Service area · Peninsula
Landscaping in San Francisco
San Francisco is where most of our published work is: terraced hillside yards, paver driveways, outdoor kitchens and small backyards rebuilt from the ground up.
City and county
Does Arkland work in San Francisco?
Yes. Arkland Landscape Construction designs and builds backyards, front yards, driveways and outdoor living spaces across San Francisco, which is both a city and a county. Five of our published case studies are here, more than in any other city we serve, and our Daly City location is just south of the city line.
Most San Francisco landscapes are small, and almost none are simple. Lots are narrow, many backyards sit above or below the street, and the only way in is often through a garage, a side passage or the house itself. Before any work starts, we plan how soil comes out and how pavers, stone, plants and equipment get in, and how the street, the neighbors and your floors are protected while it happens.
The city also changes a lot from one neighborhood to the next. The Sunset, the Richmond and the west side get summer fog, steady ocean wind and sandy soil, while the eastern neighborhoods are often sunnier and more sheltered. Hillside streets in places like Twin Peaks, Glen Park and Bernal Heights bring slopes that need walls, steps and drainage before there is room for a patio.
Because yards are small, every square foot has to work. Our San Francisco projects lean on built-in seating, raised planters, lighting on steps and paths, fire features and paving that handles both rain and foot traffic, so a compact yard can be used most evenings of the year.
Local conditions
What shapes a San Francisco landscape?
Access, slopes, fog and drainage decide more about a city yard than its style does.
Tight access
Many backyards can only be reached through the house or garage. We plan the order of work, protect what we walk through and size equipment to fit the space.
Landscape RenovationHillside lots
Sloped yards often need retaining walls, steps and terraces first. Our hillside project turned a slope into levels with a sunken fire pit and a hot tub.
Landscape RenovationFog belt and wind
On the west side, plants have to handle cool summers, wind and salt air. We choose plants for your block's exposure, not for a sunny inland garden.
Landscape EnhancementsRain and runoff
Hard surfaces send winter rain straight to the street. Permeable pavers, planting beds and proper drains let more of it soak in and keep water away from the house.
Landscape Renovation
Permits and city rules
What San Francisco rules affect a landscape project?
Most planting and paving needs no permit, but a few common parts of a city project do. We go over them during the estimate.
Street trees and significant trees
San Francisco Public Works must approve the removal of any street tree, and of a significant tree: a private tree whose trunk is within 10 feet of the sidewalk and that meets the city's size rules. Neighbors are notified first.
Walls and structures
The Department of Building Inspection reviews many retaining walls, decks and structures, especially taller walls and walls that hold up a slope, a driveway or a building. Some need an engineer.
Gas, electrical and water
Outdoor kitchens, gas fire features and new lighting circuits involve trade work that is usually permitted. We plan those parts with the rest of the project so nothing is added as an afterthought.
Recent projects
San Francisco projects
Real Arkland jobs in San Francisco, with photos and what we built on each one.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in San Francisco?
Sometimes. Removing a street tree, or a significant tree on private land within 10 feet of the sidewalk that meets the city's size rules, needs a permit from San Francisco Public Works, and neighbors are notified before it's decided. Healthy trees are often not approved for removal. Arkland checks which rules apply to your trees during the estimate, before any work is planned around them.
How do you landscape a San Francisco backyard with no side access?
By planning the logistics first. When the only way in is through a garage or the house, we protect the path, move soil and materials in smaller loads, and pick equipment that fits through the opening. A debris box or materials on the street can need a city permit, so we arrange that too. It takes more planning, not a different standard of work.
Are permeable pavers a good idea in San Francisco?
Often, yes. Permeable pavers let rain soak into a gravel base instead of running across the surface to the street, which helps in a city where most rainwater ends up in a combined sewer system. They suit driveways, patios and paths. Arkland has built a permeable paver driveway in San Francisco, and we'll tell you whether your soil and slope suit one.
Does Arkland build outdoor kitchens in San Francisco?
Yes. One of our San Francisco projects is an outdoor kitchen with a fireplace and a dining patio. City yards are small, so we plan the kitchen, seating and walkways together and keep smoke, neighbors and wind in mind. Gas lines and electrical work for an outdoor kitchen usually need permits, which we plan into the project from the start.
Our divisions
Which landscaping services do we offer in San Francisco?
Upgrade the yard you have, rebuild it from the ground up, or build a new landscape around a new or remodeled home.
01
New Construction
Complete landscapes for new builds and bare lots.
Includes
- Full landscape installs from bare ground
- Building from your landscape architect's or designer's plans
- New irrigation and drainage systems
- Hardscape, planting and turf
02
Landscape Renovation
Rebuild an existing yard from the ground up.
Includes
- Demolition of old patios, decks and plantings
- Drainage and retaining walls
- Patios, walkways, driveways and steps
- Fire pits, outdoor kitchens and BBQ islands
03
Landscape Enhancements
Upgrade the yard you already have.
Includes
- Planting and plant selection
- Drought-tolerant and California-native plant upgrades
- Outdoor lighting
- Irrigation repairs, upgrades and new installs
More of the Peninsula
Get started
Planning a project in San Francisco?
Tell us what you have in mind and where the property is. We'll come out, look at the site and give you a clear estimate.