Get Quotes from Top Landscapers in Charlotte, NC

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Landscaper in Charlotte?

The North Carolina Landscape Contractors Statue mandates all individuals who engage in landscape construction or contracting or use the title "landscape contractor" to obtain an occupational license from the North Carolina Landscape Contractors' License Board. However, this statute makes provisions for certain situations where a landscaper license will not be required to perform landscaping activities. Some of these licensing exemptions include:

• Landscaping work being done by property owners on their own property
• Landscaping work where the total cost of labor, materials, and other items for a given job site during a consecutive 12-month period does not exceed $30,000
• Landscaping work done by state-licensed general contractors that possess building contractor, residential contractor, or public utilities contractor license classifications
• Landscaping work that is limited to turf management or lawn care services only. This includes lawn mowing, fertilization, aeration, weed control, turf edging, and debris removal
• Landscaping work done by individuals or businesses that own or operate a golf course

Violations of the North Carolina Landscape Contractors Statute can result in civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation, as well as other statutorily-approved disciplinary actions. Parties in Charlotte that wish to obtain a Landscaper's license from the state's Landscape Contractors' License Board must meet the following qualifications and requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must be of good moral character.
• Must complete and submit an application form as well as any stipulated application fees and five letters of reference.
• Submit either an original and signed $10,000 North Carolina Landscape Contractor's Surety Compliance Bond or an Irrevocable Letter of Credit from a financial institution.
• Provide evidence of business identification.
• Sit for and pass a licensing examination no later than one year after the application request is approved.

Applicants who successfully pass the licensing examination will receive a notification from the Board, following which they will be required to pay a licensing fee before becoming officially licensed as Landscapers. Note that landscape contractors that operate under a corporation, LLC, or partnership may be required to obtain an additional corporate license.

You can confirm the licensing status of your intended landscaper by utilizing the North Carolina Landscape Contractors' License Board's Verify License Search portal. Landscaper license-related queries can also be directed to this board at (919) 266-8070 or via email.

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

Figures published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest that Landscapers in the Charlotte area earn a little over $15 per hour. Nonetheless, the amount of money that you will have to pay a landscaping company to execute a project for you is largely dependent on the following factors:

• The nature and scope of the project
• The square footage of the area that needs landscaping
• The cost of landscaping materials required for the project
• The labor intensity of the project

Not all landscapers in Charlotte charge hourly rates for their services, and some of these professionals may employ either a fixed fee or per-square-foot billing structure. As such, it is a good idea to get cost estimates from at least three different contractors in the city when looking to undertake a landscaping project. This helps you get an average estimate of the project's potential cost and also allows you to spot possibly fraudulent contractors whose rates are higher than those of other contractors.

A landscaper in Charlotte earns an average wage of $31,390 annually. The table below provides a cost comparison of the average hourly wages of landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Charlotte against those of this category of individuals across the rest of North Carolina and other major American cities:

Do You Comply with the Charlotte Landscape Ordinance?

Making sure that the landscaper you hire is conversant with local landscaping laws and regulations is essential in determining their suitability for the job and ensuring successful service delivery at the end of the day. These laws include the Charlotte Tree Ordinance, which regulates the planting, maintenance, and removal of trees on roadways, parks, and public areas, as well as on new and existing developments in the city. The Charlotte Tree Ordinance is implemented to preserve, protect, and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of residents of Charlotte while also ensuring that tree removal activities do not reduce property values in the city. The provisions of this law apply to all building and construction-related projects that fit certain criteria, which include:

• All new developments
• Additions to existing sites that are at least five percent more than the site's existing building square footage
• Additions of 1,000 square feet or more to buildings
• Additions of ten or more parking spaces to sites with no buildings
• Facade changes of at least ten percent to any building wall that faces a vehicular way intended for public travel

Parties that violate any sections of the Charlotte Tree Ordinance are subject to civil penalties of up to $20,000 per violation, as well as other city-imposed sanctions. Note that the individuals who perform the violating work, the owners of the property where the violation occurs, and the persons who contracted for the performance are typically all held liable for any imposed penalties and sanctions. Considering this, it is a good idea to ensure that your landscaper works in accordance with all applicable provisions of the tree ordinance that relate to your project. Additional information on the requirements of the Charlotte Tree Ordinance can be gotten by contacting the city's Department of General Services at:

600 East 4th Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: (704) 336-2291

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

Per Section 21-63 of the Charlotte Tree Ordinance, permits must be obtained from the Engineering and Property Management Division of the Charlotte Department of General Services before planting, removing, trimming, or cutting trees in the city. Parties that wish to obtain these ordinance-mandated permits may do so by contacting the division at:

600 East 4th Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: (704) 400-2033

Even though individual permits are generally not needed for other landscaping-specific projects, applications for grading, building, demolition, land use, change of use, or rezoning permits may require tree surveys or landscape plan reviews. The issuance of these permits, as well as the conduction of any required plan reviews, are handled by the Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement Department, and information on the permitting and review process can be gotten by contacting this department at:

2145 Suttle Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28208
Phone: (980) 314-2633
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays

Inquiries on the requirements for building and construction-related projects in Charlotte can also be directed to the city's CLT Development Center at:

Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center
600 East Fourth Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: (704) 336-6692

What Kind of Landscaping Services Do You Offer?

Determining the area of expertise of the landscaper you wish to contract for your project is essential. Landscape companies in Charlotte provide various landscape installation, design, and maintenance services. As such, you should always ensure that your preferred contractor has the right level of knowledge and tools for your specific job.

Some common landscaping services offered in the city include lawn care, aerations, lawn drainage solutions, grading, yard cleanup, lawn seeding, weed control, and gardening services. Get a confirmation that your contractor's area of specialization is relevant to the scope of your project by asking them and also requesting pictures of their past work that is similar to your intended project. You should also request references and contact them for first-hand reviews of the landscape contractor. The list below provides cost estimates for some common landscaping services in Charlotte:

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

Charlotte has an annual average temperature of 61.5 degrees and also experiences about 43 inches of annual average precipitation distributed evenly all year round. Nonetheless, the city occasionally experiences cold weather during winter seasons, with an average accumulation of six inches of snow annually during these periods. The best types of lawn grasses for these weather conditions are:

• Kentucky bluegrass
• Tall fescue
• Zoysiagrass
• Bermudagrass
• Centipedegrass

Note that the results you will get from planting any of these grasses may be affected by factors like the amount of shade or sun your lawn gets and the type of activities that it is used for. As such, it is advisable to consult a professional Landscaper in the city to help you determine the best fit for your lawn. You can find licensed landscapers in Charlotte by utilizing the North Carolina Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board's Find a License Near Me portal. The Better Business Bureau and the National Association of Landscape Professionals also provide online resources that can be used to locate qualified Landscapers in the city.

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

There are no mandatory liability insurance requirements for landscapers in Charlotte. However, all licensed landscape contractors in the State of North Carolina are required to have either a $10,000 surety bond or certified letter of credit to maintain their licenses. This bond is put in place to provide some financial restitution to consumers in situations where these landscapers fail to meet their obligations. Nonetheless, it is also advisable to ensure that your intended landscaping company has a general liability insurance plan. This type of insurance typically covers the costs of any work-related injuries that may occur during your project and also insulates you from any legal liabilities that may arise from these injuries. This is important, considering landscaping activities are estimated to result in over 100 deaths and 143,000 serious injuries every year.

Always ask your intended landscapers to provide copies of their insurance certificates and contact the relevant insurers to validate these certificates and also to confirm that the insurance plan is adequate for your project. You can also contact the North Carolina Landscape Contractors' License Board at (919) 266-8070 or via email to confirm the bonding status of your Landscaper. Queries concerning state-mandated landscape contractor bond requirements can also be directed to this board.