Hardscape in Templeton, CA

Paso Robles Landscaping designs and builds hardscape for Templeton homes: patios, pavers, flagstone, retaining walls, steps, seat walls, walkways and the outdoor rooms that tie them together. Templeton lots range from in-town parcels near Main Street to acreage in the hills on both sides of Highway 101, and most of them have oaks, slope or both. We design the hardscape around those first, then build it on a base sized for your soil. Call 805-712-4440 or request a free estimate.

Flagstone patio with a round fire pit and seating — A flagstone patio built around a fire pit.

County Rules That Shape Templeton Hardscape

Templeton is unincorporated, so San Luis Obispo County Planning & Building handles permits, not a city. Four County rules decide most layouts:

Walls. Under County Code 19.02.020, a retaining wall up to 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, doesn't need a building permit, unless it supports a surcharge (such as a driveway or slope above it) or sits within 3 feet of a property line and retains more than 2 feet of soil. Taller or loaded walls are engineered and permitted.
Fences and low walls. The County's fencing and screening standards (22.10.080) limit solid walls and fences in a front setback to 3 feet. On side and rear lines, up to 6 feet 6 inches is allowed.
Grading. A grading permit (22.52.060) is needed for more than 50 cubic yards of earthwork, counted cumulatively, or more than 20 cubic yards that alter a drainage way. Terraced backyards can reach that number quickly, and projects can't be split to avoid it.
Stormwater. Inside an urban reserve line such as Templeton's, a permitted project that creates or replaces 2,500 square feet or more of impervious surface needs a Stormwater Control Plan under 22.10.155. Permeable pavers, gravel joints and planted areas help keep runoff on site.

Segmental block retaining walls and steps above a turf area — Block walls and steps turn a slope into usable space.

Oaks, Slopes and Soil

Templeton sits in the Templeton Gap, where the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance describes soils running from sandy to clay loams over bedrock, calcareous in places. Some lots drain fast; others hold water all winter. We check the ground before we size a base, and on clay we dig deeper, add fabric and slope every surface away from the house.

Mature valley and live oaks are part of most Templeton yards. Hardscape is where trees get hurt, because base excavation cuts roots. We keep deep digging out of root zones, use raised decks, stepping pads or permeable surfaces near trunks, and keep irrigation off the trunk area. On rural parcels, the County's Oak Woodland Ordinance also applies to larger clearing.

Outdoor kitchen and seat wall beside turf under oak trees — A seat wall and outdoor kitchen kept back from the oaks.

Outdoor Rooms for Hot Days and Cool Evenings

Marine air comes through the Gap in the afternoon, so evenings cool off fast even after a hot day. The hardscape we build here usually supports a shaded patio under a pergola or patio cover, a fire pit or fireplace with seat walls, and an outdoor kitchen. Light-colored pavers and concrete stay cooler underfoot. Around the house, we use pavers, gravel and noncombustible edging in the first five feet, which matters on lots near the grassy hills; check your parcel on the Fire Hazard Severity Zone map and see fire-safe landscaping.

Timber pergola with string lights over a stamped concrete patio — Stamped concrete under a timber pergola.

What We Build in Templeton

Patios in pavers, flagstone and stamped or broom-finish concrete; for patio covers, pergolas and County setback rules, see patios in Templeton
Retaining walls, terraces, steps and seat walls
Walkways, DG paths and driveways; for poured concrete drives, County approach standards and fire access widths, see concrete flatwork in Templeton
Pool decks and surrounds; see pool projects in Templeton
Outdoor kitchens and fire features; see outdoor kitchens in Templeton

Cost depends on area, material, base depth for your soil, access, walls and drainage. We give you a written estimate after a site visit. See our hardscaping services, our paver patio cost guide and our Templeton landscaping page.

Decomposed granite path through gravel to a gazebo pad — A DG path and gazebo pad.

Nearby Areas We Serve

From Templeton we also work in Paso Robles, Atascadero, Paso Robles wine country and Santa Margarita. See every community on our San Luis Obispo County service area page. For runoff or soggy ground, see yard drainage in Templeton.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Templeton?

County Code 19.02.020 exempts retaining walls up to 4 feet from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless the wall supports a surcharge or sits within 3 feet of a property line and retains more than 2 feet of soil. Taller or loaded walls need an engineered, permitted design.

How tall can a front-yard wall be in Templeton?

County fencing standards limit solid walls and fences in the front setback to 3 feet. Up to 6 feet 6 inches is allowed on side and rear property lines.

When does a Templeton patio project need a grading permit?

When it moves more than 50 cubic yards of earth, counted cumulatively, or more than 20 cubic yards that alter a drainage way, under County Code 22.52.060.