Advocate striving for light nuisance bylaw

A concerned citizen in Lethbridge is in favour of implementing a light nuisance bylaw. Rena Woss presented to the Community Safety Standing Policy Committee on Thursday afternoon to outline why she believes this would be a good idea. Calgary and Saskatoon have already implemented similar bylaws. Woss says if your neighbour streams light into your property, a new bylaw would give you the opportunity to protect the interior and exterior of your home.

“If a neighbour turns on a light and it streams into your bedroom and yard, there isn’t a thing you can do about it right now. With a bylaw you would be able to address it. Just like a noise bylaw. A dog is barking and you don’t care, you’re not going to call the bylaw officer. But if it does disrupt your peace and quiet, or you baby’s sleeping, there is a bylaw to address that. This would be complaint driven, just like other bylaws are.”

Woss says a potential light bylaw would also address light pollution. “There are countries that have country-wide laws to address light pollution. Because it is seen as a major driver of pollinator extinction. When you look at herbicides, pesticides, and loss of habitat. From an environmental point of view it’s really important.”

The Town of Bon Accord near Edmonton was also cited by Woss as a successful use of implementing a light nuisance bylaw.

The committee requested that city administration provide a report into the potential implication of a light nuisance bylaw by April 14th.