Regional District of Nanaimo - Street Lighting

Street Lighting

To report a streetlight outage, please call 1-877-607-4111, or e-mail rcu [at] rdn.bc.ca with the location/description of the streetlight outage. Streetlight repairs typically take 1-2 weeks from the date reported.

Currently within the RDN there are 5 different streetlighting local service areas.

  • Bylaw 789, Fairwinds streetlighting
  • Bylaw 1062, French Creek Village streetlighting
  • Bylaw 791, French Creek/Nanoose rural streetlighting
  • Bylaw 1048, Highway 4 Intersection streetlighting
  • Bylaw 1353, Englishman River (River's Edge) streetlighting

The different services areas are non-contiguous, self-contained areas that are financially supported by the properties that encompass each individual service area. The boundaries of the service areas can be expanded to provide streetlighting to adjoining properties at any time as long as the service area is able to financially support the additional expense and there is a means for installing additional streetlights on BC Hydro power poles.

There are two types of streetlights within the RDN streetlighting local service areas. The most common are the LED lamps that you see attached to wooden BC Hydro poles.  The other style is steel ornamental poles/lampheads, which are serviced via underground wiring.

The RDN has a contract with an electrical contractor to maintain and repair all the ornamental streetlights within its local services areas. BC Hydro looks after the repair and maintenance of all other streetlights, but the work order must come from the municipality in which the light resides.

Getting Streetlight Service

To join or create a streetlighting service area and get streetlights installed, please submit a letter or email to the General Manager of Regional & Community Utilities.  Generally speaking, a request may be supported as follows:

  • Where there is a need to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety;
  • Where a series of lights is needed (not just one);
  • Where there is written documentation of neighbourhood support; and
  • Where the owners who benefit from the streetlighting service are willing to pay the costs of installation and annual hydro usage.   

BC Hydro may able to install streetlight davit arms on existing hydro poles at no charge, if secondary wiring is already present on the poles.  However, written support from the neighbourhood is required before an estimate will be prepared. 

Gather Expression of Interest (a printable form)

streetlight