How much does Christmas light installation cost in San Diego?

Published San Diego rates run $9–$10 per foot of roofline with $750–$1,000 minimums. A single-story roofline is usually $1,000–$2,000, and most first-season homes spend $1,500–$3,000, including lights, install, takedown and storage.

Is it cheaper if I use my own lights?

Yes. One San Diego installer publishes labor-only pricing of $199 for the first 50 ft of your own working lights, then $6 per foot single story or $9 per foot second story. Lights, accessories and removal cost extra.

Now. San Diego installers start in late October, and early December dates fill first.

Does the installer need a license?

California requires a contractor license for jobs of $1,000 or more (labor and materials), for jobs that need a permit, and for wiring. Ask for the license number on larger quotes and check it at cslb.ca.gov.

Do you install lights?

No. SD Price Hub is a free price guide, not a contractor. Send a request and we reply ourselves with a price range and next steps. We do not share your details with any business unless you ask.

San Diego holiday lighting prices

What does Christmas light installation cost in San Diego?

Full-service Christmas light installation in San Diego runs about $9–$10 per foot of roofline, with minimums of $750–$1,000. A single-story roofline usually lands at $1,000–$2,000, and most first-season homes spend $1,500–$3,000. That price normally includes the lights, install, in-season fixes, January takedown and storage.

Sources: published price pages of Coastal Clarity, North County Holiday Lights, The Holiday Lighters and AWC, checked Oct 21, 2026. Prices are public ranges, not quotes.

By Christian Kjeldsen, San Diego researcher · Last updated October 21, 2026

What San Diego installers publish

We list installers only because they publish their prices. We have no deal with any of them, and none of them pays us.

Installer	Published price	Source
Coastal Clarity (La Jolla)	C9 roofline $10/ft on either story; $1,000 job minimum; trees from $105 (palm) or $175 (branch); single-story roofline $1,000–$2,000; most first-season homes $1,500–$3,000	price page
North County Holiday Lights	Roofline $9/ft; $750 minimum; tree wrapping $35 per strand; bushes $50 per net light	price page
The Holiday Lighters	Package up to 150 ft of C7: $675 incandescent, $879 LED; $349 for the same package in later years	price page
AWC (labor only)	$199 for the first 50 ft of your own lights; then $6/ft single story, $9/ft second story; lights and removal extra	price page

Quick math for your house

Walk the roofline you want lit and count your steps (about 2.5 ft each). Multiply by $9–$10 for full service. A 150 ft roofline comes to about $1,350–$1,500. If that is under the installer's minimum, you pay the minimum.

Book early

Installers here schedule from late October, and the first two weeks of December fill first. Coastal Clarity says November and December usually sell out. If you want lights up before Thanksgiving, ask for a date now.

Licenses and the $1,000 line

Since January 1, 2025, California's minor-work exemption covers jobs under $1,000 for labor and materials combined (CSLB, AB 2622). Larger jobs, jobs that need a permit, and permanent lighting wired into your electrical system generally need a licensed contractor (a C-10 electrician for hard-wired systems). Ask for the license number on any quote of $1,000 or more and check it at cslb.ca.gov.

Six questions to ask before you book

Do you supply the lights, and who owns them after the season?
What exactly is included: clips, timer, in-season repairs, takedown, storage?
What is the takedown date, and is storage included next year?
How do you attach to the roof and gutters? (Clips, not nails or staples.)
Are you insured, and do you have workers' comp for the crew?
For permanent lighting: who pulls the permit, and which license covers the wiring?

Permanent lighting

Permanent track systems stay on the house all year and switch colors from an app. They are priced per home, and we could not verify a published San Diego per-foot price. Because they are wired in, ask for a C-10 electrical license.

Questions

How much does Christmas light installation cost in San Diego?: Published San Diego rates run $9–$10 per foot of roofline with $750–$1,000 minimums. A single-story roofline is usually $1,000–$2,000, and most first-season homes spend $1,500–$3,000, including lights, install, takedown and storage.
Is it cheaper if I use my own lights?: Yes. One San Diego installer publishes labor-only pricing of $199 for the first 50 ft of your own working lights, then $6 per foot single story or $9 per foot second story. Lights, accessories and removal cost extra.
When should I book?: Now. San Diego installers start in late October, and early December dates fill first.
Does the installer need a license?: California requires a contractor license for jobs of $1,000 or more (labor and materials), for jobs that need a permit, and for wiring. Ask for the license number on larger quotes and check it at cslb.ca.gov.
Do you install lights?: No. SD Price Hub is a free price guide, not a contractor. Send a request and we reply ourselves with a price range and next steps. We do not share your details with any business unless you ask.