How do I install landscape lighting along my driveway in New Brunswick?

Driveway landscape lighting improves safety, curb appeal, and property value — and it's especially valuable in New Brunswick where winter daylight ends by 4:30 PM in December. Here's how to plan and install driveway lighting that handles our Maritime climate.

Low-Voltage vs. Line-Voltage: Which to Choose

Low-Voltage (12V) — Recommended for Most Driveways

Low-voltage landscape lighting uses a plug-in transformer that steps household 120V down to 12V. The low-voltage wire runs underground from the transformer to each light fixture.

Advantages:

• No electrical permit required — low-voltage landscape lighting doesn't require a TSANB permit in New Brunswick


• Safe to install as a DIY project — 12V won't shock you


• Wire can be direct-buried just below the surface (6–8 inches recommended, but no CEC-mandated depth for low-voltage)


• Wide selection of fixtures — path lights, bollards, uplights, well lights, wash lights


• Easy to modify — add, move, or remove fixtures without cutting into conduit

Disadvantages:

• Limited run length (voltage drops over distance — typically 100–150 feet maximum per transformer run before lights dim noticeably)


• Transformer must be plugged into a GFCI-protected outdoor outlet (which must already exist)


• Not suitable for very long driveways (200+ feet) without multiple transformers or a hub-and-spoke wire layout

Line-Voltage (120V)

Line-voltage landscape lighting connects directly to your home's electrical system at full 120V.

When line-voltage makes sense:

• Very long driveways (200+ feet) where low-voltage suffers voltage drop


• Permanent bollard or post lights that are part of the property infrastructure


• Integration with other outdoor circuits (security cameras, gate operators)


• Commercial-grade fixtures that require 120V

Requirements for line-voltage:

• Licensed electrician must do the installation


• TSANB permit and inspection required


• Wire must be in approved conduit buried to CEC-specified depth (typically 600mm / 24 inches in conduit)


• All fixtures must be GFCI-protected


• Significantly more expensive: $2,000–$6,000+ vs. $500–$1,500 for low-voltage

For most New Brunswick residential driveways, low-voltage is the right choice. It's affordable, safe, attractive, and handles driveways up to 100–150 feet without issues.

Planning Your Layout

Fixture Spacing

Path/bollard lights along a driveway: Space fixtures every 8–10 feet (2.5–3 metres) on one or both sides of the driveway. For a single-sided layout (more economical), stagger lights so the beam pattern from each light reaches the opposite edge of the driveway.

Example layout for a 60-foot driveway:

• Single-sided: 7 fixtures at 8-foot spacing = 7 fixtures


• Double-sided (staggered): 7 fixtures per side at 16-foot spacing, offset = 14 fixtures total but with more even light distribution


• Double-sided (paired): 7 fixtures per side directly opposite each other = 14 fixtures with a more formal, symmetrical look

Fixture Types for Driveways

| Fixture Type | Best For | Height | Price Each |
|-------------|----------|--------|------------|
| Path lights | Most driveways, walkways | 14–24 inches | $30–$80 |
| Bollard lights | Modern/contemporary style | 24–36 inches | $50–$150 |
| Well lights (in-ground) | Flush-mount, invisible during day | Flush | $40–$100 |
| Post/pillar lights | Driveway entrance markers | 36–72 inches | $80–$300 |
| Hardscape lights | Retaining wall or pillar integration | Varies | $30–$60 |

Recommended combination for NB: Post lights at the driveway entrance (2 fixtures), path lights along the driveway (6–12 fixtures), and optional uplights on trees or architectural features near the driveway.

Transformer Sizing

Add up the wattage of all planned fixtures and choose a transformer with 20–30% extra capacity to allow for future additions:

• 10 LED path lights at 3W each = 30W → 60–100W transformer (allows room to grow)
• 15 LED fixtures at 4W each = 60W → 100–150W transformer
• 20+ fixtures → 200–300W transformer or two smaller transformers

Quality transformers from brands like WAC Lighting, Kichler, or FX Luminaire cost $100–$300 for 100–300W models. Avoid cheap no-name transformers — they often produce inconsistent voltage that shortens LED fixture life.

Installation Steps (Low-Voltage DIY)

1. Mark Your Layout

• Place temporary stakes or flags where each fixture will go
• Walk the driveway at night with a flashlight at fixture height to verify spacing looks right
• Confirm the transformer location (must be within cord reach of a GFCI outdoor outlet)

2. Prepare the Transformer

• Mount the transformer on a post, wall, or stake near your outdoor outlet
• Set the built-in timer or photocell (most quality transformers include both)
• Some transformers have multiple voltage taps (12V, 13V, 14V, 15V) — use higher taps for longer wire runs to compensate for voltage drop

3. Trench the Wire

• Dig a shallow trench 6–8 inches deep along the driveway edge
• Use 12-gauge or 10-gauge low-voltage landscape wire (2-conductor, direct-burial rated)
• In areas where the wire crosses under the driveway, run it through PVC conduit to protect against future damage
• For NB frost considerations: While low-voltage wire doesn't need to be below frost line (it carries no dangerous voltage), burying it 6–8 inches keeps it below the typical sod layer and protects it from lawn mowers, edgers, and shallow cultivation

4. Install Fixtures

• Assemble each fixture per manufacturer instructions
• Connect to the main wire using the provided connectors (most modern landscape lights use pierce-point connectors that puncture the wire insulation and make contact — no wire stripping needed)
• Seat each fixture firmly in the ground

5. Connect and Test

• Attach the wire to the transformer terminals
• Power on and verify all fixtures light up
• Check fixture brightness — if lights near the end of the run are noticeably dimmer, try a higher voltage tap on the transformer or split the run into two separate home runs ("hub and spoke" layout)

6. Backfill

• Fill the trench and tamp lightly
• Replace sod or mulch

New Brunswick Climate Considerations

Frost heaving: NB's freeze-thaw cycles can push stake-mounted path lights out of the ground over winter. Use fixtures with deep stakes (8+ inches) or mount them on concrete bases for permanent installation.

Snow and ice: Fixtures along a plowed driveway must be positioned far enough from the driveway edge to avoid snowplow damage — typically 12–18 inches from the pavement edge. Taller fixtures (18+ inches) are less likely to be buried by plowed snow banks.

Salt exposure: If your driveway is salted or sanded in winter (standard practice in Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, and most NB municipalities), choose fixtures with marine-grade or salt-rated finishes — anodized aluminum, brass, or composite housings. Painted steel fixtures corrode rapidly in Maritime salt conditions.

Spring flooding: Low-lying areas near rivers and streams (common in the Saint John River Valley, Kennebecasis Valley, and Petitcodiac River areas) may experience spring flooding. Ensure transformer is mounted above expected water level and use waterproof connectors on all underground wire connections.

Cost Summary

| Component | Budget Tier | Quality Tier |
|-----------|------------|-------------|
| 10 LED path lights | $200–$400 | $500–$900 |
| 2 entrance post lights | $100–$200 | $300–$600 |
| Transformer (150W) | $60–$100 | $150–$250 |
| Wire (200 ft, 12-gauge) | $40–$60 | $60–$100 |
| Connectors, conduit, stakes | $30–$50 | $50–$80 |
| Total DIY | $430–$810 | $1,060–$1,930 |
| Professional installation | $1,000–$2,000 | $2,500–$5,000 |

A quality low-voltage LED driveway lighting system using 10–14 fixtures is a realistic $500–$1,500 DIY project or $1,500–$3,500 professionally installed — and it transforms both the appearance and safety of your property through New Brunswick's long, dark winters.

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