Get Quotes from Top Landscapers in New York, NY

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Landscaper in New York City?

New York City requires all individuals who perform home improvement work within its jurisdiction to obtain a Home Improvement Contractor License from its Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP). This home improvement work includes landscaping any residential land in the city, and individuals who fail to obtain this license can face several city-imposed penalties, such as a $500 fine per violation. Similarly, landscape contractors in the city who refer to themselves as landscape architects must also obtain a state-issued Landscape Architect License from the New York State Department of Education’s Office of the Professions.

City-issued Home Improvement Contractor Licenses can be obtained from the DCWP online or by calling (212) 436-0441 to schedule an in-person appointment and subsequently filing for a license at any of the following locations:

Likewise, state-issued Landscape Architect License applicants must complete an appropriate license application form online. Applicants for city and state-issued landscaping-related licenses are typically required to meet certain eligibility requirements, which generally include paying licensing fees, sitting for and passing a licensing examination, and submitting any requested documentation. Queries related to city and state-issued landscaping-related licenses can be directed to the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and the New York State Department of Education at (212) 639-9675 and (518) 474-3817, respectively.

It is your responsibility to confirm that any landscaper you hire in New York City possesses a valid license. You can verify city-issued Home Improvement Contractor Licenses online via the DCWP's Online Services Portal. The New York State Department of Education also provides an online platform that can be used to verify the licensing status of landscape architects in the city.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Landscapers in New York City?

When searching for a landscaper in the city, it is always a good idea to find out how much your required landscaping services will cost you. According to the United States Bureau of Statistics, this category of professionals earns an average wage of $18 per hour in New York City. However, the specific cost of hiring these contractors primarily depends on factors like the nature and scope of work they are expected to do and the amount of labor that this work will require. It would be best to get estimates from at least three different Landscapers in your vicinity; this gives you a fair idea of how much your landscaping project will cost. This is also a good way to weed out contractors who charge grossly inflated service rates.

A landscaper in New York City earns an average wage of $38,650 annually. The table below provides a cost comparison of the average hourly wages of landscaping and groundskeeping workers in New York City against those of this category of individuals across the rest of New York State and other major American cities:

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Do You Comply with the New York City Landscape Ordinance?

New York City adopts and implements several measures designed to regulate landscaping activities. These include the NYC Rules for Special Areas and the city’s Landscape Plan Guidelines. These measures and regulations provide minimum requirements to improve the city's streetscapes and benefit the environment while leaving room for landscaping flexibility and professional judgment.

It is always a good idea to make sure that your preferred landscape contractor is not only aware of these guidelines and regulations but that they also implement them as required when working on your landscaping project. Doing this ensures that your home’s landscaping does not violate applicable city laws and protects you from the sanctions and penalties that typically accompany these violations. To this end, you should consider contacting the NYC Department of City Planning’s Central Office at (212) 720-3300 to get information on the specific city landscaping guidelines and regulations that may apply to your intended landscaping project.

Will You Get the Landscaping Permit Required As per the New York City Code?

A permit is typically required for any landscaping project in New York City that involves plumbing, electrical, or construction-related alterations to your home. Examples of this include the installation of irrigation systems and the building or demolition of fences on lawns. These permits are issued by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), and the specific permit type that will be required typically depends on the nature of the landscaping project in question.

Parties that wish to obtain a permit from the NYC Department of Buildings will be required to utilize its DOB Now: Build platform to carry out this process. Note that the registration of a user account is required for this. However, the DOB provides resources on the DOB Now: Build platform that can be used to get information on navigating the registration and the permit application process. Also, depending on the nature and scope of the landscaping project, the submission of plans and other additional documents may be requested during the application process. Queries related to the NYC permit issuing process can be directed to the city’s Department of Buildings via phone at (212) 566-5000 or in person at any of the following DOB offices:

It should be noted that city officials may conduct inspections of your landscaping project at various intervals of its progress and upon its completion to ensure that it complies with all relevant city laws. You can get information on regulations and requirements that may apply to your landscaping project by contacting your local DOB office via the contact information provided above. Information on landscaping guidelines and regulations can also be obtained by contacting the NYC Department of City Planning at any of its following borough offices mentioned below:

What Kind of Landscaping Services Do You Offer?

Landscapers in New York City provide several types of services to interested parties. Common examples of these services include:

• Landscape design
• Landscape installation
• Landscape maintenance
• Hardscaping
• Softscaping
• Xeriscaping

It is essential to determine the area of specialization of any landscapers you wish to employ and ascertain that they are skilled enough to perform your required landscaping task. You can do this by requesting pictures of similar work they have completed and asking for verifiable references from their past clients. You should consider it a red flag if landscapers cannot provide this information.

Cost estimates of readily available landscaping services in New York City are provided below:

What are the Best Types of Grass for Lawns in New York City?

New York City is prone to heatwaves, heavy rainstorms, coastal flooding, and other extreme weather conditions, and these events are projected to continue increasing in frequency and intensity, given current climate change projections. As such, the best lawn grasses in New York City are grasses that can tolerate harsh weather conditions, such as bluegrass and fescues. Examples of these include:

• Kentucky bluegrass
• Pennlawn fescue
• Tall fescue
• Perennial ryegrass
• Roughstalk bluegrass
• Fine fescues
• Bentgrass
• Buffalo grass

It is advisable to consult a professional landscaper before deciding on a particular type of grass to use on your lawn. You can utilize online directories provided by organizations like the National Association of Landscape Professionals and the Better Business Bureau to find qualified New York City landscapers within your vicinity. Note that you should always confirm the licensing status of any contractors you contact via these platforms.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Landscapers in New York City?

Landscaping is a potentially dangerous activity, and landscapers are routinely exposed to hazards like cuts and amputations, hand injuries, chemical injuries, lifting-related injuries, slips, trips, and falls. More than 100 fatal occupational injuries and 10,000 nonfatal occupational injuries were reported amongst landscaping and groundskeeping workers in the United States in 2020 alone. Situations where these injuries, or any other unforeseen adverse events, occur during your project can lead to out-of-pocket expenses and possible legal problems. As such, it is necessary to ensure that you always employ landscape contractors who are not only licensed but are also adequately insured. Doing this absolves you of the financial and legal liabilities of unexpected and detrimental work-related events.

New York City does not have any insurance requirements that are specific to landscapers. However, these individuals are typically required to provide workers’ compensation insurance information before obtaining a DCWP-issued Home Improvement Contractor License. Landscapers who wish to pull permits from the City’s Department of Buildings are also generally expected to meet certain insurance requirements, typically determined by the nature and scope of the job for which the permit is required. You can get more information on these insurance requirements by contacting the NYC DOB and DCWP at (212) 566-5000 and (212) 639-9675, respectively. You should also always confirm that your preferred landscapers have met all applicable requirements by requesting copies of their insurance certificates and authenticating these documents with the appropriate insurance providers.