Does Guelph need a bylaw designed to reduce light pollution and what could that bylaw address?

We held two community workshops in November 2023 to share a little about the bylaw process, explore reasons the community might have for reducing excessive lighting at night and hear ideas on the development and enforcement of a possible Dark Sky bylaw or guidelines.

Based on what we heard, some level of regulations may be appropriate in Guelph so we came back to the community in January and February 2024 to ask:

• Is light pollution a problem in Guelph?
• What level of City involvement could be appropriate in managing light pollution?
• Who should any regulations apply to?

Consultation is now closed. We're reviewing the findings and will share a report of what we heard this spring, then start developing a draft bylaw.

Why a dark sky?

A Dark Sky bylaw would be a tool to reduce light pollution in Guelph. Light pollution is considered the excessive or inappropriate use of outdoor artificial light that alters the natural patterns of light and dark in ecosystems. Lowering the amount of light pollution in an area has measurable benefits for birds, bugs, bats, plants and people.

By sharing your thoughts, you’ll help to determine if a Dark Sky bylaw is something the community wants and what key considerations are needed if a bylaw is developed.

For more information or to talk with our team directly, contact:

Ashley Kassian, Program Manager, City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 3420
ashley.kassian@guelph.ca