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 shaping 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 harmonizes numerous competing interests while seamlessly integrating architecture and nature, thus connecting people to place.

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 typically ranging from 2.5% to 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. Initial fees for project management reduce overall project costs by establishing lines of accountability, improving communication and efficiency, and maintaining forward momentum.

Landscape architects are legally permitted to sign, seal, and take professional responsibility only for work they have personally prepared or directly supervised. Many property owners assume they can reduce costs by hiring an unlicensed designer and later retain a licensed landscape architect to obtain regulatory approvals. In practice, this is not permitted. When agency review is required, a landscape architect cannot simply “take over” or endorse previously prepared work; the design must be developed under the landscape architect’s direct control from the outset to ensure legal compliance and professional accountability.