Landscape Lighting in Tampa Bay

How a low-voltage system works

Most residential landscape lighting is low voltage. A transformer steps 120-volt house power down to 12 volts, and thin cable carries the current to LED fixtures. LED fixtures use little power.

A timer or a light sensor turns the system on at dusk and off later. The installer can set the schedule to match when you use the yard.

Hardwired systems should be installed by an electrician. Ask which parts of the job an electrician handles and which parts are low-voltage work.

Fixture types and what they do

• Path lights mark walkways and bed edges. Installed prices run about $50 to $150 each.
• Uplights point at a tree trunk, palm or wall. They run about $100 to $400 each.
• In-ground lights sit flush in the lawn or pavers. They run about $85 to $250 each.
• Downlights mount high in a tree or on an eave and light the area below. They run about $100 to $350.
• Bollards are short posts for driveways and steps. They run about $250 to $900.

Those ranges cover the installed fixture. The cost guide has the whole table.

Salt air is hard on metal. Near the water, ask what the fixtures are made of and how the connections are sealed.

Sea turtle lighting near the beach

Pinellas County's sea turtle nesting season runs May 1 to October 31. The county says bright beachfront lighting can disorient sea turtles, especially hatchlings, and that most of its beach communities have ordinances that prohibit lighting that casts glare onto the beach during nesting season. Which communities have ordinances, and what each requires, varies, so check with your city.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recommends mounting lights low, using the lowest wattage that meets the need, using long-wavelength amber, orange or red LEDs above 560 nanometers, and shielding fixtures so the lamp is not directly visible. Turning off lights that are not needed is the simplest fix.

Clearwater asks beachfront residents to keep outdoor lights low or off and to switch to turtle-friendly fixtures. It is not clear which measures are required, so ask the city for the binding rule before planning a beachfront system.

If your home is not near the beach, none of this applies, but dark-sky lighting that points down is a good habit anywhere.

What to ask your landscaper

When your landscaper calls, ask:

• How many fixtures, of what type, and how much does each cost installed?
• What is the transformer size, and is there room to add fixtures later?
• Are the fixtures and connectors rated for salt air and wet soil?
• What color temperature are the LEDs, and can they be shielded or aimed?
• If the home is near the beach, how does the plan meet the sea turtle rules?
• Who maintains the system, and what happens when a fixture fails?