Get Quotes from Top Landscapers in Chicago, IL

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Landscaper in Chicago?

In compliance with Chapter 4-36 of the Municipal Code of Chicago, individuals who wish to provide landscaping services in the city must be licensed as general contractors before doing so. The Chicago Department of Buildings handles this general contractor licensing, and licenses are classified into five categories, namely:

• Class A licenses: Holders of this license are not subject to any monetary limitations on the value of projects that they can execute
• Class B licenses: Holders of this class of general contractor licenses cannot engage in projects that are worth more than $10,000,000
• Class C license: Class C license holders are limited to projects with a value of no more than $5,000,000 per project
• Class D license: This class of general contractor license has a monetary value limit of $2,000,000 per single contract project
• Class E license: Individuals who possess a Class E license cannot engage in projects that are valued at more than $500,000

Landscapers that fail to obtain a General Contractor license before providing their services to Chicago residents or provide services outside their license's scope can face penalties of up to $5,000 in fines per offense.

Interested parties that wish to obtain a General Contractor License can get information on the city's licensing requirements and processes by contacting the Chicago Department of Buildings at:

Information concerning first-time general contractor licensing applications can also be obtained by calling (800) 359-1313 or via email. You can also confirm that your landscape contractor possesses a valid license by accessing the Department of Building's List of Licensed General Contractors online or by calling the department at (312) 744-3449.

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

Finding out how much landscapers charge to execute your intended landscaping job is a good way to develop a working budget for the project. While landscapers in Chicago are estimated to earn an average hourly wage of $16, some contractors may utilize a square footage billing structure when charging clients for jobs. Regardless of the billing structure used, the total cost of your landscaping project will usually depend on the following factors:

• The nature of the project, as well as its scope
• The size of the area that requires landscaping
• The cost of flowers, seeds, and other materials that will be required
• The amount of labor needed to execute the project

Getting and comparing quotes from up to three different Landscapers is advisable before choosing the one best suited to your financial capabilities. Doing this can also help you spot potentially fraudulent contractors that overcharge for their services.

A landscaper in Chicago earns an average wage of $35,120 annually. The table below provides a cost comparison of the average hourly wages of landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Chicago against those of this category of individuals across the rest of Illinois and other major American cities:

Do You Comply with the Chicago Landscape Ordinance?

The Chicago Landscape Ordinance is a local law that regulates the incorporation of landscaping features into new or substantially renovated residential and commercial buildings in the city. Per the requirements of this ordinance, the installation and maintenance of landscaping, such as parkway trees and vehicular use area internal planting, are required for certain projects in Chicago. For example, parkway plantings are needed for the following types of projects:

• The construction of principal buildings
• The addition or enlargement of existing buildings where the new construction is more than 1,500 square feet
• The repair or rehabilitation of existing principal buildings, including interior remodeling, where the cost of this work is more than 50% of the structure's replacement cost
• The construction of parking areas that contain five or more spaces
• The repair or expansion of existing parking areas where the number of spaces available is being increased by more than 25%

Note that the Chicago Landscape Ordinance makes exemptions for city-required landscaping in situations that involve the construction, repair, or rehabilitation of one, two, or three-family dwellings. Other exemptions include repair work necessitated by fire, flood, or explosion damage and other types of calamities, as well as construction, repair, or rehabilitation work on accessory structures.

You should always ensure that any landscaper you hire in Chicago is conversant with the city's landscape ordinance and that the requirements of this ordinance are implemented in your project where applicable. You can get more information on the Chicago Landscape Ordinance by contacting the city's Department of Planning and Development at:

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

Per the Chicago Landscape Ordinance, a permit must be obtained from the city's Bureau of Forestry for the planting, removal, trimming, or commencement of any action that may affect the health of trees in the public right-of-way. These types of permits are typically obtained by completing and submitting a Forestry Permit Application Form to the bureau at:

Applicants may be required to provide additional documentation to demonstrate that they can carry out the required landscaping work. Detailed information on the Chicago Bureau of Forestry's permitting process can be obtained by contacting a City Forester via the contact information provided above.

Also, while no other separate permits are required for landscaping in Chicago, parties that apply for building permits in the city may be required to submit landscaping plans for the project in question. These building permits are typically required for all new construction work in Chicago and any improvement or repair work that significantly alters the structure or blueprint of private buildings and property in the city. The Zoning Ordinance Administration Division of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development conducts landscape plan reviews.

Building permit applicants that are required to undergo this process will be expected to submit the necessary landscape plans and other relevant information to this division at:

Once the plans have been reviewed and approved, applicants can continue with the rest of the building permit process. This process typically involves completing and submitting appropriate Permit Application Forms and paying stipulated permit fees to the Chicago Department of Buildings. Queries concerning the Chicago building permit issuance processes and procedures can be directed to the city's Department of Buildings at:

What Kind of Landscaping Services Do You Offer?

An important step to take in ensuring the success of your landscaping project in Chicago is making sure that your landscaper has the right skill set required for the job. Landscape companies in the city provide different types of services, some of which typically need specialized knowledge and tools for proper execution. Failing to confirm your intended landscaper's specialization can lead to negative results like shoddy service delivery and additional costs from hiring another contractor to get the job done correctly.

Common types of landscaping services requested locally in Chicago include landscape designing, installation and maintenance services, softscaping services like the addition of plants and living features to areas, and hardscaping services like the construction of water fountains and walkways on lawns.

Always confirm that your preferred landscaper has the right level of experience and the necessary tools to execute your intended landscaping project properly. It is also advisable to request references and contact them to find out the contractor's level of on-the-job professionalism. Finally, make sure to confirm how much your intended service would cost you. Listed below are cost estimates for some common landscaping services that are obtainable in the city:

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

When considering grasses for your lawn, it is important to take note of factors like your type of soil, your lawn's physical conditions, and the climate of your environment. Chicago is located midway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Continental Divide, and its climate is characterized by warm summers and cold winters. The city also experiences frequent short fluctuations in humidity, temperature, cloudiness, and wind direction. Grasses best suited to this type of climate are low-maintenance, hardy grasses that can adapt to shade and withstand the city's wide seasonal temperature swings. Some common types of grasses that fit these criteria are:

• Kentucky bluegrass
• Fine fescue
• Tall fescue
• Perennial ryegrass
• Rough bluegrass

It is in your best interest to hire a qualified landscaper to help you determine the best type of grass for your lawn and properly seed the lawn. You can find qualified landscapers in Chicago using third-party review websites like the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Review. You can also utilize online directories provided by trade organizations like the National Association of Landscape Professionals to do this.

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

Chicago typically requires landscapers who wish to obtain a General Contractor License from its Department of Buildings to provide proof of insurance before the requested license is issued. This insurance coverage must be gotten from an insurer authorized to operate in the State of Illinois, and the mandated coverage requirements primarily depend on the class of license being applied for. Nonetheless, this coverage generally ranges from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage.

You should always confirm the insurance status of any landscaper you intend to hire in Chicago before concluding your hiring arrangements with them. This is important, as adequate insurance coverage protects you from out-of-pocket expenses and other liabilities that may arise in the event of unforeseen work-related injuries or damage to your property during your project. You can confirm a contractor's insurance status by requesting copies of their insurance certificate and contacting the insurer who issued this document to validate it. You can also contact the Chicago Department of Buildings at (312) 744-3449 for more information on its insurance requirements for landscapers operating in the city.