Side-step is Circling?
My base airport KDVT has a long term, night only, closure of 7R-25L for construction. RNAV approaches are available for 7R and 25L but with a night circling limitation - "Circling NA north of Rwy 7R-25L at night". Runway 7L-25R is separated from 7R-25L by 680 feet.
At a recent pilot/controller forum pilots were told that the RNAV approaches were not available at night. The justification seemed to be that 7R-25L was closed, a sidestep is a circling maneuver, and circling North is prohibited at night.
I looked for any FAA regulation or guidance that said a side-step of 680 feet would be considered a circle to land but could not find any.