How much does it cost to replace a street light pole?

A complete pole-and-fixture replacement typically costs $2,000-$6,000 installed. Materials for a pole with an LED head run about $2,200-$3,300, and installation labor, foundation, and equipment add roughly $1,000-$2,000 per pole. Decorative or very tall poles can exceed this range.

How long do parking lot and street light poles last?

Expect 25-40 years from the pole structure itself: galvanized steel poles last 15-30 years depending on corrosion exposure, while aluminum poles last 40-50 years. LED fixture heads and drivers wear out faster, around 15-20 years, so many reserve studies list poles and fixtures separately.

Should an HOA convert street lights to LED when replacing them?

Usually yes — LED heads add only a few hundred dollars per pole at replacement time (about $800 for a fixture head versus $2,200 for a pole) and cut energy and maintenance costs enough that operating expenses, which can be 40-60% of a light's lifecycle cost, drop substantially. Fold the retrofit into the reserve replacement cycle rather than funding it separately.

Grounds & Site

Site & Street Lighting: Useful Life & Replacement Cost for HOAs

Site and street light poles typically last 20-30 years and cost about $2,000-$6,000 per pole and fixture to replace installed. The pole and LED fixture run roughly $2,000-$3,300 in materials, with foundation work, wiring, and crane or bucket-truck labor adding $1,000-$2,000. Steel poles corrode out in 15-30 years while aluminum can last 40+, which drives most of the life-range spread.

Last verified 2026-07-06

Typical useful life

20–30 years

2026 replacement cost

$2,000–$6,000

per pole/fixture, national range

Typical HOA quantity

25 light poles

Reserve budgeting

Count poles individually and note material (steel vs. aluminum) and install date — a 40-pole community carries a $80,000-$240,000 replacement liability that boards often understate by pricing fixtures without foundations and trenching. Phase replacements by street or corrosion condition, and fold an LED retrofit into the cycle since fixture heads (15-20 years) come due faster than poles.

Extending its life

Inspect pole bases annually for corrosion, cracked foundations, and loose anchor bolts, and repaint or touch up galvanized coatings before rust takes hold. Keeping handhole covers sealed, replacing failed photocells promptly, and clearing vegetation from bases prevents moisture damage that shortens pole life.

Regional variation

Coastal salt air and northern road-salt exposure corrode steel poles years early, and high-labor coastal metros push installed costs 20-40% above national averages.

Estimate your site & street lighting budget

National 2026 ranges · verify with local bids.

Quantity (per pole/fixture)

Typical small HOA: 25 light poles

Replacement cost range$50,000 – $150,000

Suggested annual set-aside$1,667 – $7,500/yr

Set-aside = replacement cost ÷ useful life (20–30 years). A new installation funds toward the long end; an aging one needs catch-up funding — run the full calculator for that.

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Site & Street Lighting questions, answered

Sources

Retrieved and verified 2026-07-06. National planning ranges — local bids govern. Informational only; not engineering, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for a professional reserve study. Report a data issue.

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