Get Quotes from Top Landscapers in Boston, MA

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Landscaper in Boston?

The regulation of professionals in Boston is typically handled at the state level, and contractors that perform landscaping activities in the city are generally exempt from state-required registration and licensing requirements. However, landscape contractors that apply pesticides as part of their services must possess a commercial applicator license issued by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. Parties that wish to obtain this license may do so by creating a user account on the state's ePlace Portal and registering for a licensing examination via this portal. Applicants who pass this examination will also be required to apply for their licenses via this portal.

The department also provides interested parties with access to an online bulletin that can be used to glean information on its pesticide examination and licensing process. If your landscaping project involves applying pesticides, you should always ensure that your landscaper possesses a valid applicator license. You can verify state-issued pesticide applicator licenses online via the Department of Agricultural Resources' Lookup and Confirm webpage. Queries concerning pesticide licensing can also be directed to this department's Boston office at (617) 626-1700.

Also, since landscapers are typically not required to be registered or licensed in Boston, it may be in your best interest to hire one who is a member of or has been certified by a professional organization. These types of organizations typically provide some form of regulation for their members, and landscape contractors that either belong to or have been certified by them are expected to discharge their duties professionally and competently. This, in turn, gives you confidence that your landscaping project will be satisfactorily handled. Examples of professional organizations that certify landscapers in Boston include the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals, the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the Tree Care Industry Association, the International Society of Arboriculture, and the Professional Grounds Management Society.

Note that you should always authenticate a landscaper's claims of membership or certification with the appropriate professional organization. It is also a good idea to contact the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations to find out if any other contractor-related regulations may apply to your specific landscaping project. This office can be contacted via email, by calling (617) 973-8787 and (888) 283-3757, or in person at any of the following locations:

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Landscapers in Boston?

Landscaping companies in Boston typically consider several factors before charging for their services. These include the type of service being requested, the specific nature and scope of this service, and the cost of getting the necessary materials for the project. Depending on the landscaper you contact, your bill may be calculated using an hourly, fixed fee, per linear foot rate, per square foot rate, or a combination of these billing structures. Nonetheless, you should always get and compare estimates from several Landscapers in the city to avoid overpaying a particular contractor. Doing this also gives you a fair assessment of the average cost of the required services in your area and is useful in helping you prepare a budget for your landscaping project.

A landscaper in Boston earns an average wage of $41,860 annually. The table below provides a cost comparison of the average hourly wages of landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Boston against those of this category of individuals across the rest of Massachusetts and other major American cities:

Do You Comply with the Boston Landscape Ordinance?

Several state and local laws influence landscaping activities in Boston. These include the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, the Boston Wetlands Ordinance, and Article 22 of the Boston Zoning Code. It is important to ensure the landscaper you hire is conversant with all these laws, especially as they pertain to your specific landscaping project. Failure to adhere to the provisions of these landscaping laws and regulations can result in monetary fines and other administrative sanctions.

State and local landscaping laws are typically implemented in Boston to conserve the value of its land and buildings, encourage the appropriate use of land, protect wetland plant habitats, and promote the health and safety of the city's inhabitants. Some requirements of these laws include obtaining permits before commencing any work on wetlands and the mandatory installation and maintenance of landscaping or screening in certain city districts. You can get more information on applicable landscaping laws in Boston and the specific requirements of these laws that pertain to your project by contacting the Boston Conservation Commission at (617) 635-3850. Inquiries can also be directed to the city's Inspectional Services Department at (617) 635-5300.

Will You Get the Landscaping Permit Required as per the Boston Code?

Per state law, permits are required for certain types of landscaping activities in Boston, such as:

• Pruning or clearing naturally vegetated areas that are within a resource area or a 100-foot buffer zone. This includes removing invasive plant species
• Planting trees, shrubs, and groundcovers in wetland resource areas

Parties that wish to obtain these permits (referred to as wetland permits) will be required to file a notice of intent with the Boston Conservation Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Depending on the nature of the project, the submission of additional documentation, such as a WPA form 1, a local notice of intent application form, project plans, project descriptions, abutter notifications, and stormwater reports, may be required. State filings can be done online or by delivering the documents in person or via mail to any of the following locations:

On the other hand, city filings can be done by submitting two hard copies of the required documents to:

Note that an electronic copy of these documents must also be submitted to the commission via email or by providing them with an appropriate cloud download link. Also, the payment of separate city and state fees may be required when filing these documents. Once the documents have been filed, public hearings will be scheduled. These hearings are typically held on the first and third Wednesdays of every month, and parties that correctly complete their filings two weeks before the next scheduled hearing will have their first hearing on that date. Wetland permit application approvals or denials are typically done at these hearings, and they must be attended by the proponent of the landscaping project, the property owner, and their consultants. You can direct inquiries concerning the wetland permit issuance process to the Boston Conservation Commission in person at the address provided above or by calling (617) 635-3850.

It should be noted that if your landscaping project involves construction-related activities like building retaining walls or installing patios, you may be required to obtain a building permit from the Boston Inspectional Services Department. This department issues short-form permits for projects that will not change a building's living area, fire protection, use, or exits and long-form permits for projects that significantly alter a building's structure or blueprint. Short-form permit applications can be completed online via the inspectional services portal, while long-form permit applications may be initiated online but have to be completed in person at:

You can get additional information on Boston building permit requirements by contacting the city's Inspectional Services Department at (617) 635-5300 or (617) 635-5360.

What Kind of Landscaping Services Do You Offer?

Determining the specific type or range of services your intended landscape contractors offer is necessary before you conclude hiring arrangements with any of them. This is regardless of whether you need these professionals to provide residential or commercial landscaping services, hardscape installations, routine landscape maintenance, or customized landscape designs. Always confirm that the landscaper has the right tools, materials, and level of experience to deliver your specific project satisfactorily. To this end, ask them for references from past clients who can vouch for them and their level of professionalism. Make sure to contact these references to get first-hand reviews on the landscaper. You should also consider asking the landscaping company for a portfolio of completed jobs they have worked on that are similar to your intended landscaping project.

Cost estimates of some services offered by landscapers in Boston are listed below:

What are the Best Types of Grass for Lawns in Boston?

Boston experiences extreme heat, rain, snow, and flooding weather conditions, and these trends are not expected to stop anytime soon. Grasses that are best suited to the city's unpredictable and somewhat challenging weather conditions include:

• Creeping bentgrass
• Fine-leaf fescue
• Kentucky bluegrass
• Perennial ryegrass
• Tall fescue
• Zoysiagrass

Factors like your soil's health, shade, sunlight availability, and watering regularity will affect the outcome of your lawn grass planting. You should consider consulting an experienced landscaper to help you determine the best type of grass that will suit the specific conditions of your lawn. You can get referrals to experienced Landscapers in the city via platforms like the Better Business Bureau and the National Association of Landscape Professionals' online directory.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Landscapers in Boston?

Hiring an adequately insured landscape contractor is a sure way to avoid unnecessary out-of-pocket expenses and protect yourself against potential legal liabilities. Landscapers are prone to several on-the-job hazards and injuries, including but not limited to cuts, lacerations, amputations, chemical exposure, eye and ear injuries, slips, trips, falls, and lifting-related injuries. In 2020 alone, over 200 fatal and 12,000 nonfatal on-the-job injuries were recorded amongst these professionals by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. As such, even though Boston does not mandate landscapers to carry general liability insurance, you should only hire ones that do so. Request proof of this insurance from the landscaping contractor in the form of an insurance certificate, verify the certificate with the issuing insurance company, and make sure that the scope of the coverage is enough for your project.