Home & Garden

Neighbour Pointing Christmas Lights At Your Home

  • Last Updated:
  • Dec 3rd, 2020 8:23 am
[OP]
Newbie
Mar 26, 2009
63 posts
83 upvotes
Halton

Neighbour Pointing Christmas Lights At Your Home

I live beside an narcissistic homeowner who is intentionally pointing a bright spotlight into my window. Anyone else out there facing the same dilemma, please weight in and share your thoughts and stories. Any legal advice would be greatly appreciated.
57 replies
Deal Expert
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Mar 9, 2007
15496 posts
13009 upvotes
Think of the Childre…
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coachclst wrote: I live beside an narcissistic homeowner who is intentionally pointing a bright spotlight into my window. Anyone else out there facing the same dilemma, please weight in and share your thoughts and stories. Any legal advice would be greatly appreciated.

WOULD SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!
Deal Expert
User avatar
Oct 5, 2008
17642 posts
13376 upvotes
Toronto
Legal advice on RFD?

Popcorn ready
Deal Fanatic
Nov 25, 2010
6084 posts
2933 upvotes
Abbottabad
This might be considered a nuisance. According to the Environmental Protection Act, OP may have a case if this is causing adverse health effects. I would pursue legal action and sue the neighbors pants off.
Deal Addict
Jan 20, 2014
2626 posts
685 upvotes
Ottawa
Be a homeowner and act like a child when it comes to having a civil discussion with your neighbor, sounds about right.

Wish they still had the thumbs down button.
[OP]
Newbie
Mar 26, 2009
63 posts
83 upvotes
Halton
The spotlight isn’t a health hazard, just a nuisance. Police said they can issue a warning but no grounds for charges
Deal Fanatic
Nov 25, 2010
6084 posts
2933 upvotes
Abbottabad
According to the Environmental Protection Act, an adverse effect includes harm or material discomfort to any person. I’d say you contact the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Not sure if light is considered a contaminant though. Unless it falls under radiation.
Deal Fanatic
Jun 13, 2010
7691 posts
10301 upvotes
GTA
coachclst wrote: The spotlight isn’t a health hazard, just a nuisance. Police said they can issue a warning but no grounds for charges
Have them issue a warning and hopefully having the police talk to him will make him stop. If he doesn't stop a mirror for a few days sounds like a good idea especially if you can aim it back at his window.
[OP]
Newbie
Mar 26, 2009
63 posts
83 upvotes
Halton
You can’t have an adult conversation with a narcissist, tried that route got nowhere. This guy is not a full deck.
[OP]
Newbie
Mar 26, 2009
63 posts
83 upvotes
Halton
Unfortunately, this guy lives besides me, mirror trick won’t work
Sr. Member
User avatar
Sep 2, 2005
887 posts
599 upvotes
Toronto
what happened to warrant such childish behaviour?
Deal Addict
Sep 9, 2010
4863 posts
3537 upvotes
Burnaby
Bylaw enforcement - light intrusion - light infiltration - lights shining into a home - buffering

Contact 311, to file a complaint. A service request will be submitted for Municipal Licensing & Standards to investigate light from buildings or vehicle headlights shining directly into a dwelling.

The emphasis has to be placed on "directly" before it can be considered a violation.

Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 629-17A. Buffering Property that, because of its use, occupancy or other reasons, creates a nuisance to other properties in the neighbourhood shall be buffered from these properties so as to minimize the effect of the nuisance by the provision and maintenance of:
  • A barrier or deflectors to prevent lighting and vehicle headlights from shining directly into a dwelling unit;
  • A barrier to prevent wind-blown waste, wrappings, debris and similar things from littering or settling on adjacent properties;
  • A visual screen or fence, of uniform construction and appropriate to the nature of the adjacent use, to minimize the visual impact of nuisances to persons at grade on adjacent properties or a public highway; and
  • The provision and maintenance of a barrier of sufficient size and strength to prevent the dumping of debris or refuse in yards or vacant property.
^ https://www.toronto.ca/311/knowledgebas ... ering.html
^ For Toronto, not sure it works for Halton

RFD-Home & Garden: Is my neighbour in the wrong here? (Regarding outside lights)

Incompetent workers (and criminals) cover each other's "lower back"
Keywords: doxxers, moles, security breaches, cs*s,
Deal Addict
Jun 12, 2008
1603 posts
1188 upvotes
Ripley
Foam back drapes, room darkening blinds, shutters or a piece of cardboard. You are blocking the light at night so you probably have your curtains or blinds closed for privacy anyway. You already got legal advice from the police.
Deal Guru
User avatar
Mar 10, 2005
11850 posts
4948 upvotes
coachclst wrote: The spotlight isn’t a health hazard, just a nuisance. Police said they can issue a warning but no grounds for charges
You got your answer
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." - Epictetus
Penalty Box
User avatar
Dec 16, 2015
4961 posts
5012 upvotes
Distance: 50 Metres
zaius wrote: what happened to warrant such childish behaviour?
Op emergenpee on the neighbours lawn...
To the moon
Deal Addict
Feb 16, 2018
1292 posts
1310 upvotes
coachclst wrote: The spotlight isn’t a health hazard, just a nuisance. Police said they can issue a warning but no grounds for charges
Why are you even calling the police? This is a by-law issue
Deal Addict
Nov 12, 2006
3109 posts
2297 upvotes
London
coachclst wrote: Police said they can issue a warning but no grounds for charges
Warn against what?
If there's no grounds to charge, then what is there to warn about?

If there is a chargeable offense, then there could be a warning first before doing so.
Deal Expert
User avatar
Oct 23, 2008
18215 posts
16408 upvotes
GTA, ON
Spot light mysteriously goes missing from his lawn... "just sayin'..."
Tis banana is IRIE 😎

10% off is cold, 50% off is warm, 75% off is hot, but FREE IS RFD!
Sr. Member
Mar 1, 2020
844 posts
237 upvotes
GTA West
oops i "spilled" some black tar on the spotlight... :) on a more serious note, this is halton (maybe oakville?), again, home of the entitled pricks (see home and garden post by another poster on trees in halton/oakville LOL)... smh... i think just move on with it if by laws can't do much (you already mentioned police can only issue a warning)...

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