Your mornings start with coffee on a perfectly designed patio. Weekend barbecues happen in a space that flows naturally from indoor to outdoor living. Neighbors stop to admire your front yard’s year-round beauty.
This isn’t just landscaping—it’s creating the backdrop for how you want to live. Our Albany clients consistently tell us their new outdoor spaces became the heart of their home, the place where family gathers and memories happen.
With smart irrigation keeping everything lush while meeting California’s water requirements, you get beauty without the stress. Your property value increases from day one, but more importantly, you finally have the outdoor sanctuary you’ve been dreaming about.
Since 1975, Lakota Design Group has been the landscape designer Albany, CA homeowners trust when they want it done right the first time. We’ve completed over 5,000 projects across the Bay Area, working with everyone from young families to executives at Apple and Yahoo.
What sets us apart isn’t just our five decades of experience—it’s how we’ve evolved with the times. While other companies still work from hand-drawn sketches, we use cutting-edge 3D technology to show you exactly what your finished project will look like before we break ground.
Albany’s unique microclimate and soil conditions don’t surprise us. We’ve been designing for East Bay properties long enough to know what thrives here and what doesn’t, what the city requires for permits, and how to create landscapes that enhance your lifestyle while respecting California’s water conservation mandates.
First, we come to your Albany property for a comprehensive site consultation. We listen to how you want to use your space, assess your soil and drainage, and understand your style preferences. No generic solutions—every design starts with your specific needs and goals.
Next, we create your custom 3D design using advanced CAD technology. You’ll see exactly how your finished landscape will look, complete with animated videos that let you walk through your future outdoor space. We include up to three free revisions because getting it perfect matters more than getting it fast.
Finally, we manage the entire installation using our network of vetted contractors. You get daily updates, guaranteed start and completion dates, and direct oversight from our experienced project manager. We don’t disappear after the design phase—we’re with you until you’re completely satisfied with every detail.
Ready to get started?
Our Albany landscape design services include everything from initial consultation to final walkthrough. You get professional site surveying, custom 3D renderings, detailed CAD plans for contractors, plant and material specifications, and complete project management.
For Albany homeowners, we specialize in drought-tolerant designs that comply with East Bay water restrictions while maintaining year-round beauty. Popular features include outdoor kitchens, fire pits, custom lighting systems, and low-maintenance hardscaping that handles our Mediterranean climate.
We understand Albany’s permit requirements and work directly with the city when needed. Our designs consider everything from your home’s architecture to your neighborhood’s character, ensuring your new landscape feels like a natural extension of your property rather than an afterthought.
Landscape design costs in Albany typically range from $3,000 to $15,000 for residential projects, depending on your property size and design complexity. However, if you choose one of our vetted contractors for installation, your design fee is completely free—the contractor covers this cost as part of their service.
Our pricing is transparent from the start. During your initial consultation, we’ll discuss your budget and show you exactly what’s included in your design package: site survey, 3D renderings, CAD plans, plant lists, and project management. No hidden fees or surprise charges.
Most Albany homeowners find the investment pays for itself through increased property value and reduced long-term maintenance costs, especially with our water-smart design approach that can significantly lower irrigation expenses.
Yes, we’re thoroughly familiar with Albany’s permitting process and building requirements. After 50 years in the Bay Area, we know exactly what the city requires for different types of landscape projects, from simple plantings to major hardscape installations.
We handle all permit applications and work directly with Albany’s planning department when needed. Our designs always comply with local setback requirements, drainage regulations, and water conservation mandates. This saves you time and prevents costly mistakes that can delay your project.
For more complex projects involving structures like retaining walls or outdoor kitchens, we coordinate with licensed contractors who pull all necessary permits and ensure everything meets current building codes. You don’t have to navigate city bureaucracy—we handle those details for you.
Our 3D design technology goes far beyond basic computer renderings. We create fully immersive animated videos that let you virtually walk through your finished landscape, seeing how different areas connect and flow together throughout the day.
You’ll see exactly how shadows fall at different times, how your outdoor lighting creates ambiance in the evening, and how seasonal changes affect your plantings. This level of detail helps you make confident decisions before construction begins, eliminating costly changes later.
Most importantly, our 3D designs include accurate material specifications and plant selections specific to Albany’s climate and soil conditions. This isn’t just pretty pictures—it’s a precise blueprint that ensures your finished project matches your expectations exactly.
The design phase typically takes 2-3 weeks from initial consultation to final 3D presentation. This includes site surveying, initial design development, client review, and up to three rounds of revisions to perfect your vision.
Installation timelines vary based on project scope, but most Albany residential projects are completed within 1-2 weeks once construction begins. We provide guaranteed start and completion dates—something rare in our industry—because we understand you need to plan around the disruption.
Weather can occasionally cause minor delays during winter months, but our experienced project managers build realistic schedules that account for Albany’s seasonal patterns. We keep you informed daily about progress and any adjustments to the timeline.
Absolutely. Water-smart design isn’t just something we offer—it’s built into every Albany project by default. We’re experts in California’s evolving water regulations and design landscapes that thrive within current and anticipated future restrictions.
Our drought-tolerant plant selections are chosen specifically for Albany’s microclimate, combining beauty with minimal water needs. We incorporate smart irrigation systems, permeable hardscaping, and strategic plant placement to maximize water efficiency while maintaining lush, attractive landscapes.
Many of our Albany clients see 40-50% reductions in their water usage after installation, while their landscapes look better than ever. We also help you take advantage of local rebates for water-efficient landscaping, often offsetting a significant portion of your project costs.
We stand behind our work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If any aspect of your completed landscape doesn’t meet the standards we promised, we’ll make it right at no additional cost to you.
This guarantee covers everything from plant survival to construction quality to design execution. We’ve been serving Albany families for decades, and our reputation depends on delivering exactly what we promise. Dissatisfied clients are extremely rare because we involve you in every decision throughout the process.
Our project management includes a final walkthrough where we address any concerns before considering the job complete. We also provide detailed care instructions and remain available for questions as your landscape matures. Your satisfaction isn’t just guaranteed—it’s essential to our continued success in the Albany community.
Our Client's Reviews
Posted on Josh RubioTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Larry was absolutely fantastic to work with and his design was incredible. He was very detailed, thorough and graciously interactive with our vision, and produced a masterpiece for us. Total dream come true for our project.Posted on Sam PetersTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I hired Lakota Design Group to re-do my Front and Backyard landscaping. During the design process, Larry listened to all of my requirements & incorporated them. He showed me multiple options, and really worked with me to create an amazing design. We used one of his recommended contractors to install our project and Larry managed it all. They did great work, kept our property clean, and finished ahead of their estimated completion date. We are extremely happy with the final product. I strongly recommend Lakota Design Group for your landscape design and construction needs.Posted on Randy D. ThomasTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I recently hired Lakota Design Group to redesign our front yard. We needed a complete removal and replacement of both our hardscape and plants. Larry did an excellent job on the design. He was very patient with us as we made revisions and provided guidance throughout the process to help us choose a design style that we loved. Larry also recommended a contractor who gave us a reasonable price compared to other bids we received. Larry managed the installation from start to finish, making it effortless on our part. Larry's team completed the installation in just eight days, and the final result is fantastic! I highly recommend Larry and Lakota Design Group for your landscaping needs.Posted on Laura FerranteTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had our front and back yard done by Larry and his team. Larry is very meticulous and detail oriented. He was very patient in taking my landscape ideas and then creating my dream landscape. We used one of his suggested contractors and are extremely happy with the outcome. We really enjoyed having Larry manage the project as we didn’t have to do a thing. Larry always kept us in the loop, supervised the progress, ensuring our satisfaction and meeting the agreed timeline. I would highly recommend Lakota Design Group for their landscape design and contracting services.Posted on Peter CoprivizaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am very happy with Larry’s design and creativity. His videos and graphics really helped the decision process. Jose and the team at Loya’s Landscaping are excellent craftsmen. They are hard workers who kept a clean worksite. I am very satisfied with the end product!
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