Landscape Lighting in San Luis Obispo, CA

Paso Robles Landscaping designs and installs low-voltage landscape lighting for San Luis Obispo homes: path lights, step lights, patio and tree lighting, and soft accent on walls and planting. In SLO the City's night-sky rules shape every plan. We aim fixtures down, keep light on your property, and build a system you can use every evening without glare for the neighbors. Call 805-712-4440 or request a free estimate.

Pool and cabana lit with landscape lighting at dusk
Path and patio lights bring a yard into evening use.

City Night-Sky Rules

San Luis Obispo's zoning code includes Municipal Code 17.70.100 for lighting and night sky preservation. When we design a residential lighting plan we work to these points:

  • Aim down and in. Outdoor lighting must be directed downward and away from adjacent properties and the public right-of-way.
  • Limit trespass. Lighting on private property may not produce more than two maintained horizontal foot-candles at grade on any neighboring property in a residential zone.
  • Keep levels modest. On a residential site, maximum light intensity is ten foot-candles at finished grade.
  • No sky flood. Floodlight projection above the horizontal plane is prohibited, and fixtures may not blink, flash or rotate.
  • Permits when required. An electrical permit for outdoor lighting can trigger a lighting plan review. We confirm what your project needs before we dig.

Low-level decorative patio lighting with individual lamps of ten watts or less is treated differently under the code's exemptions, which is why soft string lighting under a cover is often a good fit for dining areas.

Paver walkway with path lights at sunset
Path lights mark the walk after dark.

What We Light on SLO Lots

  • Path and step lights on walkways, side yards and stairs so evening trips are safe
  • Patio and outdoor-room lighting under a pergola or patio cover
  • Soft tree and planting light that stays on the canopy or bed, not in a neighbor's window
  • Wall washes and seat-wall accents that stay low and shielded
  • Lighting tied into an outdoor kitchen, fire feature or pool deck for evening use

Most of our residential work is low-voltage LED. Transformers are sized for the run, wire is buried to a safe depth, and fixtures are brass or similar materials that hold up in coastal and inland air.

Decomposed granite paths with gravel beds and path lights
Path lights along a DG walk through gravel beds.

Neighborhoods, Trees and Slopes

Near Downtown and in the older grid, lots are smaller and neighbors are close, so trespass limits matter. Around Bishop Peak, Foothill and Laguna Lake, slopes mean more steps and retaining edges that need light. In newer neighborhoods such as Avila Ranch and San Luis Ranch, HOA guidelines may set fixture styles and brightness, and we prepare the lighting plan for architectural review.

The City regulates tree removal on private property. We place fixtures and trench wire outside major root zones where we can, and we light living trees carefully so the source is shielded. For the first few feet around a house we keep fixtures low and use them with fire-safe landscaping rather than heavy uplighting into dry canopies.

Stepping pads in river rock with path lights
Stepping pads and path lights on a softscape walk.

How a Lighting Job Runs

  • Site visit after dark when we can, or at dusk, so we see how you use the yard
  • A plan that marks fixtures, wire runs, transformer location and switch or timer control
  • Trenching, fixture setting, aiming and a walk-through so hot spots get dialed down
  • Optional photocell, timer or smart control so the system runs when you need it

Cost depends on fixture count and type, wire length, access and any electrical permit work. We give a written estimate after a site visit. More on our main outdoor lighting installation page and our San Luis Obispo landscaping page.

Timber pergola with string lights over a paver patio at dusk
String lights under a pergola for evening dining.

Nearby Areas We Serve

From San Luis Obispo we also work in Los Ranchos and Edna Valley, Avila Beach, Los Osos, Arroyo Grande and Santa Margarita. See every community on our San Luis Obispo County service area page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does San Luis Obispo have outdoor lighting rules?

Yes. Municipal Code 17.70.100 covers night-sky preservation. Lighting must aim down and away from neighbors and the street, stay within foot-candle limits on residential sites, and must not project flood light above the horizontal plane.

Do I need a permit for landscape lighting in SLO?

An electrical permit for outdoor lighting can require a lighting plan for City review. Small low-voltage additions are often simpler. We confirm what your project needs before work starts.

Will path lights bother my neighbors?

We design to the City trespass limit of two foot-candles at grade on neighboring residential property, use shielded fixtures and aim them onto your walks and planting.

Can you light trees and a patio cover?

Yes. We use shielded fixtures for trees and soft lighting under pergolas and patio covers. Low-level decorative patio lighting with small lamps is a common, code-friendly choice for dining areas.

How much does landscape lighting cost in San Luis Obispo?

It depends on the number and type of fixtures, wire runs, access and any permit work. We give a free written estimate after a site visit.

Want Better Lighting in San Luis Obispo?

We will walk the yard, plan fixtures to the City night-sky rules, and give you a free estimate.

Call 805-712-4440 Get a Free Estimate

Paso Robles Landscaping · 1345 Riverside Ave, Paso Robles · Licensed contractor, CSLB #986950 · Serving all of San Luis Obispo County

Call (805) 712-4440Free estimate