Street lights are originally installed by developers of neighborhoods according to City standards that are dictated by our ordinances. In general, one street light should be installed at each street intersection and then additional lights should be installed at other locations along a residential street so that they are not farther than 600 feet apart nor closer than 150 feet apart.
Street Light Intention
It is important to note that street lights are not intended to illuminate the fronts of buildings; in fact, they are designed not to do so (by directing the lighting downward). They are also not intended to illuminate the entire roadway or sidewalk. Instead, they are intended to help motorists and pedestrians navigate a neighborhood in the dark by pointing out where the intersections (and cul-de-sacs) are and, in the case of midblock lights, drawing you along the roadway towards the next intersection.
Additional Lighting Installed
If you believe that street lights are farther apart than 600 feet in your neighborhood, please call 972-462-5150 to see if an additional light can be installed. If the lights in your neighborhood do meet the City standards, the City will not install any additional lights. However, the Home Owners Association (HOA) can pay to have additional lights installed (provided they meet our minimum spacing standards and the HOA acquires consent from the adjacent residents). The cost of installing a street light is usually about $7,500 depending on the amount of boring that the power company would need to do. Also, in some cases, homeowners would need to dedicate a utility easement on their property.