What does court lighting cost?
Most single courts land between a basic two-pole setup and a four-pole layout. Height, fixture count and the distance from your electrical panel move the number most. These are published ranges, as of 2026:
| Lighting setup | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Single pole, basic recreational | $2,500 | The Kitchen Pickleball, Feb 2025 |
| 2 or 4 poles at 20 ft, 4 LED fixtures per pole | $5,000–$10,000 installed | HomeGuide, Jan 2026 |
| Tournament-style, full-court coverage | $12,500 | The Kitchen Pickleball, Feb 2025 |
| Basic court plus lighting and fencing | $20,000–$35,000 | Pickleball Central |
None of these prices includes a long trench back to the house or a new circuit at the panel. Electrical service and trenching are scoped at the site visit and confirmed, line by line, on your written quote. Our court construction cost guide shows where lighting fits in a full build.
Why LED, and where do the poles go?
LED, for lifespan and instant start. USA Pickleball rates LED fixtures at up to 100,000 hours, compared with roughly 12,000 for HID. HID also needs 3–12 minutes to warm up after every switch-on. It asks for light spread evenly across the playing area with glare kept as low as possible.
Its pole rules shape the layout:
- Distance from the sideline. Keep poles at least 5 ft off the sideline.
- Position. Center poles on, or just outside, the fence or court.
- Height. The bigger the lit area, the taller the poles need to be.
- Separate from the fence. Never use a light pole as a fence post.
- Wiring. Run it underground, outside the court area.
We set pole spots on the site plan before the pour, so conduit goes in once. On multi-court banks, each court gets its own circuit so one can be lit alone. Fence posts and light poles get separate footings. Our court fencing construction page covers the fence side.
Does Tulsa's lighting code apply to my court?
That turns on what sits on the lot. Chapter 67 of the Tulsa Zoning Code exempts any lot whose residential buildings hold fewer than 4 dwelling units. A backyard court at a house is exempt. HOA common areas, churches, swim and tennis clubs and commercial clubs are not. Fixtures of 1,000 lumens or less are exempt anywhere, but court fixtures run far brighter.
| Your lot | Chapter 67 | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| House with 1–3 units | Exempt (§67.020-A) | No lighting plan; we still aim and shield fixtures |
| HOA common area, church, club | Applies | Lighting plan submitted with the site plan (§67.040) |
| City park | Exempt for public recreation (§67.020-E) | Doesn't cover private courts |
On an exempt house lot, light spilling into a neighbor's bedroom still starts the complaint. That's why we design every court as if the rules applied.
How tall can the poles be at an HOA or church?
Under Option 1 in Table 67-1, height is capped by distance to residential zoning or a public right-of-way:
| Distance from R zoning or right-of-way | Maximum fixture height |
|---|---|
| 0–50 ft | 16 ft |
| 50.01–250 ft | 20 ft |
| More than 250 ft | 35 ft |
Option 2 swaps the cap for a photometric study. HomeGuide's price assumes 20-ft poles. A community court within 50 ft of a home can't use them under Option 1, so it needs more 16-ft poles or a photometric study. Siting the court 50 ft back often saves money on the lighting line. Our HOA and church court builder page shows how that plays out on a common-area plan.
How is light trespass measured?
At the property line, with a meter. Section 67.030-C caps light trespass at 0.5 foot-candles at a lot line next to AG, AG-R or R zoning. The cap is 3.0 fc next to other districts or the public right-of-way. The reading is taken 3 ft off the ground, or at the top of an opaque screening fence if one is there. Section 67.050 calls for an annually calibrated meter, with readings taken lights-on and lights-off after dark.
Shielding is the other half. The light-producing element can't be visible from abutting lots at 5 ft above grade. No more than 2.5% of emitted light may go above 90° from straight down, and no more than 10% above 80°. That points to full-cutoff LED fixtures aimed down at the court. Courts close to homes also need careful spacing.
Light and sound complaints tend to arrive together. Our noise planning guide for HOA court construction covers both.
How does a lighting job run?
- Your details. Court size, lot type, and photos of the court and the route to your electrical panel.
- Site visit. Distance to residential lot lines, pole spots, conduit route and panel capacity.
- Lighting approach. For exempt house lots, a pole layout. For HOA, church and club lots, an Option 1 height plan or an Option 2 photometric study, with the preparer named on the quote.
- Written quote. Poles, fixtures, footings, trenching and electrical as separate lines.
- Permits and install. The lighting plan goes in with the site plan where Chapter 67 applies. Our court construction permit guide lists the City of Tulsa and Broken Arrow steps.
Hail is worth planning for. NWS records for Tulsa International (1950–1997) show hail peaking in April and May, so fixture housings matter.
Not ready for a quote? Start with our guide to court construction site planning and orientation. Where the court sits decides your pole heights.
Frequently asked questions
Can lights go on a court that's already built?
Yes. A trench carries conduit around the slab, pole footings go outside the playing area, and the circuit runs back to your panel. The trench length and panel work are confirmed on your written quote.
Do backyard court lights need a Tulsa lighting plan?
No. Chapter 67 exempts lots with fewer than 4 dwelling units. We still use shielded fixtures aimed at the court, because spill is what neighbors notice.
Why can't our HOA use 20-ft poles?
Under Option 1, poles within 50 ft of residential zoning or a right-of-way are capped at 16 ft. Moving the court back, or paying for a photometric study under Option 2, opens up taller poles.
How many poles does one court need?
HomeGuide's typical court uses 2 or 4 poles at 20 ft with 4 LED fixtures each. Shorter poles near homes usually mean more of them. The site plan sets the count.
Can light poles double as fence posts?
No. USA Pickleball's guidance rules that out. Each pole gets its own footing, at least 5 ft off the sideline.
LED or HID for a new court?
LED. USA Pickleball cites up to 100,000 hours of life against about 12,000 for HID. LED also skips HID's 3–12 minute warm-up.
Get a quote
Tell us the court size, whether it sits at a house or on HOA, church or club land, and how far it is from your electrical panel. We'll reply by email to set a site visit, then send a written scope with every lighting line itemized. Get a Quote
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