Landscape Design in Colorado Springs, CO

What a landscape design plan includes: planting plan, hardscape layout, lawn or turf areas, drainage and irrigation plan, lighting, materials

Companies name their drawings in different ways. University of Georgia Extension (Georgia, reviewed 2022) names site, grading, planting, irrigation and lighting plans and specifications. Ask each company which of these are in the fee, so that bids can be compared on the same items.

• Site plan. Ask whether the company measures the lot or works from a survey you supply.
• Grading plan. It should show where water flows across the lot.
• Planting plan. Ask for the plant list, with sizes and counts, and where each plant goes.
• Hardscape and lawn areas. Patios, walks, walls, and any lawn, native grass or artificial turf should be marked with their areas. Walls and fences have permit limits here, covered below, so ask that wall heights be shown.
• Irrigation plan. It should show how beds and lawn are watered.
• Lighting plan and specifications. Ask who does the electrical, gas and plumbing parts, and for that person's license number.

University of Georgia Extension says what you get can range from a talk to a full set of drawings, and that the more detailed the drawings, the more likely you need a landscape architect rather than a garden designer.

Landscape design cost and how designers charge: flat fee, hourly rate, consultation fee, or a percentage of the project?

We did not find a neutral published fee schedule for landscape designers in Colorado Springs or the Front Range. The one local price signal we read is a single company's own listing. The company's written scope is the real price.

This is one company's listing, not a rate card for every company.

Flat fee, hourly rate or consultation fee

University of Georgia Extension says designers may bill by the hour or charge a flat fee set by project size and level of detail, and that the first consultation is often free, but not always. It also says fees vary widely, so compare several bids. We have no sourced local figure for any of them, and none for 3D views. Ask whether any fee is a flat sum, hourly or a share of the project cost, and whether the design fee is credited if you hire the same company to build.

What moves a landscape design price

No source we read ranks the cost drivers or gives a Colorado fee list. University of Georgia Extension names the scope and detail of the project, how much information the owner supplies, the number of revisions and the extent of the drawings, and whether one firm designs, installs and maintains. It gives no dollar figures. Ask the cost of each extra round, and whether site visits and HOA or permit drawings are in the fee.

Design-only vs design-and-install

Some companies sell design only. Some design and install. Whichever you pick, ask for the drawings as a separate file and for an itemized estimate, so that another company can bid on them.

University of Georgia Extension (Georgia) calls landscape contractors who design and install their own plans design-build, and warns that a plan alone may sit unused. The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), a trade body for design-build, says that in design-build one entity signs a single contract with the owner for both design and construction. DBIA says other delivery systems commonly have separate contracts for design and construction. Locally, PPRBD's license list has no landscape category (see the permit section below), so ask who pulls any wall or fence permit.

For installation, planting and sod costs see landscaping in Colorado Springs.

How long landscape design takes

We found no public source for how long the design alone takes. One local company lists a project length of 2 to 4 weeks, with 6 to 12 weeks booked in peak season, for its design-and-install work (retrieved 2026-10-23). Ask each company how long drawings take. What can be sourced are the waits around the design.

• HOA review. We found no standard review time. Get the committee's schedule in writing.
• Utility locates. Call 811 before digging and wait for the locates. Sources word the notice time differently, so ask 811 for the current rule.
• Planting windows. The mean last spring freeze is May 8. Cool-season grass seeding is preferred from mid-August to mid-September.
• New-plant watering. CSU's establishment permit runs four to six weeks.

Landscape designer vs landscape architect vs design-build company

University of Georgia Extension says landscape architect fees are typically higher than those of a landscape designer. Design-build means one contract for design and construction (DBIA), so ask for the design fee and the build price listed separately. If your lot needs tall walls or heavy drainage work, ask who provides any engineer's drawings and whether that is in the fee. For the title "landscape architect" in Colorado, see the section on what we could not confirm.

The landscape design process: consultation, site analysis, concept, design development, estimate, installation, walkthrough

Companies name their steps differently. The site-analysis and zone points below come from CSU Extension's water-wise design guide (GardenNotes #411, reviewed July 2025).

1. First call and landscape design consultation

Bring photos and a copy of your plat or survey if you have one. Ask what the consultation costs, who will visit and what you will receive afterward.

2. Site analysis

CSU Extension's guide lists the items to study: soil, grade and drainage, slopes, microclimate, existing plants, codes or covenants, precipitation and water rules.

3. Concept plan

CSU Extension's guide sorts the yard into public, private and utility zones. Ask to see the concept in those zones.

4. Design development and revisions

The concept becomes the detailed sheets. Ask how many revisions are included.

5. Approval and estimate

Ask for an itemized estimate with quantities and unit prices. A single lump sum cannot be compared line by line with another bid.

6. Installation

Before any digging, someone must call 811 (see "Call 811 before digging" below). Ask the installer who places the call.

7. Final walkthrough

Walk the property against the plan. Check plant counts and sizes, drainage and irrigation coverage. Ask for written care instructions and the controller settings.

Front yard and backyard design

Front yard landscape design

The front yard is the public zone in CSU Extension's guide. Three points to settle:

• Fences and walls. The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) says a fence 6 feet or taller in Colorado Springs needs zoning approval. It says a retaining wall greater than 4 feet high needs a permit. Show heights on the plan.
• HOA front-yard designs. Colorado law (SB23-178) requires an HOA to develop at least three preapproved front-yard garden designs. If you live in an HOA, ask for its list (details in the HOA section below).
• Water near hard surfaces. CSU's Water Wise Rules say not to let water pool on hard surfaces or run into gutters. This affects where sprinkler heads go beside walks and driveways.

The cost range for a front yard installation is on the landscaping page.

Backyard landscape design and outdoor living

• Wind and hail. NWS Pueblo's 2025 climate summary for Colorado Springs reports a highest gust of 64 mph on March 4 and hail on 5 days in that year. That is one year, not a trend.
• Vegetable gardens and backyard turf. SB23-178 limits what an HOA can ban here (see the HOA section below).
• Artificial turf. CSU Extension's PlantTalk page says it becomes quite warm on a sunny day and lets water infiltrate the soil. It says pet urine and feces deposits are problematic. See artificial turf. For seed, see hydroseeding.

Planting design: plants for the climate, massing and layers, native and low-water plants

Freeze dates, rainfall and soil all matter for plant choice. CSU Extension says many Colorado soils are alkaline, with a pH of 7.0 to 8.3.

Frost dates and rainfall

NWS Pueblo's freeze table gives Colorado Springs a mean last spring freeze of May 8. The mean first fall freeze is around October 1 to 2 (two NWS tables differ by a day). NWS lists a last spring freeze as early as April 6 and as late as June 18. Ask the designer to say when each plant goes in.

Annual precipitation was 16.28 inches in 2025, against a normal of 15.91 inches. Snowfall was 27.5 inches against a normal of 32.5 inches (NWS Pueblo's 2025 climate summary). Plan the irrigation to supply what the rain does not.

Massing, layers, hydrozones and mulch

We found no sourced rule for massing or planting layers. CSU Extension's design guide recommends grouping plants into hydrozones. These are areas where plants share a watering level, from routine watering down to none. The guide also advises mulch 3 to 4 inches deep. Ask the designer for the plant list with sizes and counts.

Native and low-water plants

Pueblo County Extension (CSU Extension) explains that xeric, water wise and native are different things. A native plant can be xeric, but a xeric plant is not always native. Look up each plant the designer proposes on the CSU Water Wise plants page. Plant Select says its site offers free waterwise landscape designs and demonstration gardens.

Lawn choices and timing

CSU Extension's lawn-renovation guide (published 2004, reviewed 2014; it warns that parts may be outdated) says to seed cool-season grasses such as bluegrass, ryegrass and fescues from March through September. Mid-August to mid-September is the preferred window along the Front Range. Warm-season grasses such as buffalograss and blue grama go in from April through July. The guide advises against warm-season grasses above 7,000 feet.

Its buffalograss guide (reviewed August 2025) calls buffalograss standard up to about 6,500 feet. It says a protected sunny south- or west-facing site may work at 6,500 to 7,000 feet. It warns that establishment takes liberal watering. Check the elevation of your lot with the designer before choosing a grass.

Hardscape and outdoor living in the design: patios, walkways, walls, kitchens, fire and water features, pools

Walls, decks and fences carry permit limits, so draw them correctly the first time. These are the rules PPRBD publishes. PPRBD issues building permits for Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Fountain, Woodland Park and Manitou Springs, and also serves Monument.

Appendix C (El Paso County) and Appendix J (City of Woodland Park) modify the exempt list. The rule for a lot outside the City may differ. A homeowner may pull a permit only for their own primary residence. A contractor cannot obtain a permit unless the contractor's license is in good standing. Read PPRBD's work exempt from permit list and its homeowner permit page.

Pergolas, shade structures and snow loads

PPRBD's design criteria sheet (updated 06/30/2026) sets ground snow load at 43 psf below 7,000 feet and 57 psf at or above 7,000 feet. It sets a basic wind speed of 130 mph for Category I and II structures. These figures apply to structures on submittal documents. Ask which snow load applies at your elevation.

Fire pits, outdoor kitchens and lighting

PPRBD lists the 2023 National Electrical Code and the 2021 International Fuel Gas Code among its adopted codes. The International Fire Code is adopted by the fire authority. Ask who files for the permit, which codes apply and who is responsible for the gas, electrical and plumbing connections.

Xeriscape and water-wise design: water wise landscape design in Colorado Springs

Pueblo County Extension describes "water wise" as planning, hydrozoning, efficient irrigation, soil improvement, mulching and maintenance.

Water-wise design steps and turf, from CSU Extension

CSU Extension's GardenNotes #412 (reviewed July 2025) says water-wise design is not anti-turf. It is about matching the turf to the design needs and use of the site. It adds that irrigation management has a far greater effect on water savings than turf species.

For a yard that already has plants and turf, CSU Extension's "Xeriscaping: Retrofit Your Yard" (reviewed August 2025) gives five steps.

1. Remove old plants and fabric. Clear what is coming out, including any old weed barrier fabric.
2. Amend the soil as needed. The guide calls compaction one of the largest challenges for Colorado landscapes. It adds that most drought-tolerant plants prefer lean soil, so amend only where the plants need it.
3. Adjust the irrigation. Turf strips under 8 feet wide are hard to water with spray heads. Irregular lawns can be reshaped to fit sprinkler patterns. Sprinklers can be changed to water only turf and not hardscape. Plants with different water needs should not share a zone.
4. Plant, then wean from water once established. New plants need regular water at first.
5. Mulch. Gravel mulch suits many native and drought-tolerant plants. Organic mulch such as wood chips holds moisture and eases compaction. The guide advises against weed barrier fabric in planted beds, so ask a bidder why it is in a proposal.

CSU Water Wise Rules

CSU's Water Wise Rules are in effect year-round. They allow watering up to three days a week on days you choose. From May 1 to Oct. 15, water before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Do not let water pool on hard surfaces or run into gutters. Fix leaking sprinkler systems within 10 days. Use a shut-off nozzle on hoses. Violators may be fined $100, although CSU says education is the priority. Trees, shrubs and gardens may be watered outside the three-day limit by drip irrigation, a hose with a shut-off nozzle or a handheld container. A customer with a large or complex landscape can apply for a water allocation plan. It gives timing flexibility but no extra water.

Since a Utilities Board vote on March 18, 2026, CSU has been in "Water Shortage Preparation." This is a preliminary stage of the City's Water Shortage Ordinance. The stage can change. Read the current rules on CSU's water shortage preparation page and its Water Wise Rules page before you finalize an irrigation layout.

Establishment permits for new plantings

CSU's free establishment permit lets customers who water new grass or landscape plants with overhead sprinklers water more often and during the day. It is valid for four to six weeks. Proof of soil preparation is required for new sod or non-native grass seed. It is not required for native grass, overseeding, flowers, shrubs or trees. No permit is needed for drip irrigation, watering cans or a hose with a shut-off nozzle. Ask the designer who applies for the permit. See CSU's establishment permit page.

City landscape rules and the 2028 state deadline

The City's Landscape Program says the governing code is Part 9, Article 4 of the Unified Development Code. It links a Landscape Policy Manual (2026 edition). Ask the City or the designer whether the manual sets a turf limit for your project. The City offers pre-submittal and comment review meetings for landscape applications not yet in its system. See the City Landscape Program page.

State law is also moving. HB25-1113 (signed May 20, 2025) requires each local entity with land use planning and zoning authority to enact or amend, on or before January 1, 2028, ordinances regulating turf installation in new development and redevelopment. The goal is to reduce irrigation water demand for residential real property. The bill carves out some residential property, so ask the City how it applies to you.

Rebates and programs

CSU's residential Native Grass Lawn Program is a free-materials program, not a per-square-foot rebate. It offers free high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles (up to $100 in value) and free native grass seed (up to $150 in value) for CSU residential customers. Registration for 2026 closed after reaching capacity. CSU keeps a notification list for a spring 2027 reopening. CSU's business program lists a $0.50 per square foot rebate for native grass, which is for businesses, not homes. We did not find a residential per-square-foot turf-removal rebate on CSU's pages. Programs change, so check CSU's rebate pages before you count on any of them.

Grading, drainage and soil in the design

Soil

CSU Extension says many Colorado soils are alkaline, with a pH of 7.0 to 8.3, from high calcium carbonate, often called free lime. It says elemental sulfur is not effective in many Colorado soils because of it. In clayey soil, organic matter helps bind clay particles into larger chunks. The soil guide lists a one-time lawn amendment of 1 to 2 inches of compost worked in to 6 inches. For first-time flower or vegetable beds it lists 3 to 4 inches of compost worked in to 8 to 12 inches. It notes that on compacted or clayey soils anything less may result in shallow rooting. Ask whether the soil is tested before the plan is final.

Drainage

The plan should show where roof water, patio water and lawn water go. CSU's Water Wise Rules say water should not run into gutters or pool on hard surfaces, which applies to irrigation too.

Grading permits

The City of Colorado Springs requires a Grading and Erosion Control permit before clearing, grading, excavation or filling on sites that disturb one acre or more. It is also required for work in an open drainage channel or on a permanent control measure, and on any site the Stormwater Enterprise manager requires. Ask the City if your lot or project could reach these triggers. See the City's grading and erosion control page.

Call 811 before digging

Call 811 before you dig, whatever the project size, and wait for the locates. Do not dig until the lines are marked. The state statute behind the notice is CRS 9-1.5-103. The Colorado 811 site explains the process.

Designing to a budget and building in phases

The CSU Extension PlantTalk page says planning first matters most when the work is built in phases. It describes three routes: design it yourself, have a professional review your design, or hire a landscape architect or designer.

Ask the designer which work must come first and which parts can wait, and to size irrigation lines and sleeves for the full plan. Plan plant and lawn dates around the planting windows above. When a bid is over budget, ask each company to price the plan as base work and as optional add-ons.

HOA approval and permits for a new design

Three kinds of approval can touch a project: the HOA, the permit office and the utility. Not every project needs all three.

HOA approval

SB23-178 (signed May 17, 2023, effective Aug. 7, 2023) limits what HOA guidelines may do for single-family detached homes.

• The HOA must choose at least three water-wise front-yard garden designs that are preapproved for installation. They are drawn from sources such as Plant Select or a municipality or utility. The HOA must post them on its website if it has one. An owner may substitute reasonable plants when one is unavailable.
• The HOA may not ban artificial turf in the backyard.
• The HOA may not unreasonably require hardscape on more than 20% of the landscaped area.
• The HOA must allow an option of at least 80% drought-tolerant plantings.
• The HOA may not bar vegetable gardens in front, side or back yards.

An owner who believes the HOA broke these rules may sue after written notice and a 45-day cure period, for the greater of $500 or actual damages. Attached homes that share a wall and condominiums are not covered. These details come from the bill summary on the Colorado legislature's site. The statute text comes from a non-official mirror of CRS 38-33.3-106.5. Read the SB23-178 page, and ask an attorney if a dispute is real.

Permit office

PPRBD's license list has no landscape, irrigation or concrete-flatwork category. Retaining walls are named under its Building Contractor D (Specialty) license. Fences and decks on one- and two-family homes are named under Building Contractor E. The page does not say whether landscape or irrigation work needs a license, so ask the permit office, not the bidder. The City Clerk's business licensing page lists concrete contractors, excavation and tree service among the businesses that need a City license. It does not list landscaping or irrigation. It adds that businesses not listed may require other state or local approvals, permits or licenses.

Utility

CSU's backflow prevention program requires assemblies to be tested by licensed backflow testers. Commercial and multifamily irrigation tests are due each year by July 1, with a fine of $405 per assembly. The page speaks of businesses and multifamily dwellings and does not mention single-family homes. Ask CSU whether a house sprinkler system falls under it, and ask the designer to note the backflow device on the irrigation sheet.

Residential vs commercial and community design

This page covers homes. One state rule matters for other properties. SB24-005 says that on and after January 1, 2026, local governments may not allow installation of nonfunctional turf on commercial, institutional or industrial property, common interest community property and certain rights-of-way. Artificial turf on athletic fields of play is exempt. The bill page does not define nonfunctional turf or address single-family residential property. If you manage a business property or a community common area, ask the designer how the plan meets that rule.

What we could not confirm for Colorado Springs

The sources we read do not cover these topics. Each note says what is sourced and whom to ask.

3D renderings and visualization

No price or standard for 3D landscape design views is in the sources. Ask each company whether 3D views are in the fee or an add-on.

Luxury landscape design

No source defines or prices luxury landscape design here. For a large budget, get a written schedule and an itemized estimate.

Working with architects, builders and interior designers

No Colorado Springs rule on how a landscape plan fits an architect's or builder's plans was found. The sourced rules that touch both plans are the wall and fence heights in the PPRBD table above and the City's grading permit triggers. Agree in writing who sets the final grade.

Patios, pools and water features

PPRBD's exempt list names walks and driveways on grade but not patios, and we found no sourced rule on pools or water features. Ask the permit office.

What a xeriscape project costs

We found no sourced Colorado Springs price for a complete xeriscape project. Ask for a plan that shows the area of each surface type, so that bids can be compared per square foot of lawn, bed, gravel and hardscape.

The title "landscape architect" in Colorado

Whether a given title needs a state license is a question for the state board, and we did not read an official source on it. If a proposal uses the title, ask who on the project holds it, ask for the license number and check it with the state agency that issued it. This site does not call any company a landscape architect.

How to choose a landscape designer: portfolio, process, credentials, references

Choose on scope and fit, not on the lowest line. Use the same checklist on every company you compare.

1. Same scope. Give each company the same brief. Ask for sheets, revisions and renderings in writing, and for sample plans like yours and references you can call.
2. Itemized estimate. Ask for unit prices for plants, materials, labor and irrigation, plus a line for permits and engineering.
3. Who pulls permits. Ask who applies for permits and who calls 811. PPRBD says a contractor cannot obtain a permit unless the contractor's license is in good standing.
4. Credentials. Ask for the license number of anyone who uses a professional title or does gas, electric or plumbing work. Check it with the issuing agency. Ask for a current certificate of insurance.
5. Warranty and aftercare. If a plant or workmanship warranty is offered, get it in writing, with its conditions such as watering.
6. Local rules. Ask how the design handles the CSU Water Wise Rules, establishment watering and your HOA.

The independent company we connect you with will give its own quote. Compare it with at least one other if you can. To get started, send the quote form on this page or call.

Areas served

• Colorado Springs
• Fountain
• Monument
• Woodland Park
• Manitou Springs

Homes in Fountain, Monument, Woodland Park and Manitou Springs are also in the area. PPRBD issues building permits across Fountain, Woodland Park and Manitou Springs and also serves Monument. Check your town's website for fence, wall and tree rules.

Landscape design FAQ

Next steps: how to request a quote, and related services

After the design, see landscaping for installation costs and process, artificial turf for backyard turf, and hydroseeding for new lawns and slopes. For how the referral works and what to have ready when you send the form or call, see the contact page.

Call (804) 889-2677.

Sources

1. A Colorado Springs landscape company's residential design page (percent-of-home-price listing and timeline, retrieved 2026-10-23)
2. CSU Extension, Water-Wise Landscape Design: Steps (GardenNotes #411) (reviewed July 2025, retrieved 2026-10-23)
3. Colorado Springs Utilities, Water Wise Rules and establishment permits (retrieved 2026-10-18)
4. Colorado Springs Utilities, Water Shortage Preparation (retrieved 2026-10-18)
5. Colorado Springs Utilities, Native Grass Lawn Program and business irrigation rebates (retrieved 2026-10-18)
6. Colorado Springs Utilities, backflow prevention (retrieved 2026-10-23)
7. PPRBD, work exempt from permit, homeowner permit page, license types and design criteria sheet (retrieved 2026-10-18)
8. City of Colorado Springs, Landscape Program (retrieved 2026-10-18)
9. City of Colorado Springs, grading and erosion control permit (retrieved 2026-10-18)
10. City of Colorado Springs, business licensing (retrieved 2026-10-23)
11. Colorado General Assembly, SB23-178 (retrieved 2026-10-23); SB24-005 and HB25-1113 (retrieved 2026-10-18); CRS 38-33.3-106.5 mirror (retrieved 2026-10-23)
12. Colorado 811 (retrieved 2026-10-18) and CRS 9-1.5-103 mirror (retrieved 2026-10-18)
13. CSU Extension: soil pH (retrieved 2026-10-18), soil amendments, renovating the home lawn, buffalograss lawns and artificial turf for lawns (retrieved 2026-10-23)
14. National Weather Service Pueblo: freeze data, spring freeze information, fall freeze data and 2025 Colorado Springs climate summary (retrieved 2026-10-18 and 2026-10-23)
15. CSU Extension: Xeriscaping: Retrofit Your Yard, Water-Wise Landscape Design (GardenNotes #412) and Pueblo County Extension, xeric, water wise or native (retrieved 2026-10-24); PlantTalk Colorado, Xeriscape Design (retrieved 2026-10-24)
16. Colorado Springs Utilities, Water Wise plants and Plant Select (retrieved 2026-10-24)
17. Out-of-state general guidance: University of Georgia Extension, working with a garden designer and choosing a landscape design professional (Georgia, reviewed 2022) (retrieved 2026-10-24)
18. Design-Build Institute of America, owners FAQ, a design-build trade body (retrieved 2026-10-24)
19. Census Reporter, Colorado Springs profile (retrieved 2026-10-18)