Get Quotes from Top Landscapers in Oklahoma City, OK

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Landscaper in Oklahoma City?

Oklahoma City does not require landscapers within its jurisdiction to possess an occupation-specific contractor license. However, any landscaper who wishes to perform any improvement activity on private property in the city that requires a city-issued building permit must register as a Residential Building Contractor with the Oklahoma City Development Services Department. Failure to adhere to this registration requirement can lead to Class A or Class B misdemeanor charges, which are punishable by fines and jail time of up to $1,200 and six months, or a combination of both.

Be aware that if the landscaping activity involves the application of pesticides, then the landscaper must also obtain a state-issued commercial pesticide applicator license from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

Landscapers that need to register as Residential Building Contractors in the city may do so online via the Oklahoma City Citizen Portal. Note that these contractors will have to create a free user account to use this portal and submit proof of general liability insurance, workers' compensation (or an exemption where applicable), as well as a stipulated registration fee. Registrants may also be required to complete and submit a notarized Contractor Information Sheet. Inquiries concerning this registration process can be directed to the Oklahoma City Development Services Department at (405) 297-2606.

On the other hand, applications for a state-issued commercial pesticide applicator license can be made by properly completing and submitting a Pesticide Applicator License Application Form to:

Applicants will also be required to pay a licensing fee, pass licensing examinations, and provide any other information necessary by the department before obtaining the requested license. Queries concerning state-issued pesticide applicator licenses can be directed to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry at (405)522-5984.

You should always ensure that the landscaper you intend to hire has met all applicable local registration or state licensing requirements before starting any work on your project. You can do this by contacting the Oklahoma City Development Services Department at (405) 297-2606. It is also a good idea to look out for trade association membership and industry certifications when searching for landscapers in the city. These additional qualifications usually indicate that the contractor has attained a certain level of experience and on-the-job professionalism that offer you confidence in their ability to get the job done satisfactorily.

Some reputable associations that landscapers in Oklahoma City belong to or obtain certifications from are the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the Professional Grounds Management Society, the International Society of Arboriculture, and the Tree Care Industry Association. Make sure you verify any claims of trade association membership or industry certification made by landscapers in the city by contacting the relevant association.

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

Several factors influence the cost of hiring a landscape contractor in Oklahoma City. These include:

• The type of landscaping service that you require
• The scope of this service
• The cost of landscaping materials needed to carry out the project
• The amount of labor required to execute the project

You should always get detailed estimates from up to three different landscapers in the city before deciding on the best fit for your project. This not only helps you get an average estimate of the project's potential cost but also spot possibly fraudulent contractors that charge way above market prices.

A landscaper in Oklahoma City earns an average wage of $30,330 annually. The table below provides a cost comparison of the average hourly wages of landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Oklahoma City against those of this category of individuals across the rest of Oklahoma State and other major American cities:

Do You Comply with the Oklahoma City Landscape Ordinance?

The Oklahoma City Landscape Ordinance is a local law that establishes minimum standards for landscaping activities in the city while also ensuring that design flexibility and plant material choice are retained. This ordinance utilizes a point-based system that assigns point values to different types of plant materials, and its rules, requirements, regulations, and conditions apply to all proposed or existing development and construction projects in Oklahoma City. Thus, it is necessary to ensure that any landscaper you hire in the city is conversant with the ordinance. This way, you can be assured that your project will be done in compliance with all its relevant provisions and requirements, thereby avoiding the sanctions and penalties that follow ordinance violations in Oklahoma City.

Some requirements of the Oklahoma City Landscape Ordinance include:

• The submission of final landscape plans for proposed development projects
• The issuance of permits for landscaping projects on rights-of-way
• Mandatory landscaping of perimeter yards for single-family residential, duplex, and mobile home residential use units in certain city districts
• The installation of residential buffers and screening for properties in certain individual zoning districts

You can contact the Oklahoma City Development Center at (405) 297-3835 to direct any queries related to the city's landscape ordinance.

Will You Get the Landscaping Permit Required as per the Oklahoma City Code?

Per the requirements of the Oklahoma City Landscape Ordinance, a revocable permit must be obtained from the Oklahoma Public Works Department before landscaping work can be done within rights-of-way in the city. These permits can be obtained by filling out a Revocable Permit Application Form and submitting two copies of this form, along with other required documents and a permit fee, to the department at:

Additional documents that are typically required for submission alongside the duly completed permit application form include:

• Letters of no objection from the owners of properties that abut the proposed landscaping improvement
• Four copies of site plans
• Four copies of landscaping plans, where applicable
• A legal description of the property

You can contact the Public Works Department at (405) 297-2581 for assistance on the revocable permit application process.

The Oklahoma City Landscape Ordinance also mandates that a separate landscape plan must be submitted when applications for building permits and all PUDs, SPUDs, and conditional use permits are made in the city. However, this requirement is not mandatory for individual single-family or two-family residential lots. These permits are typically required for the construction, alteration, repair, enlargement, movement, or demolition of any primary or accessory structure in the city, and they can be obtained online via the Oklahoma City Citizen Portal. Note that these mandated landscape plans must include certain information, such as:

• The location and size of any permanent fixture or structure relevant to the landscape plan. This includes sidewalks, fences, walls, signs, and benches.
• The location, size, type, spacing, and quantity of all proposed plant materials for the project and any existing plant materials. These materials must be graphically represented on the plan and referenced by their common name, scientific name, or an appropriate key.
• The proposed method of irrigation for the landscaping, as well as a defined area of coverage for this irrigation method
• The exact locations and outlines of all rights-of-way around the proposed project for which the permit is being requested

You can get additional information on landscape plan submissions and construction-related permit applications or inquire about these topics by contacting the Oklahoma City Development Center's Plan Review staff at (405) 297-2525.

What Kind of Landscaping Services Do You Offer?

To ensure optimal service delivery, you should always make sure that the individual you contract to handle your project has the proper equipment and expertise relevant to your specific landscaping needs. Landscapers in Oklahoma City offer several types of lawn care and landscaping services. Common examples include lawn aerating, weed spraying, lawn edging, landscape design and installation, sprinkler system installation, hedge trimming, gardening, and fertilization. Get a verbal confirmation that your intended contractor offers landscaping services required for your planned project, ask for a portfolio of their previous work, and request references from past clients. This should not be a problem for professional landscapers who can deliver the services they claim to provide, and you should be wary of contractors who are hesitant to or cannot provide any of this requested information. Once you have done this, it is also a good idea to get a clear estimation of how much you will be charged for the project at hand. The list below provides average cost estimates for some common landscaping services in Oklahoma City:

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

With an average annual temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit, Oklahoma City enjoys mild and favorable seasons year-round and rarely experiences prolonged periods of bad weather. As such, both cold-season and warm-season grasses are suitable for planting in the city. The top grass choices for lawns in Oklahoma City are:

• Bermudagrass
• Buffalograss
• Zoysiagrass
• Perennial ryegrass
• Tall fescue
• Kentucky bluegrass
• St. Augustine grass

Note that site conditions like the type of soil on your lawn, the amount of foot traffic it experiences, and the amount of sunlight or shade it receives will influence how well these grasses will flourish after planting. You should always consult a qualified Landscaper to help you factor in these conditions as well as your personal needs before determining the best type of grass for your lawn. You can find skilled landscapers in the city by getting referrals from trusted friends, family, or online directories provided by organizations like the Better Business Bureau and the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

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

Oklahoma City has no mandatory licensing requirements that apply specifically to landscapers. However, individuals in the city, including landscape contractors, who wish to register as residential building contractors must have general liability insurance coverage of a minimum of $50,000 per occurrence and workers' compensation coverage of a minimum of $100,000 per occurrence.

This insurance coverage is necessitated to cover the costs of work-related events like damages caused to your property by the contractor during the project and on-the-job injuries to the contractor or other third parties. This is important, considering that an estimated 143,000 emergency room visits are attributed to landscaping activities annually, with lawnmowers alone causing approximately 87,600 of these visits.

As such, always make sure that any landscaper you hire in Oklahoma City is adequately insured, regardless of whether or not this individual is registered as a residential building contractor. Request a copy of the contractor's insurance certificate and contact the issuing insurance provider to authenticate it and confirm that the insurance plan can adequately cover the scope of your landscaping project.