Updated October 2026
Quick answer
Security lighting in Oklahoma City means hardwired exterior fixtures at the driveway, entries and side yards: motion floodlights that switch on when something moves, dusk-to-dawn fixtures that stay on all night at low output, and camera floodlights that record as well as light. We mount them on proper exterior boxes, wire them to switched circuits and aim them to keep glare off the street and the neighbors.
Light where it helps, darkness where it does not
What a security lighting install covers
Most homes have a porch light and a single garage floodlight that either stays off or blasts the whole street. The dark spots are where it matters: the side gate, the back door, the gap between the garage and the fence, the far end of the driveway. A security lighting plan covers those approaches with fixtures that come on when they should and stay off when they should not.
We start by walking the property after dark. Then we pick the fixture type for each spot, mount it on a weather-rated box, feed it from a switched circuit so you can override it, and aim it down and in. Motion sensors are set for range and sensitivity so a passing car or a tree in the wind does not trigger them all night.
What moves the price
What sets the price of security lighting
- Number of fixtures Each light adds a box, wiring and aiming time.
- Existing boxes Replacing a fixture on a good box is quick; new locations need wiring.
- Switch location A new interior switch for override adds labor.
- Mounting height Second-story eaves need taller ladders or a lift.
- Fixture type Camera floodlights cost more than plain motion lights.
- Wall material Brick and stone take longer to mount on than siding.
- Wi-Fi reach Camera lights may need a network extender.
Security lighting is quoted by fixture count and location. National 2026 figures put residential labor at about $75 to $150 per hour; fixtures are priced separately.
What is included
What a hardwired security light install includes
- Walk-through after dark to find the real gaps
- Weather-rated exterior box for every fixture
- Switched circuit so each light can be overridden
- Heads aimed down and in, away from neighbors
- Motion range, sensitivity and timer set on site
- Photocells placed so they do not see their own light
- Camera lights paired to the app with you
Sub-jobs this page covers
Motion, dusk-to-dawn and camera fixtures
Motion floodlights
Motion floodlights stay dark until something moves in their range, then light the area brightly for a set time. They suit driveways, back yards and side yards where constant light is not needed. The difference between a useful one and a nuisance is setup: we mount it high enough to see the approach, aim the heads down so the beam lands on the ground rather than the neighbor window, and adjust the sensor range and timer on site. A switch inside lets you override it for a party or turn it off.
Dusk-to-dawn fixtures
A photocell switches these on at dusk and off at dawn, so an entry or a side gate is never fully dark. They run at modest output, often warm white, which lights a path and a face without flooding the yard. Many homes pair them with motion floods: a soft light at the gate all night, and a bright one that comes on when someone approaches. We place the photocell away from other fixtures so it does not see its own light and cycle on and off.
Camera-integrated lights
Camera floodlights combine a motion light, a camera and often a siren in one fixture, and they work far better hardwired than on batteries. We replace an existing floodlight or add a new box where the camera has the view you want, confirm Wi-Fi reaches the spot, and set up the app with you. Hardwiring means no charging, continuous recording where the camera supports it, and one less device to maintain. The fixture still gets aimed like a floodlight so the light is useful, not just the camera.
Oklahoma City conditions
Exterior fixtures in the historic districts
Oklahoma City has historic preservation districts where changes to the outside of a house go through Historic Preservation Commission review, including Heritage Hills, Mesta Park and Crown Heights. Replacing an existing porch fixture is a different matter from mounting new floodlights across a street-facing facade, so on homes in those districts we plan fixture placement on the side and rear elevations first and flag anything on the front that may need a look from the commission before it goes up.
DIY or call
Plug-in and battery lights versus hardwired
| Option | Good for | Where it falls short |
|---|---|---|
| Battery motion light | A shed door or a fence gate | Dim, needs charging, short run time |
| Solar floodlight | A spot with full sun | Weak in winter and cloudy weeks |
| Plug-in floodlight on a cord | Temporary use | Cords outside, no switch |
| Hardwired fixture on a switched circuit | Driveways, entries and camera lights | Needs an electrician to install |
Step by step
From the night walk to the aimed fixture
- Walk the property after dark
Dark approaches, glare problems, existing fixtures.
- Choose a fixture for each spot
Motion, dusk-to-dawn or camera light.
- Mount and wire
Weather-rated boxes on switched circuits.
- Aim and set sensors
Beams down, range and timers adjusted.
- Test at night
Walk the approaches with you after dusk.
Questions we get about this job
Security lighting questions
Motion for driveways and yards, dusk-to-dawn for entries and gates. Many homes use both.
Sensor range set too wide, a tree or street in view, or heat from a vent. We adjust or relocate it.
Yes, onto an existing exterior box or a new one with a switched circuit.
Not if they are aimed down and in. We set every head on the first night.
Replacing a fixture usually does not; new circuits or new exterior boxes on a new run are standard permitted work.
Warm white for entries and gates, neutral white for driveway floods where detail matters.
Yes. We run a new switched feed through the attic or wall to a new exterior box.
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Dimmer detailsDark spots around the house?
Call to book a night walk-through. We place, wire and aim the lights so the approaches are covered and the neighbors are not.