Lighting Regulations in McCall, Idaho: Preserving Dark Skies in Mountain Paradise

Introduction

Nestled in the mountains of central Idaho, McCall has captivated visitors and residents alike since its incorporation in 1911. From its early days as a sacred fishing ground for Native American tribes to its evolution through the gold rush and development as a scenic mountain community, McCall has always treasured its natural beauty and historic character.

The city's lighting regulations reflect its commitment to maintaining the pristine mountain environment while ensuring safety and functionality for residents and visitors. These carefully crafted standards help preserve McCall's spectacular night skies, a natural resource increasingly rare in our modern world.

Quick Reference Guide

• Lighting Chapter: All exterior lighting must comply with Title III, Chapter 14 "Outdoor Lighting"
• Key Technical Requirements:
• LED lighting must not exceed 3,000 Kelvin
• Parking lot lighting maximum: 1.5 foot-candles average illumination
• Most exterior fixtures must use full cutoff luminaires with downcast, fully shielded light
• Residential lighting height maximum: 15 feet (with distance formula)
• Commercial parking area lighting maximum height: 17 feet
• Operating Hours:
• Holiday lighting encouraged to be off by 11:00 PM
• Motion-activated lighting must turn off within 5 minutes
• Construction lighting permitted only one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset
• Required Plans: New construction and substantial remodels must submit an exterior lighting plan

General Outdoor Lighting Requirements

Purpose of McCall's Lighting Regulations

McCall's outdoor lighting ordinance serves multiple important purposes:

• Protecting and promoting public health, safety, and welfare
• Preserving the ability to view the night sky
• Providing safe roadways for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians
• Protecting against direct glare and excessive lighting

Basic Standards for All Lighting

McCall requires that all exterior lighting be designed, located, and lamped to prevent:

• Overlighting
• Energy waste
• Glare
• Light trespass onto neighboring properties
• Sky glow that obscures the night stars

All exterior lighting installed after the ordinance's effective date must conform to Chapter 14 standards. Existing lighting must be brought into compliance when properties undergo conditional use permits, subdivision approvals, planned unit developments, or building permits.

Fixture Types and Mounting

Full cutoff luminaires are required for most exterior lighting, with the light source downcast and fully shielded. This prevents light from escaping above an 85-degree angle from vertical.

Exceptions include:

• Fixtures with maximum output of 1,000 lumens (equivalent to one 60-watt incandescent bulb) where the bulb is not visible
• Properly angled floodlights with external shielding
• Holiday lighting (November 1 to February 1 for residential properties)
• Flag uplighting (maximum 1,300 lumens)

Height and Placement Requirements

Residential Lighting

Freestanding luminaires on residential properties have specific height restrictions:

• Maximum height: 15 feet from ground to top of fixture
• Formula: Height must not exceed H = (D/3)+3, where D is the distance in feet to the nearest property boundary

Commercial and Parking Area Lighting

McCall encourages thoughtful parking area lighting design:

• Maximum height: 17 feet from ground to top of luminaire
• Design philosophy: More fixtures at lower heights and lower light levels are preferred over fewer, taller, brighter fixtures
• Maximum illumination: 1.5 foot-candles average across parking areas

Street Lighting Requirements

• Required locations: All intersections with arterial streets and within industrial, business park, and commercial zones
• Residential areas: Required only at intersections with collector or arterial streets
• Height limitations: Generally should not exceed 20 feet, though arterial road lighting may be taller with city council approval

Special Applications

Construction Lighting

Temporary construction lighting has specific limitations:

• Operating hours: Limited to one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset
• Approval: An approved lighting plan must be obtained from the administrator for any exterior, temporary lighting needed for construction

Security and Sensor Lighting

Motion-activated security lighting must be carefully designed:

• Placement: Located to prevent glare onto neighboring properties or public rights-of-way
• Timing: Must turn off within 5 minutes after activation ceases
• Triggering: Must not be triggered by activity off the property
• Fixture type: Must use full cutoff luminaires with downcast, fully shielded light
• General guidance: Security lighting should be kept to minimum levels and use motion detectors where practical

Holiday and Seasonal Lighting

McCall recognizes the importance of festive lighting while encouraging moderation:

• Residential holiday period: November 1 to February 1
• Commercial holiday period: November 1 to March 15
• Operating hours: Holiday lights encouraged to be turned off by 11:00 PM
• Timer usage: Commercial holiday lighting should be controlled by timers

What Property Owners Should Know

Planning for New Construction

If you're building new or substantially remodeling in McCall:

1. Submit a lighting plan showing location, type, height, lumen output, and luminance levels
2. Choose appropriate fixtures that comply with full cutoff requirements
3. Consider LED color temperature - must not exceed 3,000 Kelvin
4. Plan fixture height and placement to prevent light trespass

Upgrading Existing Properties

When making changes to existing properties:

• Conditional use permits, subdivision approvals, PUDs, or building permits trigger the requirement to bring all lighting into compliance
• Replacement fixtures must comply with current standards
• Commercial properties should consider turning off nonessential exterior lighting after business hours

Designing Thoughtful Lighting

McCall's design guidelines encourage:

• Uniform distribution of light without compromising safety
• Light containment within property lines
• Selecting lighting fixtures complementary to architectural style
• Choosing appropriately scaled light poles
• Efficient direction of light to intended surfaces, not surrounding properties or the night sky

Supporting McCall's Lighting Vision

Bock Lighting shares McCall's commitment to preserving the character of beautiful mountain communities while providing practical lighting solutions. With roots dating back to 1918, we understand the balance communities like McCall seek between necessary illumination and protecting the spectacular night skies that make these mountain settings so special.

As a manufacturer familiar with communities that value their natural resources, Bock appreciates McCall's efforts to minimize light pollution while ensuring safety and functionality. Our expertise in dark-sky compliant fixtures and understanding of mountain community aesthetics aligns with McCall's vision of responsible lighting.

We're committed to serving as an educational resource for communities implementing thoughtful lighting standards. By sharing information about lighting regulations and their purpose, we hope to support McCall's residents and businesses in making informed choices that protect this mountain paradise's unique character for generations to come.

Conclusion

McCall's lighting regulations strike a thoughtful balance between providing necessary illumination and preserving the natural beauty that makes this mountain community special. By requiring downward-facing, shielded fixtures, limiting light levels, and encouraging responsible timing, McCall protects its spectacular night skies while ensuring safety and functionality.

Property owners, builders, and businesses who understand and embrace these standards contribute to maintaining McCall's unique character as a mountain paradise where residents and visitors can still experience the wonder of a star-filled sky.