<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001144215-08-000035
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080404
<FILING-DATE>20080404
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080404
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ACUITY BRANDS INC
<CIK>0001144215
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5160
<IRS-NUMBER>582632672
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0831
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1170 PEACHTREE STREET, NE
<STREET2>SUITE 2400
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30309-7676
<PHONE>404-853-1400
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1170 PEACHTREE STREET, NE
<STREET2>SUITE 2400
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30309-7676
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>L&C SPINCO INC
<DATE-CHANGED>20010629
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Hartman John T.
<CIK>0001431075
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-16583
<FILM-NUMBER>08741528
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>404-853-1400
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1170 PEACHTREE ST. NE
<STREET2>SUITE 2400
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30307
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-04</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001144215</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACUITY BRANDS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AYI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001431075</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hartman John T.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2129 MOUNT PARAN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30327</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; Chief Commercial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37090</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.31</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-06-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18151</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>40.29</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-11-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13900</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The total direct shares owned includes 29,250 time-vesting restricted shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These options became fully exercisable prior to Mr. Hartman's election as a Section 16 insider.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These options becomes exercisable over a three-year period in annual installments beginning on November 2, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John T. Hartman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
