By Hometown Landscape

Most people think about landscape lighting in the spring, when they start using the yard again. We think fall is the better time to plan it. In Burtonsville, the sun sets at about 6:29 pm in mid October. Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, and the next day the sun sets at about 5:06 pm. By early December it is down by about 4:45 pm. That means most of the hours you are home and awake this winter, your yard is dark. Fall is also when you can see the problem with your own eyes. Walk out after dinner, and the dark steps, the shadowy driveway edge, and the patio you cannot use are right in front of you. This guide covers what homeowners in Montgomery County should know about low voltage landscape lighting before anything goes in the ground.

Low voltage vs line voltage: the choice that decides the rules

Almost every residential landscape lighting system we install is low voltage. A transformer plugs into an outdoor outlet and steps household power down to a much lower voltage, usually 12 volts. Thin cable runs from the transformer to each light. Line voltage lighting is different. It runs on regular 120 volt household power, the same as the outlets inside your home, and it needs heavier wiring and electrical boxes.

The difference matters for three reasons:

• Who can do the work. In Maryland, a state issued license is required to provide electrical services. But the state’s Electricians Act says it does not apply to the low voltage industry. Line voltage work, like adding a new outdoor outlet or a new circuit, is electrician work.
• Which permit applies. Montgomery County’s Department of Permitting Services, called DPS, has a separate Low Voltage Electrical Permit for systems of 50 volts or less. DPS says a license is not required to apply for it. A standard electrical permit is different: the person applying must hold a Maryland master electrician license.
• How deep the cable goes. Low voltage cable can be buried much shallower than line voltage wiring. We cover depth below.

DPS does not publish a page that says, in plain words, whether every plug in landscape lighting kit needs a permit. So we do not guess. If a project includes a new outlet or any 120 volt work, a licensed electrician handles that part and the permit that goes with it. For the low voltage side, we confirm with DPS when a project is unusual. If you live inside the City of Rockville or the City of Gaithersburg, DPS notes that its homeowner electrical permit option does not apply there, so check with the city too.

Why fall is the right time to design it

Good lighting is designed at night. You cannot see glare, dark spots, or light spilling into a neighbor’s window at noon. In the fall, it gets dark early enough that we can walk a yard with test lights in the early evening, before families are winding down for bed.

Fall also has practical advantages here in Maryland:

• The ground is still soft. Cable goes in a shallow trench. That work is easier before the ground freezes.
• Plants are thinning out. As leaves drop, you can see the bones of the yard: the tree trunks, the walls, and the paths. That is what lighting shows off in winter.
• You use it right away. A system installed in October gets used every evening through the holidays, not just on summer weekends.

The part you cannot see decides whether it lasts

When a lighting system fails, it is rarely the fixture. It is usually the cable, a connection, or the transformer. These are the parts we spend the most time on.

Cable depth

The National Electrical Code calls for at least 6 inches of cover over landscape lighting circuits of 30 volts or less, and 18 inches under a driveway. Kichler, one of the big lighting makers, also lists 6 inches as the minimum in its install instructions. Cable laid on top of the mulch is a common shortcut. It gets cut by edgers and aerators, and it is a trip hazard.

The transformer

The transformer is the heart of the system. Kichler’s instructions say to add up the wattage of every fixture on it. That total should not go over the transformer’s rating, and it should be no less than one third of it. The same instructions say to mount the transformer at least 1 foot above the ground and plug it into a covered, wet location GFCI outlet. A GFCI outlet shuts off power if it senses a fault, which is what you want outdoors.

Connections

Every light ties into the main cable somewhere. A loose or exposed splice lets water in, and that is where dimming and flickering usually start. We seal every connection and leave a little extra cable at each fixture, so it can be moved as plants grow.

Before anyone digs: Miss Utility

Even a shallow lighting trench counts as digging. In Maryland, you must contact Miss Utility no sooner than 3 business days and no later than 12 business days before digging. Miss Utility says this applies regardless of excavation depth. You can call 811 or file a ticket online. A ticket is good for 12 business days.

Remember that the utility companies only mark their own lines. Private lines, like sprinkler pipes, invisible dog fences, and the water line from the meter to your house, are not marked. A lighting trench often follows a bed edge or a walkway, which is right where those lines tend to run. If you have them, have them located before the work starts.

Good lighting, good neighbors

Montgomery County’s zoning code includes outdoor lighting standards that cover new outdoor light fixtures. It limits how much light can reach the lot line, to 0.5 footcandles or less, which is very dim. It calls for fixtures that are full or partial cutoff, which means the light is aimed down and shielded. It allows uplighting only to accent things like architecture, landscaping, or art, and that light must be shielded so it does not spill over or cause glare.

We design to stay well inside those lines, and not only because of the code. Light that shines into a neighbor’s bedroom or into a driver’s eyes is bad lighting. Our rule of thumb is simple: you should see what is lit, not the bulb that lights it. Many neighborhoods also have HOA rules about outdoor fixtures, so it is worth a quick check with your association before you pick fixtures.

Choosing fixtures and the color of the light

Today’s landscape lights are almost all LED. The U.S. Department of Energy says LED bulbs use at least 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and can last 25 times longer. That is why a modern system can run every night without much thought.

Color matters more than most people expect. The Department of Energy describes 2700K as the warm color of traditional bulbs. Warm white makes stone, brick, and plants look natural. Cool, blue white light can make a yard look like a parking lot. When we design a system, we test the color on your actual walls and plants before anything is buried.

Most homes need only a few kinds of lights:

• Path and step lights for safety on walkways, stairs, and patio edges.
• Uplights for a tree, a wall, or the front of the house, aimed and shielded with care.
• Downlights mounted high in a tree or under an eave, for soft light over a patio or lawn.
• Wall and cap lights built into retaining walls, seat walls, and steps.

How we plan a lighting project

Our shop sits on Sandy Spring Road in Burtonsville, close to where Montgomery, Howard, and Prince George’s counties meet. We light yards in all three, and the permit office is different in each one. On every outdoor lighting installation, we follow the same steps:

• Walk the yard with you after dark and agree on what needs light: steps, paths, the driveway edge, the patio, and one or two features worth showing off.
• Check for an outdoor GFCI outlet in the right spot. If one is needed, a licensed electrician adds it.
• Contact Miss Utility and plan the cable route around private lines.
• Size the transformer to the fixture load, bury the cable at the right depth, and seal every connection.
• Aim every light at night, then set the timer or photocell so the system runs on its own.

This article is general information, not electrical or legal advice. Rules change, and the county has the final say. Before you start, confirm the current requirements with Montgomery County DPS by calling 311 (240-777-0311 from outside the county), or with the permit office in your own county.

Frequently Asked Questions About Low Voltage Landscape Lighting in Montgomery County

Ready to light up the dark months? The clocks change on November 1. If you want your steps, paths, and patio lit before then, contact our team and we will set up an evening walk through of your yard.