Holiday and Christmas light installation in West Orange and Essex County, NJ

MDL Electric Cooling & Heating, at 4 Harrison Avenue in West Orange (973.809.2339), hangs, powers and times holiday lights for homes in West Orange, Montclair, Livingston, Maplewood, South Orange and the rest of Essex County. MDL is a licensed New Jersey electrical contractor (34EI01606200), so the outlets, timers and circuits behind the lights are done to code too.

HomeGuide's cost guide (updated October 1, 2025) puts a basic roofline package at $250 to $1,500 and a full package with windows, garage and landscaping at $750 to $5,000, or $5 to $12 per linear foot installed. Fixr (updated January 31, 2025) puts the national average at $450, with most jobs between $250 and $650. These are published market ranges read October 28, 2026, not an MDL quote.

HomeGuide's cost guide says $5 to $12 per linear foot installed. Its New York installer page lists $2.50 to $5.00 per foot for lights and labor, with fees about 20% higher for two-plus stories or steep roofs. Fixr says high or hard roofs of about 16 feet or more run $3.50 to $6 per foot. Not MDL prices.

Often, but ask. HomeGuide says removal is sometimes included in the package price and costs $100 to $400 on its own; Fixr lists removal at $125 to $350 per project or $0.50 to $0.65 per linear foot. Ask MDL for the takedown date and price when you book.

LED strings do not. ENERGY STAR says certified LED light strings use 92% less energy than conventional incandescent strands and last up to 10 times longer. HomeGuide says a medium-sized LED display run 6 to 8 hours a night costs just a few dollars for the whole season; Fixr puts holiday-light energy costs at $5 to $75 a month depending on the display.

Because the dangerous part is the power, not the clips. NFPA says electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in 40% of home Christmas tree fires, and nearly one in four started with lamps or bulbs. The National Electrical Code requires outdoor receptacles at homes to be GFCI protected and to have an in-use weatherproof cover, limits temporary holiday lighting power to 90 days, and requires the lights to be listed. A licensed electrician checks the circuit load, the outlet and the cords before anything is plugged in.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says never to string together more than three sets of incandescent lights and never to overload electrical outlets. LED strings draw far less, and the box says how many can be joined end to end. MDL plans the runs so no outlet or circuit is overloaded.

Use lights that are listed by a recognized testing lab (the NEC requires holiday lighting to be listed; UL 588 is the standard for seasonal strings), and use indoor-rated strings inside and outdoor-rated strings outside, as the label says. CPSC says to check each set for cracked sockets, frayed cords and loose connections before use, to join no more than three sets of incandescent lights end to end, never to overload an outlet, and to water a live tree because a dry tree can burn through in under a minute. Turn the tree lights off when you leave the house or go to bed. Tree lights are a plug-in job, not electrician's work; MDL's part is the outdoor display and the outlets and circuits that feed it.

The National Electrical Code requires outdoor receptacles at a home to be GFCI protected and to have a weatherproof in-use cover. In New Jersey, adding five or fewer outlets on circuits that can carry the load is minor work under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A: no permit is needed before the work starts, but the contractor gives the local enforcing agency notice first, files the permit application within five business days, and the town inspects within three business days of the request. Fixr lists extra outlets at $120 to $200 each, not an MDL price.

The National Electrical Code (Article 590.3(B)) allows temporary power for holiday decorative lighting for up to 90 days; New Jersey adopts the 2020 NEC as its electrical subcode. HomeGuide says most installers recommend taking lights down by mid-January and return 2 to 4 weeks after New Year's Day. Lights left up all year should be commercial-grade and rated for continuous outdoor use.

HomeGuide's cost guide puts permanent holiday lighting at $20 to $40 per linear foot, or $2,000 to $8,000 for 100 to 200 linear feet. Fixr puts the average at $3,000 to $3,500. Not MDL prices. These track systems are hardwired to a power supply and controller, which is electrician's work in New Jersey.

Cost up front (HomeGuide: $2,000 to $8,000 against $250 to $1,500 for a basic seasonal roofline), a visible track on the fascia in daylight, a controller and power feed that need a proper circuit, and a system tied to one brand's app. The upside is no ladder every November and lights that can change color for other holidays.

Book in early November for a pre-Thanksgiving install. HomeGuide says most homeowners install after Halloween or in mid-November and take lights down in the first week of the new year, and that an install takes 2 to 5 hours, or up to 2 days for large properties. The earlier you book, the better your choice of dates.

Call 973.809.2339 with the address and the size of the storefront. Commercial displays run longer and draw more, so the first visit is about outlets, circuits and timers. For other commercial electrical work, see MDL's commercial electrical service page.