Landscape architecture is a methodology through which an owner's program, or intended use and requirements for a space, is refined in accordance with the unique drivers that shape each project. The concurrent development of interconnected program elements is fostered through the architectural process where drawings, drafted in a universal language, are created for use by other consultants and for bidding, permitting, and construction. Landscape architecture balances art and science to connect people to place by blurring the line between architecture and nature.

Landscape architecture has been designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a STEM profession, meaning the discipline is heavily rooted in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Paths to licensure can take anywhere from six to eight years, and include a 4 - 6 year college degree, 2 year internship under a licensed architect, and a series of exams. Practitioners are held accountable to rigorous professional standards by governing boards and agencies, and must satisfy continuing education requirements in order to maintain their license.

Projects involving complex programs on challenging sites in regulated areas require landscape architects for design, permitting, and construction. Examples of regulated areas include wetlands, coastlines, and steep slopes. Overlapping zoning constraints like building setbacks, easements, coverage allowances, and stormwater management requirements may further trigger the need for a landscape architect. Any project that requires approvals from regulatory agencies necessitates the involvement of a landscape architect or similar design professional such as an architect or engineer.

Costs for landscape architecture services vary widely depending on the office, region, and the type of work. Landscape Design Consulting specializes in high-end residential design for constraint-driven projects, with fees ranging from 2.5% - 10% of anticipated construction costs. The difference lies in the scope of services for which we are engaged -- from feasibility analysis and concept plans, to detailed construction drawings, bid qualification and permitting services, and project management.

Most states, including Connecticut and New York, have practice and title acts that make it illegal to practice landscape architecture -- or to call oneself a landscape architect -- unless licensed as such. Moreover, businesses that advertise or provide landscape architecture services must employ one or more state-licensed landscape architects and be legally established for the corporate practice thereof. In New York, the requirements are stricter: the business must also be owned by one or more licensed design professionals and organized under specific entity types such as Design Service Corporation, Professional Service Corporation, and a limited number of other options. Standard entities like Inc, Co, and LLC are not permitted to provide professional services in the state of New York. Landscape architects are legally permitted to sign, seal, and take professional responsibility only for work they have personally prepared or directly supervised. They must be involved with a project from the outset to ensure legal compliance and professional accountability. Project owners are strongly advised to hire a landscape architect for any project requiring agency review; attempting to save money by hiring a non-licensed designer inevitably increases both time and costs.