What shapes the investment
- Number and type of fixtures
- LED versus other lighting technology
- Smart controls and zoning
- Wiring and transformer requirements
- Whether lighting is added to existing hardscape or planned with new construction
Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor Lighting Installation in Paso Robles
Outdoor lighting installation and landscape lighting for Paso Robles estates, ranch homes, and wine-country properties. Summer afternoons here run hot enough that the patio and pool really come alive after sunset, and a good lighting plan is what makes those evenings work. We route every cable around the oaks Paso Robles protects and install every fixture with our own crews.
- 25+years of experience
- 10,000+projects completed
- In-housedesign-build crews
- LIC #715731licensed & insured
- 5-star
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What you're looking for
Paso Robles is home to Sensorio’s Field of Light, tens of thousands of glowing spheres spread over the hills, and the lesson carries home: a little light, well placed, goes a long way. Pick what you’re after below. The projects pictured come from our wider portfolio, planned the same way we plan here.
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01 A safer, more secure property Long driveways, gates, and the walks between the house and outbuildings get low, shielded light that makes them safe without lighting up the whole hillside. See the driveway project -
02 A backyard built for evening entertaining When a hundred-degree afternoon finally cools off, warm patio lighting is what turns the terrace into the place everyone ends up. See the fireplace terrace -
03 Pools and water features that glow at night Pool and spa lights set the scene for late swims once the heat breaks, with soft accents around the deck so the stars still show. See pool projects -
04 Architectural and landscape highlights Light washing a retaining wall, or an uplit valley oak, gives a large property structure after dark, with cable kept well clear of the root zone. See landscape projects
Service options
Energy-Efficient LED Lighting
Best for Anyone who wants long-lasting, low-energy lighting that still looks warm and inviting.
- Uses a fraction of the power of the halogen systems it replaces
- Integrated LED fixtures are commonly rated for tens of thousands of hours
- Warm color temperatures, around 2700K to 3000K, that suit dark-sky guidance
- Solid brass and copper bodies that stand up to coastal air
- Low-voltage cable that is safe to run through planting beds
On your property Low-voltage cable runs underground from a transformer on an outdoor outlet. Fixture locations are planned during design, not added after the planting is in.
- Pathways
- Garden beds
- Trees and architecture
- Patios and decks
Smart Outdoor Lighting Systems
Best for Homeowners who want schedules, zones, and dimming from a phone or panel instead of a timer box on the side of the house.
- Astronomical timers that follow sunset through the seasons
- Separate zones, so the entry, patio, and pool keep their own schedules
- Dimming for a softer late-evening scene
- Motion-activated zones for security lighting that stays off until it is needed
- Remote control from a phone or a home automation system
On your property Needs a smart-capable transformer and, for app control, a Wi-Fi signal where the transformer is mounted. We confirm both during design.
- Pool and water feature lighting
- Entertaining areas
- Security lighting
- Whole-property systems
Pathway and Walkway Lighting
Best for Anyone who wants safer walkways and steps, and a well-lit approach to the house.
- Improves safety and visibility along driveways and garden paths
- Marks steps and grade changes after dark
- Low, downward-facing fixtures avoid glare
- Works with paver, natural stone, or concrete surfaces
- Extends the finished look of hardscape into the evening
On your property Fixture spacing depends on the width and length of the route. Step lights are set into risers and walls as they are built, and path light cable is best run under the base during construction.
- Driveways
- Entry walks
- Garden paths
- Steps and grade changes
How we work
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Before Site analysis
We walk the property, map the oaks and their root zones, and plan cable routes and transformer locations around them before any fixture goes on the plan.
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Site plan notes Initial consultation
With the site analysis in hand, you sit down with a designer and mark up the existing site plan: what should be lit, from the steps to the spa, and what should stay dark.
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Lighting plan Conceptual design
The lighting goes onto the color plan with everything else. Every fixture gets a symbol, a model, and a count, so you can see exactly what will be lit before anything is ordered.
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Rendering Final design
A rendering shows how the finished space will look and feel, string lights and all, so the lighting is judged in context instead of as a list of fixtures.
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Finished Installation
Our crews run the low-voltage cable, set the transformer and fixtures, and fine-tune the aiming once it is dark enough to see the result.
Key decisions
Things worth knowing before a first consultation.
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LED versus other fixture types
LED fixtures cost more upfront than the halogen systems they replace, but draw far less power and last much longer.
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Smart controls versus a simple timer
Smart systems allow zoning, dimming, and remote control. A basic astronomical timer is simpler and still follows sunset through the year.
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Fixture placement and glare
Shielded, downward-facing fixtures keep light on the path and out of windows, neighboring yards, and the night sky.
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Security versus ambiance
Security lighting favors broader coverage on motion sensors. Ambiance lighting uses softer, more selective accents on a schedule.
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Wiring and conduit timing
Low-voltage cable and sleeves are easiest to run during construction, before paving and planting are finished.
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Integration with other features
Lighting is planned alongside patios, pools, and planting rather than added as an afterthought.
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Working around protected oaks
Paso Robles’ oak tree preservation rules protect each oak’s critical root zone, an area generally larger than the drip line. We plan low-voltage cable routes around those zones instead of trenching through them.
Investment and timeline
No quote written off a photograph can account for what your property is like.
What shapes the schedule
- Design and fixture selection
- Coordination with other trades during construction
- Transformer and control system setup
- Testing and adjustment after installation
Why outdoor lighting was drawn together with the rest of the property
Decking, drainage, utilities, planting, shade and lighting all bear on where a feature goes and how it gets built. Settling them on one set of drawings is what keeps conduit out of the wrong trench and stops paving being cut to fit afterward.
- Every fixture on the plan Path lights, floodlights, uplights, step lights, and eyebrow lights each get a symbol, a model, and a count on the drawing.
- Wiring coordinated with the build Cable and sleeves go in with the decking, walls, and paving, so fixtures land exactly where the plan puts them.
- Steps and grade changes Step lights mark each change in level between the deck, the pool terrace, and the lawn.
- Pool, spa, and fire as one scene The pool and spa lights, the fire pit, and the landscape lighting were drawn together instead of as separate systems.
- Light placed with the planting Uplights are located on the same sheet as the trees and specimen plants they are meant to light as the garden grows in.
Access, engineering, permits, finishes and scope vary a lot from one property to the next, so the investment and the schedule for your project are set once we have seen the site and the design is settled.
Tell us about the property and what you want the space to do. We will walk through the design, site and permitting factors likely to shape it.
What customers say
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We hired Pacific Outdoor Living in October 2020, after living in the house for about 30 years. They did a complete backyard renovation converting a relatively unusable sloped backyard with a very small patio into a 2 tiered outdoor entertaining showpiece with room to host and entertain 20+ people. We couldn't be happier with their ideas and design for the space.
Mark Lewin Google review Two-tiered entertaining space, Paso Robles -
They completely remodeled our pool, added a hot tub, and handled all the lighting and landscaping. Our project supervisor, Juan, demonstrated great communication and meticulous attention to detail, taking extra care to ensure that every aspect was safe for our kids and our puppy. This is clearly a company that takes genuine pride in their work.
Sarah Johnson Google review Pool remodel, lighting, and landscaping
Frequently asked questions
Does Pacific Outdoor Living install outdoor lighting in Paso Robles?
Yes. Paso Robles is served by our San Luis Obispo office, and our in-house crews install landscape lighting on estate, ranch, and in-town properties throughout the area, including the paver pathway project shown on this page.
Can landscape lighting go in near oak trees in Paso Robles?
Yes, with care. The city protects the critical root zone around each oak, so we plan cable routes around it rather than trenching through it. An uplit oak is one of the best features a Paso Robles property can have, and it should stay healthy for decades after the lights go in.
Do I need a permit for landscape lighting?
Low-voltage fixtures themselves usually are not the permit question. A new 120-volt outlet or circuit for the transformer usually is. We pull whatever the city or county requires through our in-house permitting department.
How long do LED landscape lights last?
Quality integrated LED fixtures are commonly rated for 30,000 to 50,000 hours, which is more than a decade of nightly use. Solid brass and copper bodies also outlast painted aluminum fixtures, especially near the coast.
Will you check on the system after it is installed?
Yes. We include a monitoring period after installation to check settings and aiming, and to confirm everything is working as designed.
Ready to get started?
Schedule a consultation with one of our designers to discuss your project goals and explore what's possible on your property.
What happens next: we set up a visit, measure the property and talk through what you want the space to do. Then you get a design to look at before you commit to anything.