DW Elite Decks installs low voltage lighting in Leawood for decks, porches, stairs, and pergolas, wired by the same crews that build them. We plan every fixture to light your space without spilling onto the house next door. That matters in a city that writes its lighting rules down to the foot-candle.
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Leawood updated its lighting nuisance ordinance on July 1, 2024. Most homeowners never read it until a neighbor complains. Here is what it says in plain terms:
The good news: the city counts your deck, porch or screened porch as part of the house, so deck-mounted lights qualify.
That is why we lean on downward-facing post caps, recessed stair lights, and under-rail strips. They put light on your boards and steps, not across the fence. Each fixture draws between 1 and 4.5 watts, so the glow stays soft. We plan placement with your property lines and your neighbors’ windows in mind.
Our main system is DekPro low voltage lighting. We also install Fortress, Dekor, Volt, Magena Star and Aurora when a project calls for them.
| Fixture | Power draw | Where it works best |
| Down light post cap | 3.5 watts | Rail posts near property lines |
| Glow ring post cap | 2 watts | Posts facing into your own yard |
| Vertical post light | 1 watt | Deck edges and walkways |
| Stair riser light | 1 watt | Every step down to the yard |
| LED strip, 30″ or 55″ | 3.5 or 4.5 watts | Under the rail, bench or stair nosing |
Post caps sit on top of your railing posts and do most of the work.
Stair lights mount flush in the risers. Louvered, hooded, and recessed faces each control glare a little differently. If your budget covers one thing, make it the stairs.
Flexible LED strips tuck under the top rail, a bench, or the stair nosing. You see the glow on the boards, not the fixture.
Solar caps need no wiring, which helps on a detached pergola or a far corner. They are less dependable in winter, when the sun sets as early as 4:57 p.m. in early December. We will tell you honestly where wired lights make more sense.
A lighting plan for a 1950s ranch looks nothing like one for a walkout on a golf course lot. Here is how we approach each.
Old Leawood and Leawood Estates grew up in the 1940s through the 1960s, with ranch homes on lots shaded by mature trees. Decks here tend to sit low, often next to a screened porch.
Areas like Woods at Ironhorse date to the late 1990s and 2000s, with golf course lots, walkout basements, and HOA architectural guidelines.
Most complaints about low voltage outdoor lighting trace back to how it was installed, not the fixtures. These are the ones we design out from day one.
Leawood runs its own Codes Administration, separate from Johnson County, with permits filed through the Access Leawood portal.
We confirm what your specific project needs with the city before we start, so nothing gets flagged later.
A photo or rough sketch is plenty. We note your post count, stair runs, where power is, and what your neighbors can see.
Every fixture, finish, wire run and transformer size goes in writing. No vague per-light pricing.
We confirm permit needs with the city and give you specs for your HOA if it reviews exterior changes.
Wire runs through the framing and behind the fascia. The transformer goes somewhere you can reach but won’t notice.
We test every fixture, set the timer and photocell, and show you how to change the schedule.
Doing these at the same time as your lighting saves you from opening things up twice.
Starting from scratch? Visit our Leawood deck builder page. We also install deck lighting in Lenexa and handle deck lighting and electrical in Kansas City.
A new deck, a deck expansion or a new outdoor outlet all go through Leawood’s permit process. For a plug-in system on an existing deck, we confirm with the city’s Codes Administration before work starts.
Yes. Light can’t exceed 0.5 foot-candle at a neighbor’s property line, and glare that disrupts a neighbor’s use of their property is a violation. Lights mounted on your deck count as mounted on the house.
Not if the transformer plugs into an existing exterior outlet. You only need an electrician for a new outlet or circuit, and we coordinate that for you.
It depends on fixture count, fixture type, and whether the deck is new or already built. A retrofit costs more to wire than a new build. Request a bid for an itemized number, or see our pricing page.
Yes. On a finished deck we route wire under the joists and along the fascia. It takes more labor than a new build, and we will tell you upfront if any spot is impractical.
They work for spots with no power, like a detached pergola. They are less consistent in winter, so wired lights are the better choice where you use the deck most.
It depends on the transformer’s rating and each fixture’s wattage. We keep the load well under the rating and size the wire so the last light matches the first.
That is usually voltage drop from undersized wire or too many fixtures on one run. Splitting the run or upgrading the wire normally fixes it.
Whether we built your deck or you’ve had it for twenty years, we can light it so you actually use it after dark. Stop by the showroom to see fixtures lit, or send us a few photos of your deck.
Call (913) 782-7575 or request your free bid, and we’ll design low-voltage lighting in Leawood that fits your deck and keeps your neighbors happy.
Granted a Class A building license for operation in Johnson County, Kansas. This is the top license type for any contractor.
Deckorators chose DW Elite Decks as its First Certified Pro Spotlight Feature.
Awarded the coveted Angie's List Super Service Award (many times), which is only given to the top 5% of all Kansas City deck builders.
Nationally recognized by Rich Noonan, the Eight Time Emmy Award-Winning Reporter for Fox News!
Westbury Certified Master Pro. Beacon of distinction as the bar is set high to earn this coveted status.
At DW Elite Decks, we pride ourselves on delivering craftsmanship that meets and exceeds industry standards. As Kansas City’s premier custom deck builder since 1997, we ensure every project is executed with proper permits and passes final inspections, guaranteeing code compliance and long-term safety.
