Get Quotes from Top Landscapers in San Antonio, TX

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Landscaper in San Antonio?

Apart from landscape architects, San Antonio's landscaping professionals do not require licensing to provide their services. San Antonio landscape architects must first obtain a certificate of registration from the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE) before providing their services within the city. Operating as a registered landscape architect without holding a certificate of registration issued by the TBAE can lead to an administrative fine of up to $5,000 for the offender.

To qualify for a certificate of registration as a landscape architect, the TBAE allows applicants to choose between two registration methods - registration by examination and registration by reciprocity.

To apply for a certificate of registration as a landscape architect by examination, applicants must be graduates of any landscape architectural educational program approved by the TBAE. They must possess satisfactory experience in landscape architecture. Applicants are also required to create a TBAE online account, pay the $100 application fee, and provide proof of legal status by submitting a US birth certificate or passport.

Note that the TBAE requires all examination applications to be accompanied by college transcripts, a completed landscape architect registration work verification form, or a Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) record.

Similarly, to apply for a certificate of registration as a landscape architect by reciprocity, applicants must create an account with the TBAE, pay the $150 application fee, and provide proof of legal status. However, first-time reciprocal registration applicants must also complete a fingerprint registration.

In addition to fingerprint registration, the TBAE requires all reciprocal applications to be accompanied either by a certificate of standing containing license verification and exam history of the applicant from their former state of residency and a certified college transcript or a current CLARB record for the registration application to be complete. Call the TBAE at (512) 305-9000 for more information concerning landscape architect registration requirements.

Applicants who meet the requirements will be issued a landscape architect certificate of registration, which must be renewed annually. Before hiring a landscape architect near you, it is crucial to confirm the individual's registration status, as this reduces your chances of falling into the hands of home improvement scammers while ensuring that an expert handles your landscaping job. You can confirm a landscape architect's license status by utilizing the TBAE licensee search tool.

Although a certificate of registration from the TBAE qualifies its holder to work as a landscape architect anywhere in Texas, it does not cover every service that may be needed on your lawn. For example, registered landscape architects who intend to apply pesticides for lawn maintenance must have obtained a pesticide commercial and non-commercial applicator license from the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Queries concerning the requirements and application process for obtaining a pesticide commercial and non-commercial applicator license can be directed to the Texas Department of Agriculture by calling (877) 542- 2474. You can also confirm whether a landscape architect has obtained a pesticide commercial and non-commercial applicator license by calling the aforementioned telephone number.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Landscapers in San Antonio?

Professional San Antonio landscapers can bill for their services hourly, per project, or square footage. Accordingly, residents of San Antonio should always clarify the billing structure with their landscaper before finalizing any agreement.

By clarifying the billing structure with your landscaper, you will be able to identify the actual cost of your project and why the landscaper has chosen that particular billing structure for the project. Furthermore, it is crucial to get and compare estimates from different landscapers for any landscaping project to avoid paying more than the average market price.

Landscapers in San Antonio earn an average wage of $29,870 annually. Listed in the table below is the cost comparison of the average hourly wages of landscaping and groundskeeping workers in San Antonio against those of this category of individuals across the rest of Texas and other major American cities:

Do You Comply With San Antonio Landscape Ordinance?

Practicing landscaping in a manner that violates any section of the San Antonio development standards as documented in the city's Uniform Development Code attracts a fine of up to $1000 as a civil penalty. As a resident, hiring a landscaper familiar with the rules and ordinances regulating landscaping in San Antonio helps you avoid fines and other financial liabilities that may result from code violations.

The rules and ordinances governing landscaping in San Antonio are documented in section 35-511 of the city's Uniform Development Code. This section of the city's Uniform Development Code was established to protect the public's health, safety, and welfare by preserving natural resources and maintaining ecological balance in the city. It was also created to improve the appearance of properties when viewed from the streets by encouraging the preservation and grooming of native plants and trees.

The landscaping section of the Uniform Development Code stipulates that permits for a new building project can not be obtained unless a landscape plan for such a building has been submitted and approved by the city's Development Services Department. It also requires all landscape areas to be irrigated with equipment suitable for the type of plantings installed in the area.

Other requirements of the landscaping section of the San Antonio Uniform Development Code include the prohibition of artificial plants for landscaping and the distancing of antennas, satellite dishes, refuse, off-street loading spaces, outdoor storage areas, and mechanical equipment within a homeowner's yard from all public streets.

Queries concerning distancing and other requirements of the landscaping section of the city's Uniform Development Code can be directed to the San Antonio Development Services Department by calling (210) 207 - 1111.

Will You Get the Landscaping Permit Required As per the San Antonio Code?

In San Antonio, landscape-specific permits are not required to undertake or maintain a landscape project. However, the city's landscape ordinances mandate residents to submit a landscape plan as part of the permit application process for new building projects. Building permits can not be issued in San Antonio until the city's Development Services Department approves a landscape plan for the building.

Residents of San Antonio are advised to hire registered irrigators or landscape architects who are conversant with the city's landscape ordinances to draw landscape plans for their projects. By hiring competent individuals to design landscape plans, residents can be assured that their landscape plan will meet the minimum landscaping standards in the city and get the approval of the city's Development Services Department.

Review and approval of landscape plans in San Antonio take place within the first five days of submission of a landscape plan, and the first step of this approval process is to confirm if the landscape plan meets the requirements of section 35-B107 of the city's Uniform Development Code. The next thing is to verify if other relevant applications requiring action by any other city agency have been filed and whether all filing fees have been paid.

If, after reviewing the landscape plan, the Director of the Development Services Department determines that the plan is incomplete, the applicant shall have 35 calendar days to provide the necessary information before the application will be closed completely. Applicants can submit their landscape plan at:

Once a landscape plan has been reviewed and considered complete, the applicant can obtain a building permit for the project. Queries concerning the other processes involved in getting approval for your landscape plan and other requirements for obtaining a building permit can be directed to the city's Development Services Department by calling (210) 207 - 1111.

What Kind of Landscaping Services Do You Offer?

Professional landscapers in San Antonio offer various services to interested persons within the city. These landscaping services generally include landscape design, installation, removal, maintenance, and restoration in residential and commercial areas.

Other landscaping services available in San Antonio include but are not limited to, specialized services such as plant health care maintenance, lawn mowing, hardscape, softscape, and xeriscape. Most landscaping services require significant expertise and knowledge of plant science and pest control. Accordingly, it is always good to ensure that the landscaper you hire is qualified and specialized in providing the particular landscaping service you need.

Depending on the type of landscaping service you need, the first step in ensuring that your landscaper is fit for the job is by confirming their registration status. While there are no specific registration requirements for landscape contractors and landscapers in San Antonio, landscape architects must register with the TBAE. You can confirm a landscape architect's registration status using the TBAE licensee search tool.

Once your landscaper's license status is confirmed, the next thing to do is ask the landscaper for references from similar landscaping jobs they have done. You can ask for pictures of these projects and legitimate means of contacting the owners of these projects to verify the landscaper's claim.

Professional landscapers should provide you with relevant information about the quality of their service, including proof of similar landscaping jobs they performed in the past. Be wary of any landscaper who refuses to provide relevant information about the quality of their service. Once you have confirmed the landscape's qualification and competency to handle your project, the next thing is to request a work estimate.

Provided below are cost estimates for common landscaping services in San Antonio:

What Are the Best Types of Grass for Lawns in San Antonio?

San Antonio has a warm, temperate climate that supports a wide array of plant species, including shrubs, small and large trees, ground covers, and grasses, making it relatively easy for homeowners to create a green lawn space. According to a document published by the city's Office of Historical Preservation, residents of San Antonio must retain at least 50% of green space in their landscaping plan through turfgrass and integration of native, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance plantings.

Lack of 50% green space in an area typically results in less shade for pedestrians, increased heat island effect, and increased energy demand. San Antonio currently maintains a list of plants suitable for xeriscape and landscaping to avoid these environmental effects and encourage the achievement of 50% green space across the city.

You can find the complete list of plants the city recommends in Appendix E of the Uniform Development Code. Some of these plants include different species of grasses such as bermudagrass, buffalo grass, St. Augustine grass, prairie mix, muhly grass, and butterfly weed. Note that most of the grasses listed in Appendix E of the Uniform Development Code require expertise to maintain. As such, residents of San Antonio should always hire or seek the advice of a competent landscaper before planting any grass on their lawns.

Interested persons can find qualified landscapers on third-party websites such as Better Business Bureau and professional organizations such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals. 

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Landscapers in San Antonio?

San Antonio has no mandatory insurance requirements for landscapers, landscape contractors, and landscape architects. However, any of the aforementioned professionals who wish to provide tree maintenance as part of their landscaping services must register with the San Antonio Development Services Department and maintain liability insurance of at least $300,000, with San Antonio listed as the certificate holder. Residents can confirm whether a landscape professional has obtained the necessary insurance coverage to perform tree maintenance on their lawns by requesting an insurance certificate and contacting the insurance company that issued the certificate for more information.

It is crucial to hire a landscaper, landscape contractor, or landscape architect who is insured, irrespective of whether the individual will perform tree maintenance or not. Landscape professionals are exposed to chemicals, machinery, noise, and harsh weather conditions that may result in serious injuries or even death. As a result of the health risks associated with landscaping, at least 143,000 persons in the US get injured while performing landscaping-related activities every year. Considering the staggering rate of injuries that occur during landscape-related activities, it is always a good idea to hire an insured professional. Hiring a landscape professional who is not insured means that the homeowner will be responsible for the financial liabilities associated with the landscaping-related injuries that occur on their lawn.