Landscaping, Hardscape and Outdoor Living in Monterey County

Paso Robles Landscaping designs and builds landscapes, hardscape and outdoor living spaces in Monterey County, from Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach and Monterey on the Peninsula to Carmel Valley and Salinas. We are based at 1345 Riverside Ave in Paso Robles and also work across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Monterey County projects come with their own rules: year-round outdoor watering limits on the Peninsula, tree permits in almost every community, and coastal and private design approvals in Carmel and Del Monte Forest. We plan for those from the first site visit. Call 805-712-4440 or request a free estimate.

Communities We Serve in Monterey County

Monterey Peninsula

• Carmel-by-the-Sea: small lots, a tight cap on patios and paving, and City Forester permits for pines, oaks and cypress
• Pebble Beach and Del Monte Forest: Monterey pine forest, deed-restricted architectural and tree approvals, Coastal Zone permits and defensible space
• Monterey: hillside lots, fog and a City permit to remove most private trees
• Pacific Grove: City tree permits for pines, oaks and cypress, monarch sanctuary protections and the Peninsula water rules described below
• Seaside and Del Rey Oaks: the same Peninsula water rules and rebates described below

Carmel Valley and Salinas Valley

• Carmel Valley: sun, oaks and slopes, with County protection for oaks, madrones and redwoods
• Salinas: Cal Water Stage 1 watering hours, with lawn-to-garden and smart controller rebates through Cal Water's conservation portal

Monterey Peninsula Water Rules Apply Year-Round

Homes served by California American Water and other systems inside the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD) follow MPWMD Rule 162, which stays in effect at all times, not only in a drought:

• No irrigation between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and irrigation only on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The rule covers sprinklers, drip, smart controllers and hand watering with a hose; a professional gardener or landscaper on site may irrigate on up to two days a week, small containers or buckets are fine any time, and subsurface graywater may run any time
• No irrigating during rain or for 48 hours after measurable rain
• Leaks and broken sprinklers repaired within 72 hours of notice
• No hosing down patios and driveways with drinking water, and hoses need a positive shut-off nozzle
• Fountains and ponds must recirculate
• Outdoor use must follow the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance where it applies

That means every system we build on the Peninsula is zoned so each station can do its job in short, early-morning or evening runs on two days a week: drip on beds, low-precipitation nozzles where turf stays, a smart controller with a rain sensor, and plants that can take it. Irrigation from a private well is exempt from the watering-day limit if it's done efficiently.

Rebates for Monterey County Yards

MPWMD's lawn removal rebate pays $1.00 per square foot, up to 2,500 square feet per property (amounts updated April 20, 2026 per the District's rebate table). The lawn must be green, mowed and regularly irrigated; the District must prequalify the project and pre-inspect it before any lawn comes out; replacement can be low-water plants or permeable surfaces such as mulch, decomposed granite or synthetic turf, but concrete and grouted pavers don't qualify; any irrigation in the converted area must be drip; the owner records a deed restriction; and the work must be finished within 120 days of the prequalification letter. MPWMD rebates are first come, first served while funds last; call the District at 831-658-5601 before you start.

Tree Permits Differ by Community

• Carmel-by-the-Sea: a City permit is required to prune limbs over 4 inches or roots over 2 inches, and to remove oak, pine, cypress or redwood trees 4 inches or more in diameter at chest height (City tree permits).
• City of Monterey: removing a private tree 6 inches or more in diameter at four and a half feet needs a permit; reasonable pruning does not (City tree ordinance facts).
• Del Monte Forest: by deed restriction, no tree can be removed without a Pebble Beach Company tree permit, and a County permit may also be required (Del Monte Forest property owner guide).
• Carmel Valley and other inland unincorporated areas: Monterey County Code Chapter 16.60 requires a permit to remove an oak, madrone or redwood 6 inches or more in diameter two feet above the ground in the Carmel Valley Master Plan area, or to trim more than one-third of its green foliage.

We lay out patios, walls and trenches around protected root zones and work with your arborist when a permit is needed.

What We Build in Monterey County

Most Monterey County projects combine low-water planting and drip with patios, walls and outdoor living. We can help you with everything from design to the finished build:

• Landscape design and installation, with drought-tolerant planting and drip irrigation
• Hardscape: patios, pavers, walkways, concrete and driveways
• Retaining walls, steps and drainage
• Pergolas, patio covers and decks
• Outdoor kitchens, fire pits and lighting
• Artificial turf, rock, gravel and decomposed granite, and lawn replacement

Planning a pool? The pool itself is built by a licensed pool partner. We design and build the poolside landscaping, decks, concrete, lighting and planting around it and coordinate the schedule with the pool builder.

Also Serving Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties

See our Santa Barbara County landscaping page for Montecito, Santa Barbara, the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria, and our San Luis Obispo County service area page for every community near our Paso Robles office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you work in Monterey County?

Yes. We design and build landscapes, hardscape and outdoor living in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach, Monterey, Carmel Valley, Salinas and nearby communities, in addition to San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

What are the watering rules on the Monterey Peninsula?

MPWMD Rule 162 is always in effect: irrigation only on Wednesdays and Saturdays, never between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., no watering during or for 48 hours after measurable rain, and leaks fixed within 72 hours of notice. A professional landscaper on site may irrigate on up to two days a week.

Is there a lawn removal rebate on the Peninsula?

MPWMD pays $1.00 per square foot up to 2,500 square feet for replacing a healthy, irrigated lawn with low-water plants or permeable surfaces. The project must be prequalified and pre-inspected before the lawn comes out, and a deed restriction is recorded.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree?

Usually. Carmel, the City of Monterey, Del Monte Forest and the County inland areas such as Carmel Valley all regulate tree removal, with different size thresholds. We check the rule for your address before design is final.

Do you charge more to travel to Monterey County?

Every project is priced on its own scope. Call us to set up a site visit and a free estimate.