Landscape Lighting Design & Installation in North County San Diego
Panjia Outdoors designs and installs low-voltage LED landscape lighting systems for homeowners across San Marcos, Carlsbad, Encinitas, and North County San Diego. Path lights, uplighting, in-cap LED, step lighting, and full property systems. Integrated into your hardscape or added to your existing outdoor space. CA License #928978. Free site visits.
CA License #928978 · Licensed, Bonded & Insured · (888) 600-9270Most Lighting Goes In After the Build Is Done. We Plan It During.
Most landscape lighting contractors show up after your patio or outdoor kitchen is already finished. They trench through your lawn, work around your pavers, and hope the wire runs do not create high and low spots in the bedding.
Panjia does it the other way around.
When lighting is part of a Panjia hardscape build, conduit goes into the ground before the first paver is laid. In-cap LED strips are installed before the seating wall cap is mortared in place. Step lights are set into the riser before the stone goes up. Nothing gets cut, lifted, or patched afterward.
The result is a cleaner installation with no visible wire management, no disturbed pavers, and no compromises on fixture placement because the conduit ended up six inches from where it needed to be.
For existing outdoor spaces, we can still add path lighting, uplighting, and most surface-mounted fixtures without touching your pavers. We will tell you upfront if anything needs to be lifted, and we will relay it to match.
Landscape Lighting for Every Part of Your Outdoor Space
Path & Walkway Lighting
Brass or aluminum path lights spaced to provide even coverage without creating a landing-strip effect. Typically placed every 6 to 8 feet, aimed slightly away from the path to wash the surface rather than shoot glare at eye level.
Tree & Plant Uplighting
Ground-mounted fixtures aimed up to graze tree bark or wash a hedge line. Fixture placement is adjusted based on canopy density. Open canopies need shielded fixtures to prevent light scatter into neighboring properties.
In-Cap Seating Wall Lighting
Low-profile LED strips or individual puck lights installed inside the cap of a concrete or block seating wall before the cap is mortared. Provides ambient light for seating areas without requiring above-grade fixtures that can be knocked over.
Step & Riser Lighting
Recessed step lights set into the riser face of retaining walls, stairs, or raised patios. Provides code-level illumination for grade changes and integrates cleanly when installed before the finish stone is applied.
Pergola & Overhead Lighting
String lights, recessed LED strips, or pendant fixtures on pergola beams. Electrical is run inside the structural members before the roof material is installed for a clean look with no exposed conduit or wire management clips.
Full Property Systems
Multi-zone transformer setups covering the entire property from a single control point. Smart timer and photocell integration, zone-by-zone dimming, and a system map delivered at completion showing every fixture and wire run.
When Your Outdoor Lighting Is Working Against You
Fixtures that point at eye level instead of the surface
Path lights and uplights aimed incorrectly create glare for anyone in the space. The fix is usually repositioning and angling the fixture, not replacing it.
Voltage drop making far fixtures dim
When the fixtures at the far end of a wire run are noticeably dimmer than the ones near the transformer, the wire gauge is undersized for the run length. This is a design problem, not a fixture problem.
Fixtures that burn out repeatedly
LED landscape fixtures should last 50,000+ hours. Repeated failures usually point to overvoltage, moisture infiltration from an incorrect IP rating for the application, or a cheap fixture that was not rated for direct burial.
No lighting where you actually spend time
Most older lighting plans were designed around the perimeter of the property for security, not around the outdoor living areas where people spend evenings. A redesign focused on the patio, kitchen, and seating areas changes how the space feels at night.
HOA flagged your fixtures or color temperature
Some North County HOA communities restrict fixture height, lumen output, or color temperature. If you have received a notice, we can review your system against the specific guidelines and recommend compliant fixtures.
A site visit from Panjia walks you through exactly what is working, what is not, and what a redesign or system upgrade would cost. No obligation.
Schedule a Site VisitFive Steps from Consultation to Nighttime Walkthrough
Nighttime Consultation
We walk your property at dusk or after dark so we can see exactly how your current lighting is performing. We identify which trees, walls, paths, and architectural features are worth lighting and where fixture placement will create the right effect without pushing light onto neighboring properties.
System Design and Transformer Sizing
We size the transformer to handle your total wattage load with 20 to 30 percent headroom for future fixtures. Wire runs are planned to balance the load across zones and avoid voltage drop at the far end of each run. For integrated hardscape projects, conduit placement is marked before any pavers are set.
Conduit and Wire Installation
Low-voltage wire runs in conduit buried at 6 inches minimum, deeper where required by San Diego County code. For hardscape-integrated projects, conduit is stubbed up through the paver base before the final course is laid. No pavers are cut or lifted to run wire after installation.
Fixture Installation and Aiming
Fixtures are set, aimed, and locked. Path lights are spaced for even coverage without a runway effect. Uplights are angled to graze bark or architectural surfaces. In-cap LED strips are installed before seating wall caps are mortared.
Nighttime Walkthrough and Timer Setup
We return after dark to walk the finished system with you. Every fixture is adjusted in real conditions. Timer and photocell settings are programmed. You receive a system map showing every fixture, zone, and transformer connection.
Landscape Lighting Pricing in San Marcos and North County San Diego
Most residential lighting systems in North County San Diego run between $2,500 and $8,000 installed. The range depends on fixture count, property size, transformer capacity, and whether conduit needs to be trenched or integrates into an ongoing or new hardscape project. Below is a general reference guide.
Accent Package
- 6 to 10 low-voltage LED fixtures
- Single-zone transformer (150W)
- Path lights or uplighting only
- Timer and photocell included
- Same-day installation
Best for: Front yard path lighting, single-tree feature, or accent lighting for one outdoor area.
Outdoor Living Package
- 12 to 20 low-voltage LED fixtures
- Dual-zone transformer (300W)
- Path, step, and seating wall lighting
- Pergola or overhead integration
- Timer, photocell, and dimming
Best for: Full patio and outdoor living area coverage, integrated with a hardscape build or added to an existing space.
Full Property System
- 25 to 40+ low-voltage LED fixtures
- Multi-zone transformer (600W+)
- Full coverage: paths, trees, architecture, living areas, and perimeter
- Smart control integration
- System map and documentation
Best for: Whole-property coverage, large lots, or properties where lighting is being redesigned from scratch.
Ranges reflect North County San Diego labor and materials. Final cost depends on property size, fixture selection, conduit requirements, and whether work integrates with a concurrent hardscape project. All estimates are free and itemized.
Financing Available for Your Lighting Project
A landscape lighting upgrade transforms how a North County San Diego home feels and functions at night. Panjia makes it accessible with financing at low fixed rates and terms up to 20 years, spreading the investment across time while the curb appeal and usable evening hours work for you from day one.
Ask about financing options during your free estimate. We will show you the numbers side by side so you can decide what works for your budget.
Schedule Your Site VisitLandscape Lighting Installation Across San Diego County
We install landscape lighting for residential homeowners across North County San Diego, including properties on the coast where marine layer humidity requires fixtures rated IP65 or higher, and inland communities where HOA design guidelines restrict fixture height and color temperature.
Most North County lighting projects are completed in a single day. We service the full San Diego County area and provide free site visits with no travel charge within 45 miles of San Marcos.
Built on a Foundation You Can Verify
Licensed
CA License #928978. Licensed, bonded, and insured for every install.
BBB A+ Rated
Accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating.
5.0 Star Average
Across Google, Houzz, and Angi (Angie's List Super Service Award).
In-House Crews
Every job is completed by Panjia employees.
Landscape Lighting Questions from San Diego Homeowners
Most residential landscape lighting systems in North County San Diego run between $2,500 and $8,000 installed, depending on the number of fixtures, property size, transformer capacity, and whether conduit needs to be trenched or can be integrated into an existing or new hardscape project. Smaller accent packages (6 to 10 fixtures, one transformer zone) typically start around $1,500. Large whole-property systems with 30 or more fixtures run $6,000 to $12,000. All estimates are free and itemized.
Low-voltage landscape lighting runs on 12 volts AC through a transformer that steps down standard 120-volt household current. It is safer to install and maintain than line-voltage systems, uses significantly less energy, and is the standard for residential landscape applications. All of Panjia's landscape lighting installations are low-voltage LED systems.
For most residential landscape applications in San Diego, we recommend 2700K to 3000K (warm white). This range is warm enough to feel inviting in an outdoor living space but bright enough to provide clear path and step lighting. Some HOAs in North County restrict lighting to warmer color temperatures or limit lumens output. We check HOA guidelines before specifying fixtures.
Yes. We can add path lighting, uplighting, and some in-cap lighting to existing installations without disturbing pavers. For step lights or in-cap LED strips, we may need to lift a small number of pavers to run conduit, then relay them. We always reset any disturbed pavers to match the original pattern and compact the bedding layer to prevent movement.
Low-voltage landscape lighting typically does not require a permit in San Diego County. However, if line-voltage work is involved (such as installing a new outdoor outlet or dedicated circuit for the transformer), an electrical permit is required and we pull it. We confirm permit requirements for every project before work begins.
Most residential installations are completed in one day. Larger whole-property systems may take two days. Projects integrated with a hardscape build are typically completed on the same timeline as the hardscape itself, since conduit and wire runs happen alongside the paver or concrete work.
Ready to Light Your Outdoor Space?
Tell us about your property. We will come to you, walk the space, and provide a transparent estimate. No pressure.
San Marcos, CA 92069
Mon–Fri: 8am – 6pm
Sat: 9am – 4pm
A site visit from Panjia walks you through the options, shows you fixture samples on your property, and gives you a written number with no pressure to commit.
Schedule Your Site Visit