“Soffit lights” and “eave lights” are two names for the same idea: small LED lights mounted under the overhang of your house, shining down onto the walls. Done well, they’re nearly invisible by day and make the house look finished at night. Keywest Lights & Electric (KWLE) installs JellyFish permanent eave lighting across Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco. We’re an authorized JellyFish dealer and installer, not the JellyFish company, and a woman-owned licensed electrical contractor (EC13014717) based in Seminole. Call 727-476-7079.
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Tell us what you need and where you are. A licensed electrician will call or text you back to set a time. For an emergency, call (727) 476-7079, 24/7.
Soffit, eave, fascia: the parts of your overhang
- Eave: the edge of the roof that overhangs the wall.
- Soffit: the flat underside of that overhang, often vented vinyl, aluminum or painted wood.
- Fascia: the vertical board along the outer edge, where gutters usually attach.
- Gable rake: the sloped edge on the triangular end of a gable.
JellyFish track mounts under the soffit, near the fascia, and up the gable rakes. That’s the whole footprint. Nothing goes on the roof, and nothing is fastened through roofing.
What permanent eave lights look like
Each light is a small frosted puck in a slim aluminum track painted to match your trim. Lights come at 6-, 9- or 16-inch spacing. Wider spacing gives a soft row of downlights, and tighter spacing gives a continuous glowing line. The lights wash light down the wall instead of glaring at the street, which is the effect most people are after with everyday soffit lighting. It highlights texture, columns and entries without glare.
Everyday white, holiday color
Unlike recessed soffit cans, every JellyFish light is full color and individually addressable. On most nights, owners run warm white from dusk to bedtime. For holidays, the same lights become permanent Christmas lights in December, red, white and blue in July, orange in October, or your team’s colors on game day. All of it is scheduled in the app, so it’s also permanent holiday lighting with no extra hardware.
Eave lights vs. recessed soffit cans
| JellyFish eave track | Recessed soffit cans | |
|---|---|---|
| Install | Surface track under the soffit, low-voltage | Holes cut in the soffit, line-voltage wiring in the overhang |
| Color | Any color or white | Usually one white |
| Control | App, schedules, zones | Wall switch or timer |
| Holidays | Built in | Not available |
Both are legitimate electrical work, and as electricians we can talk through either. If you want color, schedules and holidays, permanent eave lighting is the better fit.
Power without outlets in the eaves
We don’t add outlets under the eaves or mount boxes outside. The controller and power supplies go on the garage wall, plugged into an existing garage outlet that we test first. A thin low-voltage lead runs up to the soffit. If the receptacle needs updating, we quote a GFCI-protected replacement.
Tampa Bay housing, and why age matters
The Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 estimates put Pinellas County’s median year built at 1977, compared with 1991 in Hillsborough and 1992 in Pasco. Older homes can have wood fascia and soffits that have been patched or re-covered over the decades, while newer homes often have vinyl soffits and taller eaves. We inspect either type before mounting, make sure the soffit is fastened firmly, and photograph any soft trim so it can be repaired first.
Built for Florida weather
JellyFish publishes an IP67 rating for its eave lights, meaning sealed against dust and immersion, along with a UV-resistant lens. Under the eave, the lights are also sheltered from direct rain and much of the sun. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, according to the National Hurricane Center, and permanent track doesn’t need to come down before a storm.
Energy
LEDs are efficient enough to run every night. The U.S. Department of Energy says LEDs use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times longer.
Two zones, an extra option
As an extra KWLE option, a house can be split into two zones. For example, the front could run a holiday scene while the back runs plain white over the lanai, or a beach-facing side can stay off during sea turtle nesting season.
Spacing guide
- 6 inches: high two-story eaves and entries, or the strongest holiday outline.
- 9 inches: the most common choice, balanced for everyday and holidays.
- 16 inches: subtle accent on low single-story eaves.
Choosing a white
The app adjusts the white from warm to cool. Warm whites, around 2700K, flatter tan stucco, brick and wood. Cooler whites, 4000K and up, suit white, gray and modern exteriors. We show both in your free design preview.
Security and safety
Soffit lights also make good security lighting. A brighter white over the driveway and doors from dusk, dimmed later, lights the paths without floodlight glare. For more, see our security lighting under the eaves guide.
Commonly asked: will it look like Christmas lights all year?
No. On ordinary nights, the lights run a plain white, and many people walking by won’t know they can change color. The pucks sit in the track behind the fascia line, and with the light aimed down the wall, you mostly see the glow on the stucco, not the lights themselves. When December comes, the same lights switch to a festive scene, then go back to white.
Single-story vs. two-story
On a single-story house, the eave is close to eye level, so 9- or 16-inch spacing reads clearly. On a two-story house, the upper eave is farther away, so tighter spacing keeps the line from looking thin. Many two-story homes light both levels, and the two-zone option can run them separately.
HOAs
A color-matched track under the overhang, with white light most of the year, tends to sit well with architectural review. We provide the product sheet, photos and an eave drawing. Our Pinellas HOA and permit guide and our page on condos, townhomes and villas cover more.
Installation steps
- Call or request a free design preview.
- An electrician measures each eave and rake, checks the soffit and fascia, and tests the garage outlet.
- You approve a written scope, and we take care of permits for any new circuit.
- We install, set your everyday and holiday schedules, and teach you the app.
Warranty
JellyFish’s 5-year parts warranty covers the lights, controller and power supplies. KWLE’s 2-year workmanship warranty covers the installation, extended to five years with a Member Care Plan.
Where we install
See the JellyFish lighting hub and county pages for Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco. For ideas, browse year-round color ideas.
Soffit and eave lights FAQ
Are soffit lights and eave lights the same thing? In everyday use, yes. Both mean lights mounted under the overhang.
Do I need an electrician? We’re licensed electricians, and we handle any permit if a new circuit is needed.
Can I light just the front? Yes. Lighting only the front is a common starting point, and sides or the back can be added in a later visit.
Will they work with smart speakers? JellyFish supports common voice assistants. See our app and smart-home control page.
Sources: Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco median year built, U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 (data.census.gov). LED energy, DOE. Hurricane season, National Hurricane Center.
Related: permanent Christmas lights in Pinellas County, how long permanent lights last and our free design preview. Call (727) 476-7079 for an estimate.