Save Our Skies
Preserve Big Bear's Dark Skies, Stargazing, and Night Sky Photography
Big Bear Lake enjoys a unique quality when the sun goes down - an optimal environment for stargazing and night sky photography! At 7000 feet and away from the bright metropolitan lights, Big Bear offers nightly views of constellations, planets, and even the Milky Way. But like our natural environment, it's as healthy as we keep it, and Big Bear's night skies are threatened by artificial lighting from urbanization - also known as light pollution.
We are losing sight of one star per night due to light pollution. Vatch Arouchian, Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society
A statistic...
In North America, the brightness of the night sky increases by 10.4% every year.
A Plan of Action...
Care For Big Bear is spearheading the effort to qualify the City of Big Bear Lake and the unincorporated valley as a DarkSky certified community. The process calls on our leadership to enact and enforce night sky preservation policies that are equally supported and practiced by our community residents, businesses and visitors. Click below to learn about the protective night sky policies currently in place:
City of Big Bear Lake
Municipal Code - City of Big Bear Lake
17.25.080 - Residential site design standards
Section E - Lighting
- For the purposes of establishing lighting requirements, the following terms shall apply: "Cutoff" shall mean the point at which all direct light rays from the bulb are completely shielded from view. "Footcandles" shall mean the measurement of lighting level at the property line at ground level, as measured with a direct-reading, portable light meter. The measurement shall be made after dark, first with the lights on and then again with the lights off. The difference between the two readings shall meet the standard for maximum permitted illumination in footcandles. "Luminaire" shall mean the lighting fixture containing the light source or bulb. "Luminaire height" shall mean the distance from ground level to the highest point of the luminaire (including base and pedestal).
- Within residential zones, all luminaires shall be designed to have a cutoff of less than ninety (90) degrees, as shown on the following illustration:
- Maximum permitted luminaire height shall be fifteen (15) feet.
- Minimum permitted illumination within parking areas and walkways in residential projects of four or more dwelling units shall be 0.25 footcandles.
- Maximum permitted illumination within all residential projects, regardless of size, shall be 0.5 footcandles.
- Decorative incandescent fixtures of forty (40) watts or less are allowed within residential districts without approval.
- Any security lighting used within residential zones, including single-family residential uses, shall be placed so that the bulb or light source is not visible off-site, the light is directed down, and the light level at the property line does not exceed 0.25 footcandles.
17.35.080 - Site Design Standards for Commercial & Public Zones
Section E - Lighting
- For the purposes of establishing lighting requirements, the following terms shall apply: "Cutoff" shall mean the point at which all direct light rays from the bulb are completely shielded from view. "Footcandles" shall mean the measurement of lighting level at the property line at ground level, as measured with a direct-reading, portable light meter. The measurement shall be made after dark, first with the lights on and then again with the lights off. The difference between the two readings shall meet the standard for maximum permitted illumination in footcandles. "Luminaire" shall mean the lighting fixture containing the light source or bulb. "Luminaire height" shall mean the distance from ground level to the highest point of the luminaire (including base and pedestal).
- Within commercial zones, all luminaires shall be designed to have a cutoff of ninety (90) degrees or less, as shown on the following illustration:
- Maximum permitted luminaire height shall be twenty (20) feet within parking lots and sixteen (16) feet within other portions of the development site.
- Minimum permitted illumination within parking areas and walkways shall be 0.25 footcandles for low-intensity uses and 1.0 footcandle for high-intensity uses.
- Maximum permitted illumination on site shall be 3.0 footcandles for low-intensity uses and 5.0 footcandles for high-intensity uses, except that if the site abuts residentially used or designated land the maximum illumination adjacent to these areas shall be 1.0.
- Decorative incandescent fixtures of forty (40) watts or less are allowed without approval.
- Lighting fixtures and luminaires shall be of decorative design in keeping with the design theme of the site. Colors shall be dark green, gray, brown, or other earth tone color to blend with the forest environment.
- Lighting shall not be used for advertising. The use of searchlights to attract attention is prohibited.
- Lights shall not be allowed to blink, flash, change intensity or color, or give the illusion of movement.
- Where exterior mounted lights are used to illuminate signage or architectural features, the lights shall be sharply focused and directed to minimize light spillage. Backlighting is encouraged.
- Exterior lighting shall be reduced to the extent feasible during hours that the business is not in operation, to preserve views of the night sky.
- Security lighting shall be directed downward so that the light source (bulb) is not visible from off site, the light is directed down, and the light level at the property line does not exceed 1.0 footcandle, excluding public street right-of-way.
- Upward lighting used to illuminate flags shall be sharply focused and directed to minimize light spillage.
County of San Bernardino
The Light Trespass Ordinance was adopted December 7, 2021 the Board of Supervisors. Outdoor lighting regulations are implemented by region, focusing on prevention of light trespass onto neighboring properties and protection of dark night skies in the Mountain and Desert Regions. See Brochure
Mountain and Desert Region:
A stricter standard of 0.1-foot candle for light trespass has been established in the mountain and desert regions. Additional requirements to protect dark night skies in mountain and desert areas include a Dark Sky Curfew, and new standards for the use or residential string lights.
Compliance Timeline: Any modifications or replacement of outdoor fixtures required to comply with the ordinance will have a grace period of 18 months for commercial and industrial properties and 24 months for all other land uses.
Dark Sky Curfew: unless the outdoor light is used to illuminate the entry or exits or the structure , parking areas or driveways, or on a motion sensor that shuts off after five minutes of activation - all outdoor lights must be extinguished as soon as there are no longer people present in exterior areas.
Enforcement Information
It takes a village...so join us!
Policies are one thing, but the buy in from community members is really what drives valley-wide goals and initiatives - so let us know what you think. Should the Big Bear Valley be a dedicated dark sky community where residents, visitors and businesses work together to preserve our night sky?
Take Our Survey
Tips to Keeping our Skies Dark
- Switch off unused lights, namely exterior and landscape lighting
- Design exterior lighting to point down towards the ground
- Use lower wattage light bulbs - 40 watts for porch or other exterior lighting
- Share your love of Big Bear's stargazing opportunities and invite others to jump on the Dark Sky Initiative
- Explore 2025 Celestial Events visible from Big Bear!
