SEC Form 5

FORM 5		UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940	OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0362 Estimated average burden hours per response: 1.0
X	Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
	Form 3 Holdings Reported.
	Form 4 Transactions Reported.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person* BALLOUN JAMES S (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O ACUITY BRANDS, INC. 1170 PEACHTREE STREET, NE, SUITE 2400 (Street) ATLANTA GA 30309 (City) (State) (Zip)	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ACUITY BRANDS INC [ AYI ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X Director 10% Owner X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below) Chairman & CEO
	3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year) 08/31/2004
	4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) X Form filed by One Reporting Person Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)	4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock							74,068	D
Common Stock							890	I	by 401(k)
Common Stock							50,934	I	by Family LP
Common Stock							63,277	I	by GRAT

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)	5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
					(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option	$13.8						(1)	12/02/2011	Common Stock	400,000		400,000	D
Employee Stock Option	$16.5						(2)	10/23/2010	Common Stock	292,647		292,647	D
Employee Stock Option	$16.6						10/04/2000	10/03/2010	Common Stock	139,769		139,769	D
Employee Stock Option	$23.65						(2)	01/04/2010	Common Stock	175,587		175,587	D
Employee Stock Option	$23.65						01/05/2000	01/04/2010	Common Stock	190,207		190,207	D
Employee Stock Option	$23.69						(1)	12/17/2013	Common Stock	269,641		269,641	D
Employee Stock Option	$24.07						(1)	12/21/2013	Common Stock	30,359		30,359	D
Employee Stock Option	$27.76						01/03/1996	01/02/2006	Common Stock	292,647		292,647	D
Employee Stock Option	$29.95						(2)	09/21/2008	Common Stock	117,058		117,058	D
Employee Stock Option	$32.46						(2)	09/16/2006	Common Stock	52,676		52,676	D
Employee Stock Option	$37.85						(2)	09/22/2007	Common Stock	76,087		76,087	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. This option vests in equal annual installments over three years.

2. This option vests in equal annual installments over four years.

	James S. Balloun	10/07/2004
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.