restriction on “excessive” light trespass – shining from one property onto another – has received initial approval.

Meeting as the committee of the whole on Wednesday, city council unanimously approved a motion directing city staff to either create a draft bylaw restricting light trespass or propose amendments to the property standards bylaw which would accomplish the same.

“The problem just keeps getting brighter, brighter, brighter,” said Coun. Leanne Caron. “There are mountains and mountains of evidence and data about health and well-being of humans and wildlife when it comes to light pollution.”

The staff recommendation called for light trespass to be prohibited, but the committee unanimously changed the wording to “regulate.”

Council will consider ratifying the committee decision when it meets on July 23.

Councillors Christine Billings and Dan Gibson questioned whether the ban would have an impact on people decorating the outside of their homes for special occasions such as Christmas, Halloween or Diwali.

“That would be the worst thing, to have bylaw being called on people because of their celebratory lights,” said Gibson, noting he’s not interested in “policing holiday lighting. That would just be a wet blanket on the community during what are supposed to be really enjoyable times.”

In response, Doug Godfrey, the city’s general manager of operations, explained that as long as decoration lighting doesn’t shine “excessively” onto neighbouring properties, it isn’t covered by the ban.

Similarly, councillors Caron and Dominique O’Rourke inquired about separate instances of large parking lot lighting and how they would be impacted by the ban. Caron noted large lights are typically framed as a security feature.

The response from Godfrey was pretty much the same – as long as the light doesn’t travel off the property, there’s no issue under the bylaw.

Asked how the rule would be enforced, Godfrey said that will depend on the wording of the bylaw when it’s approved. 

He likened it to excessive noise restrictions, which are enforced on a complaint-driven basis.

In addition to directing staff to draft the new regulations, the committee-approved motion would see staff prepare guidelines meant to help residents understand how to reduce light pollution as well as encourage the use of “full cut-off light fixtures.”

— Richard Vivian is a senior reporter/assistant editor for Village Media's GuelphToday.