Much of a good yard is work you never see: grading, drainage, base rock and irrigation.
Before you hire
- Confirm the CSLB license is active and the class fits your yard.
- Ask where the water goes: off the roof, off the patio and away from the house.
- Ask what is under the hardscape and how the irrigation is zoned.
- Check rebate rules and fire-zone rules before plants are chosen.
- Get three written bids on one site plan, then read the contract for the payment rules.
- Ensure providers are licensed, insured, and provide detailed, transparent bids.
Which license covers landscaping in California?
CSLB issues a C-27 Landscaping license for contractors who build, install and maintain landscape systems, including grading the ground for planting and decorative work. A yard that also gets a patio cover, gas or electrical lines and concrete work combines several trades; under Business and Professions Code section 7057, a B General Building contractor may take a prime contract that requires at least two unrelated trades other than framing or carpentry, and subcontract specialty work to licensed specialists.
Checking Licenses, Insurance, and References
Verify that any contractor you consider is properly licensed and insured in California. Whatever the class, the license must be current and active. Check it on the CSLB Check a License page: the record shows the classification, the bond, workers' compensation or an exemption, and any complaint disclosure. Ask to see the pocket license with a photo ID at the site visit.
Ask to see a portfolio of finished yards. Review these examples to assess the quality of their craftsmanship, their design aesthetic, and the range of services they offer. A company that excels at intricate garden designs might have a different skillset than one specializing in building composite or wood decks, or installing waterproof deck solutions. Online reviews and directories can also be valuable resources, but always cross-reference information and look for consistent positive feedback.
Questions to ask a landscaping contractor about your yard
Where will the water go?
Ask how the grading and drains move roof and yard water away from the house, and where a rainstorm's runoff ends up.
What is under the paving?
Ask how deep the base is excavated, how it is compacted, and whether sleeves for future irrigation or lighting go in before the pavers.
How is the irrigation zoned?
Lawn, shrubs and trees need different watering. Ask for separate zones, drip where it fits, and a controller you can adjust.
Which plants, and how big?
Ask for a plant list with sizes at planting and at maturity, and which plants suit full sun, shade and your soil.
Does the plan qualify for a rebate?
The SoCal Water$mart turf replacement program needs approval before any lawn comes out, and synthetic turf does not qualify. Ask the contractor to design to the rules if you plan to apply.
Is the house in a fire hazard zone?
Ask whether the address is in a fire hazard severity zone. In the state responsibility area the law (Public Resources Code 4291) calls for defensible space out to 100 feet from the house, within the property line, so the planting plan has to fit it.
Contracts and payments for a landscape job
Once you have narrowed down your list of candidates, request detailed bids from at least three different providers. A formal contract is essential for any significant landscape project. This document should detail all agreed-upon terms, including the scope of work, materials, payment schedule, warranty information, and dispute resolution procedures. Business and Professions Code section 7159 sets the rules for California home improvement contracts. A landscape contract should:
Describe the yard you are buying
A site plan or a written scope naming the areas, the paver or concrete type, wall heights, the irrigation zones and the plant list with sizes.
Keep the down payment within the cap
No more than 10 percent of the contract price or the fixed dollar limit in the same section, whichever is less.
Tie payments to finished phases
Demolition and grading, underground work, hardscape, irrigation, planting. A contractor may not collect for work not yet completed or materials not yet delivered.
Say who gets the permits
Retaining walls above the exempt height, structures the code's exempt list does not cover, and new electrical or gas lines need permits. The contract should name who obtains them.
Carry the notices
The right to cancel (three business days, five for a senior citizen) unless signed at the contractor's place of business, and the Mechanics Lien Warning.
Red flags when hiring a landscaper
- No license number on the card, the truck or the bid, or a CSLB record under another name.
- "No permit needed" for a tall retaining wall or a new gas line.
- A plan with no grading or drainage, only plants and pavers.
- A deposit above the legal cap, or payment asked for materials that have not arrived.
- A bid far below the others: CSLB says it probably means a mistake or missing work.
- A request that you pull the permit yourself as an owner-builder, which CSLB warns homeowners about.
To compare bids line by line, our guide to landscaping cost in Los Angeles explains what each line pays for, and the landscape design and build process shows the order the work should follow.
Landscaping contractor questions
Do I need a licensed contractor for landscaping in California?
Yes, when the job needs a building permit, uses employees, or goes above the small dollar threshold CSLB sets for minor work. If your yard project includes grading, walls, paving, irrigation or lighting, check the license before you sign.
What does a C-27 landscaping license cover?
Landscape systems and the grading that prepares land for planting, as described in the license section above. Look for C-27 in the classifications on the contractor's CSLB record, and for any work beyond landscape systems, such as a structure or a new gas line, ask which licensed contractor will do it.
Can a landscaper also build my patio cover or outdoor kitchen?
Only within the license held. A patio cover or an outdoor kitchen is a structure with its own trades (framing, electrical, gas, plumbing), so it calls for the matching specialty licenses or a B General Building contractor who takes the multi-trade job.
Why is it important for a contractor to be licensed and insured?
Licensing and insurance protect you as the homeowner from liability in case of accidents or property damage that may occur during the project.
Should I get multiple bids for my landscaping project?
Yes, it is highly recommended to get multiple bids from at least three different providers to compare costs, scope of work, and proposed timelines. CSLB likewise recommends at least three written bids on the same plans and scope. For a yard, that means one site plan showing the grading, hardscape, irrigation and planting, given to every contractor.
Ask us about your yard
Alpha Dream Construction holds California license CSLB #1145233 (class B, General Building) and builds landscape, hardscape and outdoor living projects across Los Angeles County, Orange County and Riverside County. See our landscaping contractor Los Angeles service, then send us your project details or use the call button on this page.
