Lakota Design Group is a licensed landscaping contractor serving Los Altos Hills homeowners who want custom outdoor spaces built for the town’s steep terrain, WELO water regulations, and fire-hazard zone requirements.
Los Altos hills landscaping on this terrain means working with slopes that trigger Site Development Permit requirements, clay soils that drain poorly without proper grading, and a Sunset Zone 16 climate where summer drought and winter rain demand two completely different plant strategies. Every design we produce includes an ETAF-compliant water budget calculation and a planting plan reviewed against the Town’s Water Efficient
Properties in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone that covers much of Los Altos Hills also require defensible space planning, non-combustible hardscape buffers, and fire-resistant plant species selection as part of any landscape design submission. We know what the Planning Commission expects, and we build that compliance into your project from day one so revisions and delays don’t cost you time or money.
Landscape Ordinance before a single shovel hits the ground.
As trusted landscapers in Los Altos Hills, we offer complete los altos hills landscaping and los altos hills landscape design services built for residential estates, hillside properties, and commercial sites across the 94022 zip code.
Every Los Altos Hills landscape project we take on follows a structured four-step process designed to keep your timeline on track, your budget intact, and your Town permit approved without back-and-forth revisions.
We visit your Los Altos Hills property to evaluate slope grade, soil drainage, sun exposure, and existing vegetation before any design work begins. This assessment also identifies whether your project triggers a Site Development Permit under the Town's Municipal Code.
We produce a site-specific landscape design plan that includes an ETAF water budget calculation, a WUCOLS-compliant plant list, and an irrigation layout ready for Planning Commission submission. Every detail is resolved on paper before construction starts, so there are no surprises on-site.
We manage all permit submissions with the Town of Los Altos Hills Planning Department and schedule installation only after approvals are confirmed. Our licensed crew then handles grading, hardscape construction, planting, irrigation installation, and landscape lighting in a single coordinated build.
We walk the completed project with you to confirm every element matches the approved design plan and performs as specified. You receive a written maintenance schedule covering seasonal irrigation adjustments, fertilization timing, and plant establishment care for the first 90 days.
As landscapers in Los Altos Hills, we build retaining walls, paver patios, driveway approaches, and pergola structures designed specifically for estate-sized lots where slope gradients, expansive clay soil, and Town of Los Altos Hills grading ordinances all directly affect how and where hardscape can be placed. We use concrete pavers, natural stone, and decomposed granite sourced from suppliers who meet California’s Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) material requirements.
For outdoor living spaces, we construct fire pits, outdoor kitchens, and seating walls with setback distances and non-combustible materials that satisfy Santa Clara County Fire Department requirements for properties in mapped fire hazard zones. Every structure we build carries a written completion record and is installed by our CSLB-licensed crew with no subcontracting of structural work to unlicensed parties
When homeowners search for reliable landscapers in Los Altos Hills, they need a contractor who understands this town’s permit process, terrain challenges, and water regulations, not one who treats every job the same regardless of location.
We hold an active CSLB license and carry full general liability insurance, so your property and investment are protected from day one.
We have direct experience with Town of Los Altos Hills Site Development Permits, WELO compliance, and Planning Commission landscape screening submissions.
Every plan we produce accounts for Sunset Zone 16 growing conditions, clay-heavy soil drainage, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone plant requirements.
We provide itemized written proposals before any work begins, so you know exactly what you are paying for with no surprise charges at completion.
Lakota Design Group provides los altos hills landscaping services built around the specific conditions of this town: one-acre-plus lots, clay-heavy soils, Sunset Zone 16 climate patterns, and strict Site Development Permit requirements. Every project we take on in Los Altos Hills starts with a proper site assessment, not a generic design template pulled from another job. We hold an active CSLB contractor license, carry full liability insurance, and have completed projects across residential estates throughout the 94022 zip code.
Homeowners in Los Altos Hills trust us because we understand what this town requires, from water budget calculations under the WELO ordinance to erosion control on sloped properties. That local knowledge is what separates a landscape that lasts from one that fails after the first wet season.
We design drought-tolerant landscapes using California native plants like manzanita, toyon, and coffeeberry that are proven performers in Los Altos Hills soil conditions and require minimal supplemental irrigation once established in the fall planting season. Every planting plan we build is cross-referenced against the WUCOLS IV plant water use database to ensure each species meets the Town’s Maximum Applied Water Allowance thresholds for your specific lot.
For irrigation, we install drip systems and smart controllers with ET-based scheduling that automatically adjust to local evapotranspiration rates published by the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS). This approach keeps your landscape healthy, your water bill low, and your project compliant with Santa Clara Valley Water District conservation requirements.
We serve residential and commercial properties throughout Los Altos Hills (zip code 94022), including properties along Moody Road, Fremont Road, Purissima Road, and Adobe Creek, and we also take on projects in neighboring communities including Los Altos, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Saratoga, and Monte Sereno.
Los Altos Hills is a residential-only town in Santa Clara County with a population of roughly 8,000 residents, governed by its own Town Council and known for large private lots that average over one acre, rolling terrain, and strict development controls under the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code. The town sits within the Rancho San Antonio watershed area, borders the Permanente Creek corridor, and falls inside the Santa Clara Valley Water District service boundary.
Founded in 1956 and incorporated specifically to preserve its rural, low-density character, Los Altos Hills maintains no commercial zoning, no public sidewalks by design, and an active open space preservation program through the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District. Stanford University’s main campus borders the town to the north, and Foothill College sits within its boundaries, making it one of the most education-adjacent residential communities in the Bay Area
Contact Lakota Design Group today to schedule an on-site consultation where we assess your property’s slope, soil conditions, and Town of Los Altos Hills permit requirements before providing a written project proposal with no obligation to proceed.
Yes. Any new landscaping project requiring a Site Development Permit through the Town of Los Altos Hills Planning Department must also include a WELO-compliant landscape plan before approval is granted.
Fall is the best planting season in Los Altos Hills because the soil stays warm enough for root establishment while cooler air reduces transplant stress and incoming rains reduce the need for supplemental irrigation.
Project costs vary based on lot size, slope complexity, permit requirements, and materials selected, but most full-property estate landscape installations in Los Altos Hills range from $50,000 to $250,000 or more depending on scope.
Yes. We design defensible space plans using non-combustible hardscape buffers and fire-resistant plant species that meet CAL FIRE and Santa Clara County Fire Department requirements for properties in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
Yes. We prepare the full WELO documentation package including ETAF water budget calculations, a WUCOLS IV-compliant plant list, and an irrigation design plan ready for Town of Los Altos Hills Planning Department submission.
Most estate landscape projects in Los Altos Hills take between 10 and 20 weeks from initial consultation to final walkthrough, depending on permit approval timelines, project scope, and seasonal installation scheduling.