Lighting Regulations in Winamac, Indiana: Preserving Historic Character While Ensuring Public Safety

Introduction

Nestled in northwestern Indiana, the charming town of Winamac has maintained its small-town appeal since its founding in 1835. Named after a Potawatomi chief, this historically significant community serves as the county seat of Pulaski County and takes pride in preserving its 19th-century architectural heritage. The Pulaski County Courthouse, built in 1895 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, stands as testament to the town's commitment to historical preservation.

With approximately 2,500 residents, Winamac's lighting regulations reflect its dedication to maintaining historical integrity while ensuring public safety. These regulations help preserve the town's distinctive character while providing adequate illumination for residents and visitors.

Quick Reference Guide

Essential Lighting Requirements in Winamac:

• Safety Lighting: Red lights required for street excavations and obstructions
• Street Light Protection: Trees must be pruned to avoid blocking street lights
• Window Protection: Damage to window panes or "window lights" is prohibited
• Multi-Family Housing: Lights and controls must be in accessible locations
• Various Lighting Options: Town offers multiple street/security lighting technologies including LED, high-pressure sodium, and mercury vapor

Safety Lighting Requirements

Excavation and Obstruction Lighting

Safety is a primary concern in Winamac's lighting regulations, particularly for construction work and other potential hazards in public areas.

Key Requirements:

• Red Lights for Excavations: No excavation in any street or public place shall be left open overnight unless thoroughly protected by barricades and red lights kept burning
• Obstruction Marking: When placing obstructions in streets or on sidewalks, a red light must be displayed over the obstruction for as long as it remains
• Liability Concerns: Licensed plumbers failing to protect work with proper lighting can be personally liable for any resulting damage

These requirements ensure that potential hazards remain visible to pedestrians and drivers during low-light conditions, preventing accidents while maintaining public safety.

Street Light Functionality

The town places importance on ensuring street lights function without obstruction.

Tree Maintenance Requirements:

• Private property owners must prune branches that obstruct light from street lamps or block visibility of intersections
• The town reserves the right to prune trees/shrubs on private property when they interfere with proper spread of light from street lights
• Similar rights extend to the state for trees affecting state roads and rights-of-way

Residential and Commercial Lighting

Building Requirements

While Winamac's regulations are not extensive regarding specific building lighting standards, they do include:

• Multi-Family Dwellings: Must have "Light, switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations"
• Window Protection: It's unlawful to "maliciously or mischievously mark upon with paint, lead, soap or other material or scratch, mar or mutilate in any manner, any window pane, window light or window glass" in residences or buildings

Available Lighting Options

Winamac offers various lighting technologies for security and street lighting at different rate structures:

LED Options:

• LED 65 watt: $5.50 (current rate)
• LED 142 watt: $8.25 (current rate)
• LED 150-watt equivalent (8,000 lumens): $10.50 (current rate)
• LED 250-watt equivalent (13,000 lumens): $17.50 (current rate)
• LED 400-watt equivalent (21,000 lumens): $28.00 (current rate)
• LED security light (7,000 lumens or less): $7.00 (current rate)

High-Pressure Sodium Options:

• 70 watt: $8.85 (current rate)
• 100 watt: $9.68 (current rate)
• 150 watt: $10.50 (current rate)
• 250 watt: $17.25 (current rate)
• 400 watt: $21.36 (current rate)
• 1,000 watt: $42.15 (current rate)

Mercury Vapor Options:

• 175 watt: $10.35 (current rate)
• 250 watt: $14.85 (current rate)
• 400 watt: $20.10 (current rate)

Incandescent Option:

• 300 watt: $10.28 (current rate)

Additional Equipment:

• Additional charge for lamp with pole: $3.00

What Property Owners Should Know

Understanding Your Responsibilities

As a property owner in Winamac, your primary lighting-related responsibilities involve:

1. Tree Maintenance: Ensuring that trees and shrubs on your property don't obstruct street lights
2. Hazard Marking: Properly illuminating any construction or obstruction areas with red lights
3. Multi-Family Requirements: Providing accessible lighting controls in multi-family dwellings
4. Property Protection: Avoiding damage to window panes or "window lights" in buildings

Choosing Appropriate Lighting

When selecting exterior lighting for your property:

• Consider options that complement Winamac's historic character
• Review the available security lighting options offered through the town
• Remember that while specific requirements are limited, lighting choices still impact the overall aesthetic and character of the community

Supporting Winamac's Lighting Vision

Bock Lighting: Committed to Historic Community Character

As a Northeast Ohio manufacturer with roots dating back to 1918, Bock Lighting understands the importance of preserving the unique character of historic towns like Winamac. We share Winamac's commitment to maintaining historical integrity while providing adequate lighting for safety and functionality.

Our experience with regional architectural styles allows us to appreciate the delicate balance communities like Winamac strive to achieve between modern lighting needs and historic preservation. Though regulations in Winamac are relatively limited compared to some communities, the underlying values of safety, functionality, and aesthetic cohesion remain important.

Bock Lighting serves as an educational resource for communities navigating lighting decisions, helping to maintain their distinctive character through thoughtful illumination choices that respect local heritage and community vision.

Conclusion

Winamac's lighting regulations focus primarily on safety concerns and utility function rather than extensive technical requirements. This approach allows flexibility while ensuring basic safety standards are met through hazard marking and street light functionality.

For property owners, the key takeaways involve maintaining trees to ensure street lights function properly, properly marking any hazards with red lights, and selecting lighting options that complement the town's historic character.

As Winamac continues to balance modern needs with historic preservation, these lighting regulations help ensure the town remains both safe and true to its 19th-century roots and small-town charm that make it special.