Get Quotes from Top Landscapers in El Paso, TX

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Landscaper in El Paso?

There are no local-level licensing requirements for Landscapers in El Paso. However, all contractors in the city are generally required to complete an annual registration process with the El Paso Planning and Inspections Department. Parties that wish to complete this registration process must complete a Contractor Registration Application Form, pay a registration fee, and meet certain insurance and bond requirements. The completed form and copies of all other required documents and fees can be submitted at:

At the state level, landscapers in El Paso who provide services that involve the use or application of restricted-use or state-limited-use pesticides are required to obtain a commercial pesticide applicator license from the Texas Department of Agriculture. This license can be obtained online or by completing and submitting an Application for Commercial Pesticide Applicator License Form to:

Likewise, El Paso landscape contractors that install, maintain, inspect, or design landscape irrigation systems must also obtain an appropriate irrigation occupational license from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. State-issued irrigation license applications can be completed online. Applicants will be required to sit for and pass a licensing examination. Inquiries concerning state-issued pesticide and irrigation licenses can be directed to the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality at (512) 463-7476 and (512) 239-6133, respectively.

Always ensure that any landscaper you intend to hire in El Paso meets all necessary local registration and state licensing requirements. Contractors that fail to meet these requirements may face city and state-imposed fines and other civil and criminal penalties. Ensuring that you hire a duly registered or licensed contractor also assures you that your project will be handled professionally. You can find out if your landscaper has been duly registered and licensed by contacting the El Paso Planning and Inspections Department at (915) 212-0104 or via email.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Landscapers in El Paso?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that El Paso's landscaping industry workers earn approximately $11 per hour. Nonetheless, certain factors, such as the nature and scope of your landscaping project, the cost of landscaping materials, the size of the area that needs landscaping, and the labor intensity of the job, will affect the cost of your project. As such, getting cost estimates from multiple landscapers when undertaking a landscaping project in the city is always a good idea. Compare these estimates to get an idea of the average cost of your project, and look out for estimates that are markedly higher or lower than others. This is usually an indication of fraudulent behavior on the part of the contractor.

A landscaper in El Paso earns an average wage of $23,330 annually. The table below provides a cost comparison of the average hourly wages of landscaping and groundskeeping workers in El Paso against those of this category of individuals across the rest of Texas and other major American cities:

Do You Comply with the El Paso Landscape Ordinance?

Chapter 18.46 of the El Paso Code of Ordinances, also referred to as the city's Landscape Ordinance, is a local law that sets forth the minimum requirements for landscaping activities for property development within El Paso. This law aims to improve the aesthetics of development and construction in the city, promote water conservation and water efficiency, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents of El Paso. Some requirements of the El Paso Landscape Ordinance include:

• The mandatory installation of plant material for every 1,000 square feet of landscapable area
• The provision of at least one parking lot tree for every ten parking spaces in parking lots and vehicle use areas
• The regular and proper maintenance of landscaping by property owners in the city
• The installation of street trees for new residential developments as well as commercial developments in the city

The provisions of this ordinance apply to all new constructions in the city that require building permits and are zoned for commercial use, expansions of existing buildings or parking lots, unmanned facilities, frontage landscape buffers, parking spaces, parkways, and residential property. However, exemptions are made for projects that fall under the following categories:

• Historic structures building restoration projects
• Projects on federal or state-owned land
• Existing developments that change from one approved use to another within the same zoning category
• Expansions of existing structures or parking lots provided that the existing landscaping meets all requirements for new projects of the same nature.
• Projects zoned or used for residential use. However, street tree requirements for these projects must be met.
• Existing building or parking lot areas that add a ramp, dock, delivery or loading area, or trailer storage area to existing concrete or asphalt surfaces
• Projects that involve the addition of buildings on commercial lots provided that these additions do not exceed a combined square footage of 1,200 square feet of floor area.
• Structures that are built from property line to property line. However, these types of projects must meet all applicable street tree requirements.

Hiring a landscaping company familiar with the El Paso Landscape Ordinance goes a long way in ensuring the success of your project. These contractors typically know the specific requirements of the ordinance that apply to various landscaping projects and do their work in strict compliance with these requirements, thereby avoiding code violations and potential sanctions. These sanctions include fines of up to $2,000 per violation, city-instituted civil actions, and possible criminal prosecution. You can also consider contacting the El Paso Planning and Inspections Department at (915) 212-1643 and (915) 212-0104 to get more information on the city's landscape ordinance and the provisions of this law that are relevant to your particular landscaping project.

Will You Get the Landscaping Permit Required as per El Paso Code?

Individual permits are typically not required for landscaping activities like lawn seeding, planting new flowers, mulching, and lawn mowing in El Paso. However, a building permit may be required if the landscaping project involves certain building and construction-related activities. Examples of these activities include:

• The construction of walls or masonry fences that are over 42 inches in height
• The installation of chain-link fences that are over six inches in height
• The installation of porches, awnings, decks, and carports
• Concrete work that is more than 30 inches above grade or supports a structure
• Any work on city sidewalks

Also, per the requirements of the El Paso Landscape Ordinance, separate landscape plans must be submitted for review before the commencement of new commercial development projects and any other type of project that falls within the purview of this ordinance. Landscape plan reviews and building permit issuance are handled by the city's Planning and Inspections Department. Certain information has to be included in these landscape plans, such as:

• The botanical and common name, plant tags showing the plant types, legend reference, height, size, location, and quantity of proposed landscape materials for the project
• The location of all existing and proposed structures, plant materials, project trees, frontage trees, parking lot trees, street trees, berms, swales, signs, and fire hydrants around the proposed project at the time of the submission
• A representation of all curb cuts ingress, egress, and distances to plant materials
• A representation of a five-foot clearance at maturity for all landscape material adjacent to hydrants, meters, utility boxes, or access points
• The name, telephone number, and address of the property owner's representative

Landscape plans can be submitted to the El Paso Planning and Inspections Department's One Stop Shop at:

Parties that wish to apply for building permits for their landscaping projects can also do so by submitting a duly completed Building Permit Application Form, along with any applicable permit fees and requested additional documentation, at the address listed above. Alternatively, building permit applications can be made online via the department's Citizen Access Portal. However, parties that wish to utilize this portal will be required to create a user account. You can direct landscape plan review and building permit-related queries to the Department of Planning and Inspections via email. Inquiries can also be made to this department by calling (915) 212-0104 between 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mondays to Thursdays, and 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Fridays.

What Kind of Landscaping Services Do You Offer?

Professional landscape contractors in El Paso offer different landscaping services ranging from lawn maintenance services like edging, aerating, and mowing to hardscape and softscape landscape design and installation services. However, always ensure your landscaper has the right skill set and equipment to accommodate your particular landscaping project. While many landscapers in the city may claim to offer personalized services, you should always confirm this by requesting copies of their portfolios and perusing these documents.

You should also ask for references from past clients that you can contact to get first-hand reviews of the landscaper. It is a red flag if a contractor cannot provide this information or tries to convince you that these requests are not necessary, and you should strongly consider crossing them off your list of potential hires. Determining how much the landscaper charges for your required service is also a good idea. Cost estimates of some landscaping services available in El Paso are listed below:

What are the Best Types of Grass for Lawns in El Paso?

El Paso has an average yearly temperature of 77 degrees and an annual average precipitation of 8.8 inches. The best types of grasses that suit the city's weather conditions are grasses that are heat and drought-tolerant, like

• Bermuda grass
• Buffalo grass
• Centipede grass
• St. Augustine grass
• Texas bluegrass
• Zoysia grass
• Ryegrass

Note that weather conditions should not be the sole factor influencing the grass you install on your lawn. Factors like the type and depth of your soil, shade conditions, foot traffic, and how often the lawn will be watered should also be considered. To get the best results, you should retain the services of a qualified Landscaper in the city to help you determine the best type of grass or grass mix that will flourish in your lawn. You can utilize online directories provided by the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, the National Association of Landscape Professionals, and the Better Business Bureau to find qualified Landscapers that operate in El Paso.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Landscapers in El Paso?

In 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 4,764 fatal occupational injuries and 2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries. Hiring an uninsured Landscaper exposes you to financial and legal liabilities if injuries occur during your project. You will also have to bear the costs of any property damage the contractor may cause during your project. As such, it is always in your best interest to hire a duly insured contractor to execute your landscaping projects.

Note that El Paso does not have any landscaper-specific insurance requirements. However, all contractors registering with the city's Department of Planning and Inspections must possess a minimum general liability insurance coverage of $100,000 per occurrence and a blanket building construction bond of $25,000. Verify that your landscaper is duly insured and bonded by requesting proof of this and authenticating it with the appropriate organization. You can also contact the El Paso Department of Planning and Inspections at (915) 212-0104 to get additional information on insurance and bonding requirements for city-registered contractors.