LOW-VOLTAGE LED • BISMARCK, ND
Landscape Lighting in Bismarck, ND
Bismarck Landscape installs low-voltage LED landscape lighting for homes in Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln. We light paths, steps, trees, patios and the front of the house, and we lay it out for what our yards deal with: long winter nights, deep snow, snow blowers and frost.
Here’s the local reason it matters. On the shortest day of the year, the sun sets in Bismarck just before 5 p.m. That’s a lot of dark hours on icy steps and walks.
LIGHTING SERVICES
What We Light
Paths and walkways
so people can see where the sidewalk ends and the snowbank starts
Steps and level changes
the spots where people trip and fall on ice
Trees
lit from below so the bark and branches stand out, even in winter
The front of the house
with soft light washing the walls or stone
Patios and fire pit areas
so the space works after sunset. See fire pits and outdoor living.
Retaining walls and seating walls
with lights tucked under the cap. See retaining walls in Bismarck.
WINTER-FIRST LIGHTING
Why Lighting Matters More in Bismarck
| Date | Sunset in Bismarck | Daylight |
|---|---|---|
| June 21 | About 9:40 p.m. | About 15 hours 50 minutes |
| October 8 | About 7:08 p.m. | About 11 hours 15 minutes |
| December 21 | About 4:57 p.m. | About 8 hours 30 minutes |
In summer, most people barely need yard lights. In winter, you get home from work in the dark, take the dog out in the dark and shovel in the dark. So we design lighting for December first: clear paths, lit steps and a front entry you can find in a snowstorm. Summer evenings on the patio are the bonus.
HOW WE INSTALL
How We Set Up Low-Voltage LED Lighting
Plan the layout at night
We look at the yard after dark to see where light is needed and where it would glare.
Use a low-voltage transformer
It plugs into an outdoor GFCI outlet and steps household current down to a safe low voltage for the fixtures. If you need a new outdoor outlet, a licensed electrician installs it.
Use LED fixtures
The U.S. Department of Energy says residential LEDs, especially ENERGY STAR rated ones, use at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting.
Bury the cable right
The National Electrical Code, in Table 300.5, allows 6 inches of cover for landscape lighting circuits limited to 30 volts. It requires more under a driveway: 18 inches at one- and two-family homes.
Set it on a timer or photocell,
so lights come on at dusk and shut off when you want. A timer you can change by season matters here, since sunset moves almost five hours between June and December.
Split it into zones,
so you can run the paths all night and the tree lights just in the evening.
Hand you a map
We draw where every cable runs. 811 locate crews don’t mark private lines (more on that below).
The North Dakota State Electrical Board licenses electrical work in the state, including low-voltage systems. For questions about a specific job, call the board at (701) 328-9522.
SNOW-SAFE DESIGN
Built for Snow, Frost and Plows
Most landscape lighting problems in Bismarck come from winter, not from the lights themselves.
- Keep fixtures back from where snow goes. Snow blowers, shovels and plows clip anything right at the edge of a driveway or walk. We set path lights back from the edge and avoid the spots where you pile snow.
- Pick sturdy fixtures. Metal fixtures hold up better than thin plastic ones near walks and drives.
- Check stakes in spring. Frost can push stakes and tilt fixtures over the winter. A quick walk in May fixes it.
- Watch your sprinklers. Heads that spray straight into fixture lenses can leave mineral spots. We aim lights and heads to work together. See irrigation and sprinklers in Bismarck.
- Know where your lines are. NDSU Extension’s August 2026 safety release says private lines, like sprinkler systems and electric lines past the meter, aren’t covered by the 811 locate system. The owner has to know where they are. That’s why we leave you a cable map. Call 811 at least two full business days before any digging.
LIGHT THAT RESPECTS THE NIGHT
Lighting That Doesn’t Bother the Neighbors
Good yard lighting is soft and aimed. Bad lighting is a floodlight in your neighbor’s bedroom window. DarkSky International lists five principles for outdoor lighting:
| Principle | What DarkSky says | How we use it |
|---|---|---|
| Useful | “Use light only if it is needed” | Light paths, steps and entries first |
| Targeted | “Direct light so it falls only where it is needed” | Shielded fixtures aimed down or at the tree, not the sky |
| Low level | “Light should be no brighter than necessary” | Low-output fixtures, spread out |
| Controlled | “Use light only when it is needed” | Timers, photocells and zones |
| Warm-colored | “Use warmer-color lights where possible” | Warm white, not blue-white |
It also keeps more of the prairie night sky visible from your back yard.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SYSTEM
Low-Voltage vs Solar in Bismarck
| Low-voltage LED | Solar | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost (national) | About $100 to $150 per light | About $50 to $200 per light |
| Winter performance | Same every night | Short December days and snow on the panels mean less charge |
| Brightness | Steady and adjustable | Usually dimmer, varies with the weather |
| Control | Timer, photocell and zones | Built-in sensor on each light |
| Wiring | Buried cable to a transformer | None |
Costs are from LawnStarter (December 2025) and are national estimates. Solar lights work for a little accent light in summer. For steps and paths you count on in January, we use low-voltage.
LIGHTING COSTS
How Much Does Landscape Lighting Cost?
| What | National estimate |
|---|---|
| Average installed system | About $3,250 |
| Most homeowners pay | About $2,000 to $4,500 |
| Per installed fixture | About $100 to $200 |
| Low-voltage, per installed light | About $100 to $150 |
| Solar, per light | About $50 to $200 |
Source: LawnStarter’s landscape lighting cost guide, updated December 27, 2025. These are market estimates, not quotes. Your price depends on how many fixtures, how far the cable runs, the fixture quality and whether you need a new outdoor outlet. You get a written price after we see the yard. For other local prices, see how much landscaping costs in Bismarck.
Questions
Landscape Lighting FAQ
Answers about landscape lighting, low-voltage wiring, winter conditions and costs.
Have a lighting question?
Call and tell us what you want to light. We can help you plan it.
How much does landscape lighting cost?
LawnStarter’s national average is about $3,250 for an installed system, with most homeowners paying $2,000 to $4,500. That works out to about $100 to $200 per installed fixture. These are national estimates, not quotes.
How deep is low-voltage lighting wire buried?
The National Electrical Code, Table 300.5, allows 6 inches of cover for landscape lighting circuits limited to 30 volts. Under a driveway at a one- or two-family home, it calls for 18 inches.
Do I need an electrician for landscape lighting?
A low-voltage system plugs into an outdoor GFCI outlet. If you need a new outlet or circuit, a licensed electrician installs it. The North Dakota State Electrical Board licenses electrical work, including low-voltage systems, and can answer questions at (701) 328-9522.
Are solar landscape lights worth it in Bismarck?
For a little summer accent light, they can be. For paths and steps you rely on in winter, low-voltage is more dependable. December days in Bismarck are only about 8½ hours long, and snow can cover the panels.
Will snow and plows damage my landscape lights?
They can, if fixtures sit right at the edge of the driveway or walk. Set path lights back from where you push and pile snow, use sturdy metal fixtures, and check for tilted stakes after the frost leaves in spring.
What color of light looks best outside?
Warm white. DarkSky International recommends warmer-color lights and limiting blue light. Warm light looks better on brick, stone, wood and plants, and it’s easier on your neighbors.
Bismarck Landscape
Light Up Your Yard
Tell us what you want to see after dark, and we’ll plan the lights around winter first. Call Bismarck Landscape.
See our contact options. For a full yard plan, see landscape design in Bismarck.