By Sean Alvarez, President — Perennial Gardens Bedford
If you want a landscape project built in spring, start the design in the fall or winter before. Site analysis, design, construction drawings and town permits usually take several months before any construction begins, and a property near a regulated wetland can add months more.
Design and permitting do not depend on the weather, so the months when the ground is frozen are the natural time to do them.
Counting back from spring
Each stage of a project has a typical range. Add them up and you have the lead time.
| Stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Site analysis: survey, soil, sun, drainage, existing plants | 1 to 4 weeks |
| Concept and schematic design | Depends on how many rounds the design takes |
| Design development and construction drawings | 4 to 12 weeks |
| Town permits | 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the town and the project |
| Wetland permits, where they apply | Add 3 to 12 months |
| Construction | 4 to 8 weeks for a smaller project; 3 to 12 months or more at estate scale |
Before concept and schematic design are counted, that is roughly two to seven months between a first site visit and the first day of construction. It is why a call in March usually means a summer start.
When the date is fixed
Some projects run to a deadline: a new house being finished, a family wedding on the property, an event on the calendar. Work back from it. Planning a June wedding with a new pool means starting permits the summer before, not the spring before.
What adds time
Wetlands. Work near a regulated wetland or its buffer typically involves a pre-application meeting, a detailed site plan, and sometimes several public hearing cycles. Wetland permits typically add 3 to 12 months to a project.
HOA and private review. Many Westchester estates sit under private covenants or neighborhood review boards, and their review cycles run from weeks to months.
We set out what needs a permit, town by town, in our guide to Westchester permits, wetlands and HOA review.
How a project starts with us
We walk the property with you, talk through what you want from it, and follow with a detailed proposal covering material specifications and a timeline. That timeline is the one that matters: it is built from your property, your town and your date, not from a general rule. Book a landscape consultation, or call the office at (914) 234-6311.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I plan a spring landscape project in Westchester?
Start in the fall or winter before. Site analysis, design development and town permits together typically take two to seven months before construction begins, and longer if the property is near a regulated wetland.
How long do landscape permits take in Westchester?
Town permits typically take 4 to 12 weeks depending on the town and the project. Wetland permits, where they apply, typically add 3 to 12 months.
How long does landscape construction take?
A smaller project typically takes 4 to 8 weeks to build. Estate-scale projects run from 3 months to a year or more.
What happens at the first consultation?
We walk the property, discuss your goals, and follow with a detailed proposal that includes material specifications and a timeline.
