Resident wants limits on powerful home lights

Paulson says another light shines into his dining room. He can close the blinds, but the light stays on all day and night.

“It happens to be an intense pinpoint type of light,” he says. “I get this kind of a sudden blur if I accidentally look at it.”

Paulson says he reached out to bylaw officers for help, but the city’s nuisance abatement rule on lighting sets no real limits.

He first checked the commercial bylaw, not realizing it only applies to businesses. Paulson says the rule requires full cutoff shielding, but homeowners don’t have to follow it.

“They call it directional lighting, aiming down,” Paulson says. “These are things that commercial properties are subject to, but a residential owner is not limited to any of those things.”

Paulson says the light near his house is much stronger than most homes.

“What I’m experiencing is light that’s well in excess of a normal residential light,” he says. “This is like what you would see in a parking lot.”

He says he is not the only person who notices bright lights, and that strong lights seem common in the city.

“You can notice lights on properties that are quite intense and having spillover on neighbouring properties,” he says.

Paulson says he respects property owners’ right to use lights. ” They have the right to use light on their property if they wish,” he says.

He says other bylaws include rules on shielding and light direction. They also cover which types of bulbs can be used and sometimes set brightness limits. Paulson says these rules help people know what lighting is allowed.

He says other bylaws talk about light trespass or spillover, meaning direct light from a bulb should not shine on someone else or their property.

“In my case, invading my privacy,” he says.

The City of Prince George said in a statement that it has received messages about regulating strong residential lighting.

“The correspondence is expected to be on a council agenda in November, and at that time further discussion on the topic may occur,” the City said. “We appreciate the issue being brought to our attention.”

Paulson said he wants to hear from others with similar experiences. He wants to learn from people who have dealt with light shining on their homes or properties.

“I think reasonable limitations are all that’s needed,” he says.

by Dave Branco

Resident wants limits on powerful home lights

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