Landscape Lighting Installation in San Jose, Saratoga and Los Gatos
- Since 1987
- Yelp 4.6 (46 reviews)
- Google 5.0 (8 reviews)
- Fully insured
In brief
Landscape Associates of CA installs low-voltage LED landscape lighting: Volt, FX Luminaire and Kichler; path, step, uplighting and downlighting. Serving San Jose, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Los Altos, Monte Sereno, Monterey and Carmel. Typical San Jose installations: $2,000 to $6,000; larger Saratoga properties: $3,000 to $10,000. 2-year warranty. Fully insured. Free on-site estimate.
Updated October 2026
Outdoor lighting types and where to use them
Start with the places you walk after dark: the front path, steps and patio doors. Then choose trees, stone walls or a water feature to light. Our landscape lighting installers use low-voltage 12V LED systems. Each fixture serves a purpose, such as lighting a step edge or bringing out the texture of stone.
| Fixture | Where | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Path lights | Walkways and planting edges | Light falls onto the walking surface | Place beside the path, clear of foot traffic. |
| Step and wall lights | Stair risers and seat walls | Shows changes in level | Aim across the step without shining into the eyes of anyone seated nearby. |
| Uplights for trees | Selected trunks and canopies | Highlights the shape of a tree | Ask the Town about hillside lighting limits before choosing uplighting. |
| Wall washers | Stone walls and garden boundaries | Spreads light across the surface | Keep the beam on the wall. |
| Downlights (moonlighting) | Above paths or planted areas | Soft light and shadows from above | Shield the light source from nearby windows. |
| Deck and patio lights | Seating areas and deck edges | Lights seating areas for evening use | Judge glare from a seated position. |
| Water feature lights | Ponds and fountains | Highlights water and its movement | Choose fixtures suited to where they will sit in the pond or fountain. |
| Security and motion lights | Entries and side paths | Lights the approach when needed | Direct light onto your property, away from the street. |
Warm light looks good on stone and plants. Mixing path lights with carefully aimed downlights can make a route easier to follow without lighting every shrub. From the patio, you should see the steps and planting rather than a row of exposed light sources.
What landscape lighting costs in San Jose and Saratoga
A typical San Jose landscape lighting installation costs $2,000 to $6,000. Lighting for larger Saratoga properties costs $3,000 to $10,000. Lighting a front walk and entry falls toward the lower end of the price range. A system covering trees, walls and a pool deck falls toward the upper end. These are examples, not fixed-price packages.
Fixture count and material affect the price, as do wire runs across a large lot, transformer size and smart controls. Lighting a path near the house takes a different layout than lighting a long Saratoga backyard. We price each project with an itemized estimate so you can see what is included.
If lighting is part of a larger yard project, budget it alongside the paving and planting. Our San Jose landscaping cost guide and Saratoga landscaping cost guide show how lighting fits into the overall budget.
Choosing landscape lights and controls
We install Volt, FX Luminaire and Kichler fixtures. Consider the fixture's beam, where it will go and what its housing is made of. Check how it looks during the day, too. Brass and copper housings outlast aluminum. Along a stone path or seat wall, choose a housing that looks good with the surrounding materials.
Lighting carries a 2-year warranty from Landscape Associates of CA. LED fixtures can be replaced. How long they last depends on the model and the conditions where they are installed. Timers set operating hours, photocells respond to daylight, and smart control options let you manage lighting from a phone. We discuss the controls when we plan your lighting.
Landscape lighting in Saratoga, CA and Los Gatos: hillside lots
Keep light on the steps and paths you use and the plants you want to highlight. On a Los Gatos hillside, a fixture can be below your patio but level with a neighbor's window. Where possible, aim lights down and away from the street, and shield the bulbs. Leave areas dark where lighting serves no purpose.
Hillside lots in Los Gatos can carry their own lighting limits under the Town hillside standards; we check them with the Town before choosing uplighting for a hillside property.
Carmel-by-the-Sea publishes its own residential lighting guidance, which we check before fixtures are chosen there. Carmel-by-the-Sea rules do not automatically apply to Carmel Valley or Pebble Beach.
Consider your neighbors when deciding where lights point and when they stay on. A shielded path light can show the walking surface without shining into neighboring windows. Set timers for the hours you use the yard. Aim motion lights at the entry or side path they serve.
How we install your lighting
Assess your yard's lighting needs after dark
During the free on-site estimate, we look at your paths, steps, patio and existing outdoor outlet. An evening visit helps us see dark entrances and light spilling from nearby windows before we finalize the lighting plan.
Choose outdoor lights and their locations
We choose path lights, step lights, uplights and downlights based on how you use the yard. We first plan lighting for safe footing. Then we choose trees or stone walls to highlight and check where glare needs to be reduced.
Set up the power supply and wiring for your lights
The low-voltage system runs from a transformer plugged into an existing outdoor GFCI outlet. We plan the wire routes to the fixtures around paving, walls and planting. Any new outlet is an electrician's job.
Install and aim your outdoor lights
We place the LED fixtures and aim each beam at its intended surface. Step lights show the tread, path lights cover the route, and accent lights stay focused on the selected tree or wall.
Adjust your lights after dark and show you the controls
As part of installation, we aim and adjust the fixtures after dark. We check the lighting along the paths and from the patio seats. Then we show you how to use the timer, photocell or phone controls.
Planning lighting around patios, steps and retaining walls
Plan lighting alongside paver steps and seat walls so fixtures and wire routes fit the finished surfaces. At outdoor kitchens, lighting illuminates the path to the kitchen and the seating area. Along retaining walls, choose whether the light should reveal the stone face or the walking surface beside it.
We can also add lighting to existing paths. The fixture position and wire route depend on the paving and planting already there. See our Saratoga and Los Gatos pages for other landscaping we can plan alongside your lighting.
Your landscape lighting installers in San Jose, Saratoga and Los Gatos
David Muhoberac founded Landscape Associates of CA in 1987. Our fully insured company installs landscape lighting across San Jose, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Los Altos, Monte Sereno, Monterey and Carmel. Lighting comes with a 2-year warranty. The photo below shows path lights alongside turf, pebbles and a stone seat wall.
To light your paths and trees, call or text (408) 207-5545. Free on-site estimate; we reply within 24 hours.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Reviews from Yelp and Google, with the reviewer's city and date
Big job: stump removal, full irrigation replacement, new sod, paver driveway, retaining walls, and lighting. It turned out more beautiful than we imagined. We liked the results so much we had them redo the front yard a few months later.
San Jose, CA
David and Obed were great from start to finish. They gave us solid advice on design choices and made sure our vision drove the project. They took a backyard full of dirt and turned it into our family's dream outdoor space. Highly recommend!
San Francisco, CA
David's team did a beautiful job transforming my yard into a gorgeous patio. They worked closely with me to bring my design to life and went the extra mile to make sure everything was right. Honest work, no hidden costs, no surprises.
Cupertino, CA
I cannot recommend this company enough. David turned my backyard, basically a giant hill of dirt and weeds, into a gorgeous oasis of fruit trees, plants, flowers, and retaining walls. Working with him was a real pleasure and the pricing was very fair.
San Francisco, CA
This was our second time using Landscape Associates, at a different property. David, Obed, and the crew added new paver stones, a planter, and expanded our irrigation. They even took care of drainage issues the original home builders had left behind.
San Jose, CA
Landscape Associates did a full remodel of my front and back yards. David understood exactly what I had in mind, delivered the yard I hoped for, and somehow made it even better. He kept in touch through every step and his crew was respectful of my property.
San Jose, CA
If I could give more stars I would. Workers showed up every single day at 8:30am sharp. David was always easy to reach and when I had changes mid-project, they accommodated every one without complaint. The customer service really set them apart.
Milpitas, CA
Great communication throughout and they walked us through every step. The paver patio and driveway are flawlessly integrated. We would absolutely hire them again. In fact I was already texting David about redoing the entire front yard.
San Jose, CA
We are very happy with the results. David installed a new front lawn and side yard plantings and the whole project wrapped up in a week. We were impressed that they renewed our entire irrigation system as part of the job. Would recommend to anyone in the area.
San Jose, CA
Frequently Asked Questions
Call (408) 207-5545What affects the cost of landscape lighting?
A typical San Jose landscape lighting installation costs $2,000 to $6,000. Fixture count, housing material, wire routes, transformer size and smart controls affect the price. Lighting a front walk and entry is a smaller job than lighting trees, walls and a pool deck. We provide an itemized estimate for your project.
Why does landscape lighting cost more for a larger yard?
Lighting for larger Saratoga properties costs $3,000 to $10,000. Long wire runs across a large lot, more fixtures and smart controls can move the price toward the upper end. Lighting trees, walls and a pool deck is a larger job than lighting just the front entrance.
How do landscape lights connect to an outdoor outlet?
In a low-voltage landscape lighting system, a transformer plugs into an existing outdoor GFCI outlet. It sends power through low-voltage wires to the 12V LED fixtures. The individual lights do not need separate outlets. Path, step and accent lights can use the same system, controlled by a timer, photocell or smart controls.
Which landscape lighting brands do you install?
Landscape Associates of CA installs Volt, FX Luminaire and Kichler fixtures. We choose fixtures based on what you want to light. We also consider the beam and housing material. Brass and copper fixtures outlast aluminum. Our lighting installations carry a 2-year warranty.
What affects how long LED landscape lights last?
How long an LED fixture lasts depends on the model and the conditions where it is installed. LED fixtures can be replaced. Landscape Associates of CA provides a 2-year lighting warranty. Fixture material matters too: brass and copper housings outlast aluminum.
Can you add lighting to existing paths and steps?
Yes. Path lights can be added beside an existing walk, and step or wall lights can show changes in level. The paving, walls and planting determine where fixtures and wire routes can go. At the free on-site estimate, we look at those surfaces and the existing outdoor outlet.
Can you light oak trees from below?
Yes, we install uplighting for oak trees where it suits the site and local requirements. Los Gatos hillside lots need particular care when choosing decorative lighting. See the Town hillside standards (checked October 2026). Aim the light at the tree and reduce glare toward neighboring homes.
Can I control my landscape lights from a phone?
Yes. Smart control options let you manage low-voltage landscape lighting from a phone. You can also use a timer to set operating hours or a photocell that responds to daylight. We discuss controls when we plan your lighting with Volt, FX Luminaire or Kichler fixtures.
Do I need a permit for landscape lighting?
A low-voltage landscape lighting system uses a transformer that plugs into an existing outdoor outlet. The transformer supplies power to the lights through low-voltage wiring. Any new outlet is an electrician's job. The city sets the rules for your property.
Which cities do you serve for landscape lighting installation?
We install landscape lighting in San Jose, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Los Altos, Monte Sereno, Monterey and Carmel. Campbell, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Los Altos Hills, Carmel Valley and Pebble Beach are covered as well. Call or text (408) 207-5545 for a free lighting estimate; we reply within 24 hours.
Get a Free Quote
Call us, send the estimate form, or email us. We reply within 24 hours to book a free site visit. Call or text (408) 207-5545.
- (408) 207-5545
- david@landscapeassociatesca.com
- Mailing address: 125 Surf Way #443, Monterey, CA 93940
- Mon - Fri: 8:00-5:00 · Closed on weekends