Landscaping Services in Carmel Valley

Paso Robles Landscaping designs and builds landscapes, patios, retaining walls and outdoor living spaces in Carmel Valley. A few miles inland, Carmel Valley trades the coast's fog for sun and heat, with oak woodland, slopes and larger lots. That makes it a great place for shaded patios, outdoor kitchens and gardens, and it also means planning around protected oaks and the right water rules for your address. Call 805-712-4440 or request a free estimate.

Oaks, Madrones and Redwoods Are Protected

Carmel Valley is unincorporated Monterey County. Outside the Coastal Zone, County Code 16.60 requires a permit in the Carmel Valley Master Plan area to remove an oak, madrone or redwood 6 inches or more in diameter measured two feet above the ground, and trimming more than one-third of a protected tree's green foliage counts as removal. The Director can approve up to three removals per lot per year; more than that needs a Forest Management Plan and a Use Permit. Removed trees are generally replaced one for one.

We design patios, walls and paths to stay out of root zones, hand-dig where we have to get close, and avoid trenching under the canopy. If a tree has to come out, we work with your arborist on the permit first.

Which Water Rules Apply?

It depends on where the water comes from. Homes on California American Water inside the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District follow MPWMD Rule 162, which is always in effect:

• 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

Irrigation from a private well is exempt from the watering-day limit when it's done efficiently, which matters for many rural Carmel Valley lots. Either way, drip on beds and a smart controller with a rain sensor save water and plants in the valley's summer heat.

Rebates for Cal Am Customers

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. The District also offers smart controller, cistern and flow meter rebates. We confirm eligibility for your address before work starts.

Slopes, Heat and Outdoor Living

Many Carmel Valley lots slope toward the river or up into the hills. Retaining walls and steps create usable flat space, and drainage keeps winter storms from washing out beds and paths. For the heat, we plan shade first: pergolas, patio covers and gazebos, then outdoor kitchens, fire pits and lighting for long summer evenings. Planting leans on olives, lavender, salvias, grasses and natives that like hot, dry summers.

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.

What We Build in Carmel Valley

We can help you with everything from the first 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

Nearby Areas We Serve

From Carmel Valley we also work in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach and Monterey. See our Monterey County landscaping page, or our home base on the San Luis Obispo County service area page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to remove an oak in Carmel Valley?

In the Carmel Valley Master Plan area, removing an oak, madrone or redwood 6 inches or more in diameter at two feet above ground needs a County permit, and so does trimming more than one-third of its foliage. Coastal Zone parcels have separate rules.

Do Peninsula watering rules apply in Carmel Valley?

If your water comes from California American Water inside the MPWMD, Rule 162 applies: irrigation only on Wednesdays and Saturdays and never 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Efficient irrigation from a private well is exempt from the watering-day limit.

Can I get a lawn rebate in Carmel Valley?

Cal Am customers in the MPWMD can apply for $1.00 per square foot up to 2,500 square feet. Prequalification and a pre-inspection are required before removal.

Can you build on a sloped lot?

Yes. We build retaining walls, steps and drainage to create level patios and planting areas.

Do you build pools?

No. A licensed pool partner builds the pool; we build the poolside decks, concrete, landscaping and lighting.