Pool Light Repair in Broward County: Electrical Safety and Replacement

Pool lighting failures in residential and commercial pools involve both electrical safety regulations and Florida contractor licensing requirements — making them among the most compliance-sensitive repair categories in Broward County's pool service sector. This page covers the classification of pool light types, the regulatory framework governing underwater electrical work, permit and inspection requirements, and the professional boundaries that determine who can legally perform this work. Decisions about pool light repair and replacement intersect with Florida Building Code requirements, NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code), and UL certification standards that govern fixture compatibility and installation methods.

Definition and scope

Pool light repair refers to the diagnosis, component replacement, or full fixture replacement of underwater luminaires and above-water pool-associated lighting systems. The scope extends beyond bulb swaps: it includes gasket and lens seal replacement, niche repair, conduit inspection, bonding wire integrity, GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) protection testing, and transformer servicing for low-voltage systems.

In Broward County, underwater electrical work falls under both the Florida Building Code (FBC) and NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code), which is adopted by Florida as the baseline electrical standard. Specific NEC articles governing pool lighting include Article 680, which addresses swimming pool wiring, bonding, and equipotential requirements. Compliance with Article 680 is enforced through the permit and inspection process administered by Broward County's Building Division.

This page covers pool lighting within Broward County, Florida — including municipalities such as Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, and Miramar. Work permitted and inspected in adjacent Miami-Dade County or Palm Beach County operates under separate county Building Departments and is not covered here. Condominium or HOA-governed facilities may carry additional structural and insurance considerations not addressed on this page.

How it works

Pool lights are installed in a water-tight niche embedded in the pool wall. The fixture sits inside this niche and connects via a long loop of cord (long enough to pull the fixture to the pool deck for servicing without draining the pool) running through a conduit to a junction box positioned at least 8 inches above the water line, as required by NEC Article 680.24.

The repair or replacement process typically proceeds through the following phases:

1. Diagnosis — Technician tests GFCI breaker, checks voltage at the junction box, inspects the cord for visible damage, and tests the fixture for continuity.
2. Fixture removal — The lens ring is unscrewed and the fixture is pulled out of the niche onto the pool deck using the excess cord. No draining is required for standard fixture servicing.
3. Component assessment — Bulb, lens, gasket, and cord integrity are evaluated. Corroded or cracked niches require separate masonry or niche replacement work.
4. Replacement or repair — Fixtures are replaced with UL-listed equivalents that match the niche size and voltage requirements. Gaskets are replaced at every re-installation.
5. Bonding verification — The bonding connection at the fixture must meet NEC 680.26 equipotential bonding requirements, which mandate a solid copper bonding grid connecting all metallic pool components.
6. GFCI and circuit testing — The circuit is tested under load and the GFCI response time is confirmed before the pool is returned to use.

LED pool lights have largely replaced incandescent and halogen fixtures in new installations. LED units typically draw 30–50 watts compared to 300–500 watts for halogen equivalents, per manufacturer specifications, while producing comparable lumen output. Low-voltage LED systems (12V) operate through a transformer and present different fault characteristics than 120V systems — an important diagnostic distinction when troubleshooting. For pools with automated lighting control, the repair process may also involve the controller interface; see pool automation repair in Broward County for that scope.

Common scenarios

The most frequently encountered pool light repair scenarios in Broward County include:

• Burned-out bulbs in older incandescent or halogen fixtures — Often the trigger for a full LED retrofit, since replacement halogen bulbs are increasingly unavailable and the niche may be damaged from heat.
• Leaking niches — Water intrusion through a failed gasket or cracked niche body causes corrosion and trips GFCI protection. This requires gasket replacement at minimum; cracked niches require gunite or niche-insert repair.
• Tripped GFCI that does not reset — Indicates a ground fault in the circuit. The fault source could be the fixture, the conduit, the junction box, or a splice point. Diagnosis requires licensed electrical work under Florida Statutes Chapter 489 (Florida DBPR, Electrical Contractor Licensing).
• Nonfunctional LED color-change fixtures — LED color/RGB pool lights use low-voltage drivers and controller signals; failures can occur in the driver, the controller, or the fixture itself. These units are sensitive to voltage irregularities common in older pool electrical panels.
• Post-storm conduit or junction box damage — Broward County's exposure to hurricane-force wind and surge events can displace junction boxes or flood conduit runs, requiring full conduit replacement. This scenario is addressed in greater depth on hurricane damage pool repair in Broward County.

Decision boundaries

The critical professional and regulatory boundary in pool light work is the distinction between licensed pool contractor work and licensed electrical contractor work. Under Florida Statutes §489.105, a certified pool/spa contractor may install, service, and repair pool lighting within the pool equipment scope, but work on the branch circuit — from the breaker panel to the junction box — requires a licensed electrical contractor (EC).

Key decision criteria:

• Fixture-only replacement within the niche: Within pool contractor scope if no circuit modification is required.
• GFCI breaker replacement or panel work: Electrical contractor required.
• New circuit installation or conduit replacement beyond the junction box: Electrical permit required; electrical contractor must pull the permit.
• Bonding grid repair or extension: Both pool and electrical contractor scopes may apply depending on the specific component.

Permit requirements depend on scope. Fixture-for-fixture replacement in an existing niche may not require a permit in all Broward municipalities, but any new circuit, new niche installation, or conduit replacement will trigger a permit requirement under the FBC. Permit obligations and inspection workflows for pool electrical work are documented through Broward County's pool service permit resources.

Contractors performing this work must hold the appropriate Florida license. The licensed pool contractors in Broward County reference covers license category verification, CSLB equivalency, and how to confirm active licensure through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

When a pool light failure is assessed as part of a broader equipment review — involving the pump, filter, or electrical panel — cost implications can span multiple line items. The pool repair cost guide for Broward County provides structured cost context for multi-system repair scenarios.

References

• NFPA 70: National Electrical Code, Article 680 (Swimming Pools, Fountains, and Similar Installations)
• Florida Statutes §489.105 – Definitions, Contractor Licensing
• Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) – Contractor Licensing
• Broward County Building Division – Permits and Inspections
• Florida Building Code (FBC) – Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
• UL 676 – Standard for Underwater Luminaires and Submersible Junction Boxes