Can I put up outdoor security or motion lights?

Yes, with shielding.

The Accessory Building Regulations state that if exterior security or motion lights are installed, **shielding is required to prevent light pollution exposure to neighbouring properties**.

**What shielding means in practice.** A fixture that directs light downward onto your own ground rather than outward across the boundary. Full cut-off or shielded fixtures do this by design; a bare floodlight on a bracket generally does not.

**Why it matters here more than in town.** Lake of the Pines is dark at night, lots are close together, and a single unshielded floodlight can put light through a neighbour's bedroom window several properties away. It also spoils the night sky for everyone nearby.

**Motion sensors help**, but only if the fixture is shielded and aimed sensibly. A motion light that triggers on passing wildlife and floods the lot next door is still a problem.

**Practical steps.**

- Aim fixtures downward
- Use shielded or full cut-off fittings
- Check the effect after dark, from your neighbour's side of the boundary
- Consider whether a lower-output lamp does the job

**This rule sits in the Accessory Building Regulations**, so it is stated in the context of sheds, garages and pole barns. Applying the same courtesy to lighting on your house is sensible regardless.

**If a neighbour's lighting is a problem**, raise it with them first. Failing that, a signed Member Complaint Form goes to the office.

*Source: Accessory Building Regulations (6/8/2025), item 11.*