Landscaping Services in Lompoc, CA

Paso Robles Landscaping designs and builds lawn conversions, artificial turf, patios, decks, pergolas and drip irrigation for homes in Lompoc, Vandenberg Village and Mission Hills. The Lompoc Valley gets cool fog in the morning and a strong wind most afternoons, and many yards still have the thirsty lawn and spray heads they started with. The City pays customers to replace that grass, and its rules on paving, turf and street trees are specific. We design to them so the finished yard is easy to keep and qualifies where it should. Call 805-712-4440 or request a free estimate.

Who Supplies Your Water Decides the Rules

Lompoc's Water Waste Rules

Mandatory water-waste restrictions have been in place in Lompoc from January 16, 1990, last updated by the City Council on September 5, 2017 (City conservation page). Municipal Code Section 13.04.060 defines waste as:

• Watering outdoor landscapes with drinking water between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Watering in a way that runs off onto a neighbor's lot, walks, streets, parking areas or buildings
• Hosing down sidewalks, driveways or other hard surfaces
• Letting a plumbing break leak for more than eight hours after you're notified or find it
• Running a fountain or water feature that doesn't recirculate
• Watering during measurable rain or within 48 hours after it

The Utilities Director can allow mid-day irrigation to establish a new lawn or for repairs. Report water waste at 805-875-8297. Because of the mid-day ban, we set controllers to run drip and any spray zones in the early morning, when the wind is usually calmest.

The City's Drought-Tolerant Landscape Rebate

City of Lompoc water customers can get a per-square-foot rebate for removing up to 1,000 square feet of grass, credited to the utility account; check the program page for current amounts. The program application spells out the details:

• Living or dead grass qualifies, but bare earth with no sign of grass does not
• The rebate covers material costs; contractor labor and some rental equipment can count, and it can't exceed 100 percent of eligible costs
• Apply within one year of finishing the project, with at least two photos of the grass before work and two of the finished area (no Google Street View images), plus an itemized list of plants and materials
• Planted areas get at least three inches of mulch or rock, and front yards must include plants or artificial turf
• Gravel, rock and bark count, and so do pavers, brick and flagstone set with permeable grout; weed barrier must be permeable
• Artificial turf is allowed at homes if it has a permeable underlayment
• Spray heads in the converted area are removed or capped; drip and smart controllers are eligible
• Decks, patios, block walls, concrete and plastic sheeting don't qualify, and neither do landscapes on new construction
• One rebate per utility account per year, and you agree to keep at least two inches of mulch for three years

Processing takes 8 to 10 weeks. The City's separate water conservation rebate covers a WaterSense automatic, soil-based or weather-based controller that replaces a manual one, and rain barrels of 50 gallons or more set under a downspout, up to four. Rebate questions: 805-875-8018. We photograph the lawn before we start so your application has what it needs.

Vandenberg Village and Mission Hills

Homes on the mesa north of town usually get water from a community services district rather than the City, so the City rebate doesn't apply there. The Vandenberg Village CSD lists its Cash 4 Grass lawn rebate as suspended indefinitely, with a wait list at (805) 733-2475, and offers free water-saving devices at its office on Constellation Road. Mission Hills CSD customers should check with that District first. Either way, the same design basics save water: drip under mulch, plants grouped by water need, and a smart controller.

Paving, Turf and Front-Yard Standards

Lompoc's zoning code (Chapter 17.312) sets landscape standards for new projects, and Chapter 15.52 adopts the State's water-efficient landscape ordinance (MWELO). Points that shape a residential design:

• Paving, pervious or not, is limited to half of the front setback (the City can allow up to 20 percent more on irregular lots)
• In the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones, at least 30 percent of the lot is landscaped
• Artificial turf needs a permeable base approved by Public Works, and can't front Ocean Avenue (Highway 246) or H Street (Highway 1) or sit in the parkway; artificial shrubs aren't allowed
• Street-frontage trees are at least 15-gallon, and trees under power lines must top out at 24 feet

Whether a remodel triggers those new-project standards depends on the scope, so we confirm per lot.

Street Trees

Under Municipal Code 12.32, no one may plant, remove, transplant, trim, top, root prune, stake or damage a City tree without a written permit from the Parks and Urban Forestry Manager. If roots from a tree on private property lift a City curb, gutter, sidewalk or driveway ramp, the owner is responsible for the repair, and tree service contractors need a City business tax certificate. The Urban Forestry Division also plants a street tree in front of a home at no cost when the species and spot are approved, in October and November or February and March; owners just help water it. Call (805) 875-8034.

Built for Lompoc Wind

Afternoon wind pulls moisture out of exposed beds and pushes hard on anything with a roof. We set pergolas and patio covers on proper footings, use rock and mulch heavy enough to stay put, place windbreak shrubs or a solid fence section on the windward side of a patio, and install turf with secured seams and edges over a draining base. Fire pits sit on stone or concrete, and decks get railings that won't rattle loose. If your home borders open chaparral on the mesa, we keep the first five feet around the house ember-resistant; check the State Fire Marshal's FHSZ map for your address.

What We Build in Lompoc

From a single front-yard conversion to a full backyard, we design and build:

• Lawn conversions drawn to the agency's rebate checklist
• Native and drought-tolerant planting under mulch
• Drip and low-flow irrigation with a smart controller
• Artificial turf on a permeable, draining base
• Patios in pavers, flagstone or poured concrete
• Garden paths and rock, gravel and mulch ground cover
• Pergolas and patio covers anchored for wind
• Decks, steps and landings
• Fire pits set on stone or concrete
• Outdoor kitchens and counters
• Landscape lighting on low voltage

Want a pool or spa in the plan? The pool is designed and built by a licensed pool builder under its own contract. Our part is the hardscape, planting, lighting and drainage around it.

More of Santa Barbara County

Outside Lompoc, we take on projects in Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria or Goleta, and north into San Luis Obispo County. Our Santa Barbara County landscaping overview explains which water agency serves which community, and the areas we serve page covers our home county around Paso Robles.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Lompoc lawn rebate work?

The City of Lompoc pays per square foot for replacing up to 1,000 square feet of living or dead grass with drought-tolerant materials, credited to your City water account; check the program page for current amounts.

Do I apply for the Lompoc rebate before or after the work?

The City application asks for before and after photos and says to submit within one year of finishing the project. Take clear photos of the grass before anything is removed.

Does artificial turf qualify for the Lompoc rebate?

Yes for homes, if the turf has a permeable underlayment. Artificial turf is not eligible for non-residential properties, and patios, decks and concrete do not qualify.

What are the watering hours in Lompoc?

The Municipal Code prohibits watering outdoor landscapes with drinking water between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and during or within 48 hours after measurable rain.

Is there a lawn rebate in Vandenberg Village?

The Vandenberg Village CSD lists its Cash 4 Grass rebate as suspended indefinitely. You can call the District at (805) 733-2475 to join the wait list.