Carmel, Carmel Valley and Pebble Beach Landscaping
- Since 1987
- Yelp 4.6 (46 reviews)
- Google 5.0 (8 reviews)
- Fully insured
In brief
Landscape Associates of CA serves Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley and Pebble Beach residential and commercial properties with planting, pavers, walkways, retaining walls, irrigation, drainage and lighting. Founded in 1987, we're fully insured, have a Monterey mailing address and offer a free on-site estimate. Our published San Jose guide figures put paver patios at about $15 to $30 per sq ft installed.
Updated October 2026
Carmel, Carmel Valley and Pebble Beach: three sets of rules
| Area | Who issues permits | Artificial turf | Water rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel-by-the-Sea | City of Carmel-by-the-Sea | No new installation, repair or replacement | MPWMD; Cal Am schedule for Main-system customers |
| Carmel Valley | Monterey County | Outside the City ban | MPWMD; Cal Am schedule for Main-system customers |
| Pebble Beach | Monterey County | Outside the City ban | MPWMD; Cal Am schedule for Main-system customers |
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a city; Carmel Valley and Pebble Beach, including Del Monte Forest, are unincorporated Monterey County. A Carmel mailing address alone does not establish City jurisdiction. All three are within the MPWMD boundary (checked October 2026). The City policies and Cal Am schedule are linked below; landscaping in neighboring Monterey has its own tree rules.
Artificial turf: banned in the City, outside the ban in the Valley and Pebble Beach
The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea prohibits future artificial-turf installation, repair and replacement under Policy 2025-02, effective March 4, 2025. Existing turf is not ordered removed. See the City artificial-turf policy (checked October 2026). We do not sell artificial turf in Carmel-by-the-Sea; we offer sod, plants or permeable pavers instead.
For Carmel Valley and Pebble Beach, our artificial turf and sod options outside the Carmel City ban include artificial turf with a 15-year warranty. In the City, consider an MPWMD lawn-removal rebate toward planting or permeable surfaces instead of a replacement lawn. See the District lawn-conversion terms (checked October 2026) before choosing.
Landscape design in Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel-by-the-Sea gardens face fog, salt wind and sandy soil beneath pine and oak canopies. Inland, Carmel Valley has warmer, sunnier summers, with clay, rock and oaks. In Pebble Beach, forest shade, sand and ocean wind shape the planting plan. The table shows suitable settings for each plant; the final choice depends on conditions where it will grow.
| Plant | Carmel-by-the-Sea | Carmel Valley | Pebble Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manzanita | Sunny coastal openings | Sunny inland beds | Openings outside deep shade |
| Ceanothus | Coastal beds with sun | Sunny planting areas | Sunny forest edges |
| Toyon | Forest-edge planting | Oak-edge planting | Filtered forest shade |
| Salvia | Sunny garden pockets | Warm, sunny beds | Sunlit openings |
| Lavender | Sunny beds with good drainage | Sun and inland heat | Sunny pockets with good drainage |
| Deer grass | Open coastal planting | Sunny inland planting | Openings in the canopy |
Carmel-by-the-Sea requires planting visible from streets or public places to look informal and natural, consistent with the Carmel forest. Formal arrangements belong only at focal points under CMC 17.34.060.B.1, reproduced in the City planting standard (checked October 2026). Public right-of-way planting must be native, drought-tolerant and informal under the City frontage rules (checked October 2026).
Our Carmel garden and tree planting carries a plant warranty of up to 1 year. The South Bay drought-tolerant plant guide for comparison with Carmel conditions offers more plant options; the final selection depends on coastal shade and inland heat.
Tree permits in Carmel-by-the-Sea
The City requires a removal permit for pine, redwood, oak or cypress at 6 in diameter or more, and other species capable of reaching 25 ft at 10 in or more. Measure at 4.5 ft above grade. On vacant lots or lots with an active building permit, the threshold is any tree over 2 in. Pruning limbs over 4 in or roots over 2 in also needs a permit; dead or broken limbs may be removed without one. See CMC 12.28.172 and 12.28.170 (checked October 2026).
City fees are $250 for evaluation, credited toward the permit; $250 for pruning; and $1,631 for removal, or $250 for a dead tree. See the Carmel tree-fee page (checked October 2026). Carmel Valley and Pebble Beach use Monterey County rules, not these City thresholds.
Cal Am watering days and MPWMD rebates in Carmel, the Valley and Pebble Beach
For Cal Am Monterey Main-system customers across these areas, outdoor watering is Wednesdays and Saturdays only, before 9 AM or after 5 PM, with 15 minutes per station per day. Hose watering follows those days and hours and needs a shut-off nozzle. See Cal Am watering instructions (checked October 2026). Our Carmel irrigation installations carry a 2-year warranty.
For eligible Cal Am and other system customers within the District, MPWMD pays $1 per sq ft for lawn removal, from a minimum 250 sq ft up to 2,500 sq ft. Replacement uses low-water plants or permeable surfaces; if the converted area is irrigated, it must use drip. A 15-year deed restriction prevents reinstalling lawn anywhere on the site. Weather-based controllers receive $100 for 4 stations plus $10 per additional station to 20; rotating nozzles receive $4 each, minimum 10. Contact MPWMD first, before work; applications are due within 120 days of purchase and funding is first come, first served while it lasts. See the MPWMD rebate requirements (checked October 2026).
Pavers, walls, drainage and lighting in Carmel: costs, warranties and permits
Our published San Jose guide figures are planning references, not Carmel prices: paver patios for Carmel gardens about $15 to $30 per sq ft installed; Carmel retaining walls about $50 to $100 per square face foot, with drainage behind them; Carmel drainage corrections $1,500 to $8,000; and Carmel path and garden lighting $2,000 to $6,000. Pavers have a lifetime warranty on materials and workmanship; drainage and lighting each carry 2-year warranties.
Our published San Jose guide figures also put irrigation at $3,000 to $10,000, planting at about $2,000 to $5,000 and full backyard renovation at $25,000 to $75,000+. See our San Jose landscaping page behind those regional figures; Carmel pricing comes from an itemized site estimate.
In Carmel-by-the-Sea public right-of-way, paving except driveways, gravel, boulders, logs, planters and other above-ground features require an encroachment permit. A narrow decomposed-granite entrance path may be allowed without one: City right-of-way statement (checked October 2026). Every City fence needs Design Review; over 6 ft also needs a building permit: City fence rules (checked October 2026). Before planning a Carmel wall, ask us about permits.
Commercial landscaping in Carmel and Carmel Valley
We offer residential and commercial landscaping, including ongoing maintenance. Our Carmel commercial landscape construction service covers entrances, planting and outdoor areas for inns, restaurants, galleries, HOAs and wineries. Commercial irrigation on Cal Am's Monterey Main system follows the same watering schedule above: Cal Am commercial watering scope (checked October 2026).
How a Carmel project runs
A free on-site estimate at your Carmel property
The process starts with a request for a free on-site estimate and a description of the work you want priced at your Carmel property.
A plan for coast, valley or forest conditions
Plans for paths, planting and irrigation take Carmel fog, Valley heat or Pebble Beach shade into account.
City or County permit requirements
Allow for City Design Review or Monterey County review where the area and proposed work require it; ask us about permits.
Itemized costs and installation timing
Pricing is set out in an itemized Carmel estimate. Our published San Jose guide gives a full-renovation build time of 2 to 6 weeks; that is not a local approval timeline.
Plant care and irrigation maintenance after installation
After installation, the discussion covers your new planting and irrigation, along with the ongoing maintenance we offer.
Landscape contractor in Carmel, CA: Landscape Associates of CA
David Muhoberac established our company, Landscape Associates of CA, in 1987. Our fully insured company serves residential and commercial properties in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley and Pebble Beach. Our mailing address is in Monterey; see our Monterey landscaping coverage. The photos show a flagstone path and a shaded patio.
Tell us what you want to change at your Carmel property. Call or text (408) 207-5545 for a free on-site estimate; we reply within 24 hours.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Reviews from Yelp and Google, with the reviewer's city and date
David and Obed were great from start to finish. They gave us solid advice on design choices and made sure our vision drove the project. They took a backyard full of dirt and turned it into our family's dream outdoor space. Highly recommend!
San Francisco, CA
David's team did a beautiful job transforming my yard into a gorgeous patio. They worked closely with me to bring my design to life and went the extra mile to make sure everything was right. Honest work, no hidden costs, no surprises.
Cupertino, CA
Big job: stump removal, full irrigation replacement, new sod, paver driveway, retaining walls, and lighting. It turned out more beautiful than we imagined. We liked the results so much we had them redo the front yard a few months later.
San Jose, CA
I cannot recommend this company enough. David turned my backyard, basically a giant hill of dirt and weeds, into a gorgeous oasis of fruit trees, plants, flowers, and retaining walls. Working with him was a real pleasure and the pricing was very fair.
San Francisco, CA
This was our second time using Landscape Associates, at a different property. David, Obed, and the crew added new paver stones, a planter, and expanded our irrigation. They even took care of drainage issues the original home builders had left behind.
San Jose, CA
Landscape Associates did a full remodel of my front and back yards. David understood exactly what I had in mind, delivered the yard I hoped for, and somehow made it even better. He kept in touch through every step and his crew was respectful of my property.
San Jose, CA
If I could give more stars I would. Workers showed up every single day at 8:30am sharp. David was always easy to reach and when I had changes mid-project, they accommodated every one without complaint. The customer service really set them apart.
Milpitas, CA
Great communication throughout and they walked us through every step. The paver patio and driveway are flawlessly integrated. We would absolutely hire them again. In fact I was already texting David about redoing the entire front yard.
San Jose, CA
We are very happy with the results. David installed a new front lawn and side yard plantings and the whole project wrapped up in a week. We were impressed that they renewed our entire irrigation system as part of the job. Would recommend to anyone in the area.
San Jose, CA
Frequently Asked Questions
Call (408) 207-5545Can I install artificial turf at my Carmel-by-the-Sea home?
No, Carmel-by-the-Sea Policy 2025-02 prohibits new installation, repair and replacement citywide, effective March 4, 2025; it does not order existing turf removed. We offer sod, planting and permeable pavers in the City instead. Read the Carmel artificial-turf policy (checked October 2026) before selecting a lawn replacement.
Does your Carmel service area include Carmel Valley and Pebble Beach?
Yes, we serve both Carmel Valley and Pebble Beach as well as Carmel-by-the-Sea. The Valley and Pebble Beach are unincorporated Monterey County, outside the City turf ban. Artificial turf installed there carries a 15-year warranty. All three areas are included in the MPWMD service boundary (checked October 2026).
Which trees need a removal permit in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
City thresholds are 6 in diameter for pine, redwood, oak and cypress, and 10 in for other species capable of 25 ft, measured 4.5 ft above grade. Vacant lots and lots with an active building permit have an over-2-in threshold. See Carmel tree code (checked October 2026); County rules govern Carmel Valley and Pebble Beach.
How should I choose plants for a Carmel garden?
Plant choices depend on local conditions: sandy soil, fog and tree cover in Carmel-by-the-Sea; warmth, sun, clay and rock in Carmel Valley; forest shade and ocean wind in Pebble Beach. Manzanita, ceanothus, toyon or salvia are options where sun and shade conditions suit them. City planting visible from public places must follow the informal forest character in the Carmel planting standard (checked October 2026).
On which days may Cal Am customers water in Carmel?
Cal Am Monterey Main-system customers may water outdoors only on Wednesdays and Saturdays, before 9 AM or after 5 PM. Each station is limited to 15 minutes per day. Hoses need shut-off nozzles and follow the same schedule. This covers residential and commercial irrigation; see the Cal Am Monterey schedule (checked October 2026).
Can I put a lawn back after taking the MPWMD rebate in Carmel?
For eligible system customers within the District, MPWMD offers $1 per sq ft, with a 250 sq ft minimum and payment up to 2,500 sq ft. Use low-water planting or permeable surfaces, with drip if irrigated. The 15-year deed restriction bars reinstalling lawn anywhere on the site. Contact MPWMD before starting; apply within 120 days of purchase, subject to available funding. Read the District rebate terms (checked October 2026).
How can I budget for landscaping in Carmel?
Our published San Jose guide figures offer only an initial reference: paver patios at about $15 to $30 per sq ft installed, planting at about $2,000 to $5,000, and full backyard renovation at $25,000 to $75,000+. These are not Carmel quotes. We provide a free on-site estimate with itemized pricing for the work at your property.
Do you landscape Carmel inns, restaurants, HOAs and wineries?
Yes, Landscape Associates of CA offers commercial landscape work and ongoing maintenance in Carmel and Carmel Valley. Tell us about the planting, paths or irrigation at your inn, restaurant, gallery, HOA or winery. We also serve homeowners and provide free on-site estimates. Call or text (408) 207-5545 to describe the property.
Get a Free Quote
Call us, send the estimate form, or email us. We reply within 24 hours to book a free site visit. Call or text (408) 207-5545.
- (408) 207-5545
- david@landscapeassociatesca.com
- Mailing address: 125 Surf Way #443, Monterey, CA 93940
- Mon - Fri: 8:00-5:00 · Closed on weekends