- Home
- Services
- Landscape Design
- Sunnyvale
Landscape Design in Sunnyvale
- Since 1987
- Yelp 4.6 (46 reviews)
- 5 on Google
- Fully insured
In brief
Planning a landscape in Sunnyvale means considering the yard layout, watering system and City requirements together. At Landscape Associates of CA, David Muhoberac works out the layout with you during a free on-site estimate. An itemized quote sets out the proposed work, and our own crew builds it. We also build from your architect's or designer's plans.
Updated November 2026
Landscape design in Sunnyvale: decide what replaces the lawn
If you want to replace a lawn, start by deciding what you want in its place. More patio space, planted beds and a smaller lawn lead to different layouts. If a rebate matters to your budget, bring that up before removing grass or buying irrigation equipment. The order of those decisions can affect eligibility.
Sunnyvale directs homeowners to the Valley Water Landscape Rebate Program on its City rebates page (checked October 2026). Under Valley Water conversion requirements (checked October 2026), a qualifying project must convert at least 75 sq ft of lawn and provide 50% coverage with qualifying plants. Artificial turf does not qualify for a rebate. Leave the lawn in place for the pre-inspection.
The Valley Water approval process (checked October 2026) requires the Notice to Proceed before any work or equipment purchase. Its base conversion rate is $2 per sq ft. Each residential site has a combined lifetime cap of $3,000 across rebate types. Funding lasts through June 30, 2027, or until funds run out. Confirm eligibility before treating that amount as part of your project budget.
Once you have made those choices, discuss how much space each part of the yard needs. A paver patio and new planting should be considered together, so the paved area does not use up space you wanted for beds. While discussing the layout, point out any existing features you want to keep.
Choose irrigation alongside the plants it will serve
Sunnyvale Municipal Code section 12.34.020 (checked October 2026) prohibits potable-water landscape irrigation between 9 AM and 6 PM during daylight saving time, except with a bucket or hose fitted with a shut-off nozzle. It also prohibits runoff onto walkways, roads and neighboring property. Consider these requirements when planning where and how to water the new landscape.
The same City water-use section (checked October 2026) prohibits watering during rain and within 48 hours after 0.20 in of rainfall. Unattended irrigation is limited to 15 minutes per day per station. Choose a controller while planning the lawn and planted beds. Consider the watering equipment already in the yard too.
There are specific exceptions to the 15-minute limit: drip with no emitter exceeding 2 gallons per hour, weather-based controllers and stream rotor sprinklers meeting a 71% efficiency standard. These exceptions apply only to the 15-minute limit. The other restrictions still apply. See Sunnyvale irrigation exceptions (checked October 2026) when comparing irrigation options.
Sunnyvale rules for fences, hedges, retaining walls and tree removal
Plans for front-yard privacy must follow the rules in the Sunnyvale Residential Fences handout (checked October 2026). It allows fences up to 4 ft without a permit, with a 3.5 ft limit inside driveway or corner vision triangles unless the fence is open. The handout lists a Miscellaneous Plan Permit for fences from 4 to 6 ft and a Use Permit above 6 ft.
Front-yard height limits also apply to hedges and other natural objects. Side and rear fences up to 8 ft need no planning permit. Fences over 7 ft need a building permit. The City fence guidance (checked October 2026) treats these as separate approvals. Even if no planning permit is required, you may still need a building permit.
The same Sunnyvale handout (checked October 2026) says retaining walls under 4 ft, measured from the base of the footing to the top, need no permit. A fence placed on a retaining wall requires a building permit whatever the wall height. Discuss the combined arrangement before choosing a retaining-wall layout along a boundary.
For existing trees, the City private-tree rules (checked October 2026) protect a single trunk measuring 38 in or more around at 4.5 ft above ground. A multi-trunk tree is protected if one trunk measures 38 in around or the combined measurements reach 113 in. Removing a protected tree requires a City permit. Check whether a tree is protected before planning a layout that depends on removing it.
What to discuss at your Sunnyvale landscaping estimate
- Lawn replacement: decide whether you want planting that qualifies for a rebate before choosing what will replace the lawn.
- Watering equipment: discuss the plants and lawn areas each station will serve, along with the City duration limits and listed exceptions.
- Privacy: identify whether the proposed screen sits in the front, side or rear yard, and whether a vision triangle is involved.
- Existing trees: show David what you want to keep and where you had imagined new paving, walls or beds.
How we plan, quote and build your Sunnyvale landscape
You do not need a finished layout to arrange the free on-site estimate. David reviews the yard with you, including access and existing ground conditions. The design forms part of the estimate and itemized project quote. Review each area and the work proposed for it to see how the layout affects the price.
Our own crew completes the agreed work. If you have already worked with an architect or designer, we can use those plans as the basis for construction. Our landscape design service page explains both ways to get started. For other work available here, see the Sunnyvale landscaping page.
Landscaping cost examples for your Sunnyvale project
For a starting point, our published San Jose prices range from $3,000 to $10,000 for irrigation and about $2,000 to $5,000 for garden beds and planting. Paver patios cost about $15 to $30 per sq ft installed. Our published San Jose price range for a full backyard renovation with pavers, walls, turf and lighting is $25,000 to $75,000+.
Your itemized quote after the site visit will give the price for your Sunnyvale project. Landscape Associates of CA was established in 1987 by David Muhoberac and is fully insured. Call or text (408) 207-5545 to discuss a free estimate, whether you are changing a single area or reworking the yard as a whole.
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) 207-5545Should I buy a new sprinkler timer before my lawn replacement rebate is approved?
Wait for the program approval. Valley Water requires its Notice to Proceed before any work or equipment purchases, and the lawn must remain for pre-inspection. See the rebate application conditions (checked October 2026).
Do Sunnyvale watering restrictions still apply if my sprinkler timer adjusts to the weather?
Most of them do. A weather-based controller is only an exception to the 15-minute unattended-irrigation limit. The other restrictions, including runoff and rainfall limits, still matter. The distinction appears in Sunnyvale Municipal Code 12.34.020 (checked October 2026).
Do front yard hedges have the same height limits as fences in Sunnyvale?
The City applies front-yard height limits to hedges and other natural objects as well as fences. Check the proposed position and height against the Sunnyvale fence handout (checked October 2026) before relying on a hedge for privacy.
Do I need a permit to put a fence on a low retaining wall in Sunnyvale?
A fence on top of a retaining wall requires a building permit regardless of the wall height, according to the City Residential Fences handout (checked October 2026). Consider the fence and wall as a combined proposal.
How do I know if my tree with several trunks is protected under Sunnyvale rules?
A multi-trunk tree meets the protection threshold when its trunk circumferences total 113 in, measured 4.5 ft above ground. A single trunk at 38 in also qualifies. See the City private-tree guidance (checked October 2026).
Will my Sunnyvale landscaping quote show the cost of each part of the project?
Yes. After the free property visit and layout discussion, we provide an itemized quote for your project. You can review the proposed work and its costs before deciding what our crew will do.
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
- Text (408) 207-5545
- david@landscapeassociatesca.com
- Mailing address: 125 Surf Way #443, Monterey, CA 93940
- Mon - Fri: 8:00-5:00 · Closed on weekends