Dark Sky in Muskoka Lakes

Protecting the Night Sky

When was the last time you remember seeing a starry night sky? This phenomenon seems to have diminished over the years due to the use of artificial illumination. While this may seem minor in nature, if everyone does their part and ensures that responsible lighting practices are used at their properties, everyone will be able to experience the beauty of a starry night sky.

Five Ways You Can Help to Contribute to Darker Skies in Muskoka Lakes:

Only Keep Lights on When Absolutely Necessary

If you are not at your property and have no intention of arriving after dark, keep all of your lights off. This goes for indoor lights as well, if they are not in use or serve no purpose, turn them off. One idea for keeping lights on when necessary would be to use motion sensors, timers and “smart lights”.

Ensure All Light Fixtures Have a Clear Purpose

When installing a light fixture, ask yourself, why am I putting a light fixture in this location? How does this impact the environment and wildlife? Will this light fixture impact my neighbours?

Only Direct Light Where it is Intended To Go

Full-cut-off-fixtures are required in the Township of Muskoka Lakes. If directing light, ensure that it is illuminating a walking path or patio area and does not shine outwards, only down towards the ground.

Only Use Necessary Brightness for Each Light

Use natural light from the moon to your advantage, if lights are on after dark, install dimmers so that the brightness can be reduced to only what is required.

Always Use 'Warmer' Coloured Bulbs

Outdoor lights should be no more than 2700 kelvins. A good way to think of this would be that you are trying to imitate the colour of a flame from a candle.

By-Law to Protect Night Sky By-Law Updates

On June 14, 2023, Council updated it's Dark Sky By-law, which continues the work that was first introduced in 2014. The updated by-law aims to further the Municipality's goal of being dark sky friendly.

With the updated Dark Sky By-Law, the Township of Muskoka Lakes will continue to regulate outdoor illumination to ensure responsible lighting, light pollution mitigation and conservation of the dark sky environment.

Grandfathering Deadline Extended

Any outdoor luminaire installed after the passage of the Township’s original Dark Sky By-law 2014-029 (April 17th, 2014) must comply with municipal requirements. Existing outdoor luminaires installed prior to this date are currently ‘grandfathered’, meaning they do not have to be compliant at this time. Please be advised that the date in which all of these existing non-compliant outdoor luminaires must be brought into compliance with the Dark Sky By-law, or ‘Grandfathering’ or ‘sunset date’, has now been extended to June 1st, 2027. This requirement, or date, however only applies to properties which are zoned as Waterfront Residential, Community Residential (R4 only) and Waterbody Open Space in the Township of Muskoka Lakes Comprehensive Zoning By-law.

This means that all outdoor luminaires installed prior to April 17, 2014, on waterfront properties, will need to be in compliance with the provisions of the Dark Sky By-law by June 1st, 2027.

There are a few other provisions that residents need to be aware of which may cause the forfeiture of the Grandfathering status of an outdoor luminaire which are:

If you have to replace or modify or move a light fixture for any reason, including installing a different type of lightbulb, that fixture will be required to come into compliance with the current provisions of the Dark Sky By-law.
If an officer deems that a fixture creates unnecessary glare towards motorists both on the highway and on water or is a public safety concern, the light fixture will be required to be changed to be in compliance with the provisions of the By-law.
As of the passing date of the new Dark Sky By-law (June 14th, 2023) if a property obtains a building permit for a new building, an addition or enlargement to any building or an exterior renovation, all outdoor luminaries will forfeit their grandfathering status and will be required to be compliant with the provisions of the By-law.

Dark Sky FAQs

How can I ensure the lighting on my property complies with the Dark Sky By-Law?

Usually the root cause of non-compliance is the fixture itself, not necessarily the bulb. When officers are investigating, they are looking for bulbs or light sources that are fully encased within the fixture. Compliant fixtures typically have an opaque covering to prevent any of the light from going upwards into the sky or outwards towards other properties. Some great examples of complaint fixtures can be found under Appendix I of the Dark Sky By-law.

What should I consider when creating a lighting plan for my property?

If you have existing fixtures, what are the age, quality and location of each fixture and how can that be improved?
What is the optimal lamp wattage or lumen output and is it appropriate for the area that you want to illuminate?
Consider the type of activity that will take place in the illuminated area.

Why is dark sky important for physical health?

Through time, humans have grown to adopt the natural cycles of night and day. Due to the creation of artificial light, some of us no longer experience a true dark night sky. With the creation of a Dark Sky By-law, the Township of Muskoka Lakes is moving the bar forward to ensure that residents, visitors and other walks of life can enjoy the night sky without the interruption of artificial light.

How can responsible outdoor lighting practices benefit wildlife and the environment?

All life on Earth has relied on the earth’s night and day cycle. It is encoded in the DNA of all plants and animals. Over time, humans have disrupted that cycle by way of the creation of artificial light. Research has shown that artificial light has negative if not deadly effects on plants and wildlife.

Many insects are drawn to light, but artificial lights can create a fatal attraction. Declining insect populations negatively impact all species that rely on insects for food or pollination.

Nocturnal mammals sleep in the day and are active at night. Light pollution disrupts their nighttime environment. For Muskoka Lakes, it is well known that nocturnal wildlife is more commonly seen than that of an urban municipality such as Toronto.

Dark Sky Key Terms

Full-Cut-Off-Fixture

A full-cut-off-fixture means that by design of the housing or lamp, does not allow any light dispersion or direct glare to shine above a horizontal plane from the base of the fixture where light is emitted and must be installed in a horizontal position as designed. These Fixtures produce no Glare or Light Pollution due to the exposure of the Lamp light source because the source is recessed or shielded

Grandfathered Luminaire

A Grandfathered Luminaire is an Outdoor Luminaire not conforming to this By-law that was Installed prior to the passing date of By-law 2014-029 (April 17th, 2014).

Light Pollution

Light pollution is caused by the shining of light upwards into the sky above the horizontal plane of the light Fixture caused by any of the following: Light Trespass, Glare, Direct Light, Reflected Light, or light from Fixtures that are not a Full Cut Off Fixture.

Outdoor Luminaire

An Outdoor Luminaire is an outdoor illuminating device, outdoor lighting, reflective surface, Lamp or similar device, permanently Installed or portable, used for illumination, decoration or advertisement. Such devices shall include, but not limited to, lights used for:

(a) Architectural Lighting;

(b) Recreational Areas;

(d) Landscape Lighting;

(e) Signs (Advertising or Other);

(f) Street Lighting;

(g) Product Display Area Lighting; and/or

(h) Security Lighting.

In addition to the by-law, educational resources will continue to be provided to help our residents, visitors and businesses understand the importance of a pollution free night sky. Please review the Dark Sky By-Law for a full list of all of the regulations, and if you are ever unsure please reach out to By-Law to ensure the lights are compliant, we are here to help!