Outdoor lighting in Saint-Laurent
Particularly exposed to light sources, Saint-Laurent is taking action on its territory to reduce the excessive or inappropriate use of artificial light, commonly known as light pollution.
Objectives
- To better protect the ecosystems and biodiversity on its territory
- To bolster road safety
- To improve public health
- To increase energy efficiency.
Why fight against light pollution?
The nearness of residential buildings to industrial and commercial sites can lead to a number of nuisances. The risk is all the greater in Saint-Laurent, where over 70% of its territory is devoted to industrial and commercial activities.
Just like noise, dust and vibrations, light pollution can have a negative impact on quality of life and the environment. Although artificial light is sometimes necessary for safety and for carrying out various human activities at night, it’s important to use it in a justifiable way.
Here’s why:
Already known for its negative impact on the night sky, light pollution also has adverse effects on biodiversity and ecosystems, altering the interactions between plants and pollinators or between prey and predators, and hindering foraging, reproduction or migration.
The glare generated by excessive light poses a safety risk for both pedestrians and motorists.
Light pollution wastes energy and increases the production of greenhouse gases.
The harmful effects of light pollution are also felt in terms of human health, leading to a disruption of the biological clock.
What has been done in Saint-Laurent?
On property
Since 2017, Ville de Montréal has been making the transition from sodium to light-emitting diode (LED) lighting on public property. In Saint-Laurent, 90% of the targeted equipment has already been replaced and this figure currently stands at 98% for streets. Converting to LEDs saves 60% on the monthly electricity bill.
On private property: adoption of a new bylaw
The new bylaw is based on best practices and cutting-edge approaches, including a Bureau de normalisation du Québec standard published in 2016 (4930-100 - R2023) and the experience of the Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve.
Saint-Laurent is the first municipality in Montréal to adopt such a bylaw.
- industrial sites
- commercial premises
- institutions
- large residential buildings: multi-family dwellings (h4), multi-family service dwellings (h5), multi-bedroom dwellings (h6)
- new construction or expansion of a main building
- development or redevelopment of an outdoor parking area with more than 15 spaces
- development or redevelopment of a loading and unloading area
- Colour
- Orientation
- Period
- Amount
- Define situations in which bluish light can be used.
- Direct light flows towards the ground.
- Reduce the amount of lighting on certain lighting devices after 11 p.m.
- Set the maximum amount of light according to land use.
- Signs: Direct light flows towards the ground and limit the colour of light sources to 4000 k.
- Billboards: Require reduced lighting intensity from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Greenhouses on commercial or industrial roofs with lighting systems must be equipped with curtains.
- Single-family (h1), two-family (h2) and multiplex (h3) uses
- Certain types of equipment, such as light fixtures with motion detectors
- Temporary outdoor lighting for special activities: shows, festivities organized by the borough, construction areas or other temporary work projects
- Outdoor lighting related to public safety or for enhancing a heritage building
- Outdoor lighting subject to other provincial or federal regulations
- Sites with single light sources emitting a maximum of 1,000 lumens each and producing a maximum total of 5,000 lumens
- Note: Some light sources, such as those on autoroutes 13, 15, 40 and 520, at the CN rail yard and at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, are beyond the borough’s control.
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