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Service area · San Francisco County
Garcia's Landscape & Hardscape builds paver driveways, concrete sidewalks, retaining walls, irrigation, landscape lighting and yard drainage in San Francisco, from the Sunset and Excelsior to Glen Park and Twin Peaks (94112, 94116, 94122, 94127). In San Francisco, the property owner must keep the sidewalk in repair, and that work needs a Public Works permit.
Services in San Francisco
San Francisco homes are some of the oldest in the Bay Area: half were built by 1946, on narrow lots with steep driveways, small backyards and sidewalks the owner has to maintain.
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Garcia's Landscape & Hardscape installs paver driveways and patios, permeable pavers and concrete sidewalks in San Francisco. Many jobs here start at the curb: owners must keep the sidewalk in front of their home in repair, and that work needs a Public Works permit.
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Garcia's Landscape & Hardscape builds poured concrete and block retaining walls in San Francisco, with drain rock and pipe behind every wall. On the city's steep lots, many walls hold back a driveway or the house above, which means a DBI permit and engineered plans at any height.
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Garcia's Landscape & Hardscape installs and repairs drip and sprinkler systems in San Francisco, with smart controllers that water by zone. SFPUC customers can get up to $250 per WaterSense controller, for up to two, after a free SFPUC landscape assessment.
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Garcia's Landscape & Hardscape installs low-voltage LED lighting for San Francisco front stairs, side passages, patios, pergolas and retaining walls. On steep lots with long stairways and foggy evenings, step and path lights do as much for safety as for looks.
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Garcia's Landscape & Hardscape installs exterior sump basins, French drains and catch basins for San Francisco backyards and side passages. Many city lots sit below the street with no downhill outlet, so a sump basin with a pump is often the only way to move storm water away from the house.
See sump pumps in San FranciscoLocal know-how
Under Public Works Code §706, San Francisco property owners must keep the sidewalk, curb and driveway apron in front of their lot in good repair. Replacing it requires a Sidewalk Repair Permit from San Francisco Public Works before work starts.
Public Works allows permeable paving on sidewalks and driveways, but replacing standard concrete in the sidewalk with pavers needs a Special Sidewalk Surface Permit. Permeable pavers next to planting beds also need a rigid edge so the base doesn't shift.
Homes in Twin Peaks, Diamond Heights, Bernal Heights and Glen Park sit on slopes where walls often hold back a driveway or the house above. A wall that supports that kind of load needs a Department of Building Inspection (DBI) permit and engineered plans at any height.
SFPUC's Water Efficient Irrigation Ordinance applies to projects that install or modify 500 sq ft or more of landscape. SFPUC customers can also get up to $250 per WaterSense smart controller, for up to two controllers, after a free landscape assessment.
Rules at a glance
Public Works handles anything in the sidewalk or street; DBI handles retaining walls and structures. Work fully on private property, such as a backyard paver patio, usually needs no permit.
Summary of official guidance for planning only. We confirm the rules for your address during the site visit.
| Location / item | Limit |
|---|---|
| Sidewalk, curb or driveway apron repair | Owner's duty; Sidewalk Repair Permit (Public Works Code §706) |
| Pavers or permeable paving in the sidewalk | Special Sidewalk Surface Permit |
| Retaining wall over 4 ft (bottom of footing to top) | DBI permit + engineered design |
| Retaining wall holding back a driveway, building or slope | DBI permit + engineered design at any height |
| New landscape 500 sq ft+ / modified 2,500 sq ft+ | SFPUC Water Efficient Irrigation Ordinance |
| WaterSense irrigation controller (SFPUC customers) | Rebate up to $250 each, max. 2 |
Coverage
Lake Merced · Stern Grove · Twin Peaks · McLaren Park · Golden Gate Park
94112 · 94116 · 94122 · 94127 · 94131 · 94132 · 94134
How it works
Tell us your San Francisco address, the project and your timeline.
We measure, check drainage and confirm City and County of San Francisco and HOA limits.
Materials, finish, layout and schedule, in writing and free.
We build, clean up and review the finished work with you.
The property owner. San Francisco Public Works Code §706 makes owners responsible for keeping the sidewalk, curb and driveway apron fronting their lot in good repair, except damage from city-maintained trees, corners and utility work. A Sidewalk Repair Permit is required before repairs start.
Yes, with a Special Sidewalk Surface Permit from San Francisco Public Works, which covers replacing standard concrete with alternative or permeable paving. Pavers on your own driveway or patio, behind the property line, don't need that permit.
It does if it is taller than 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing, or if it holds back a surcharge such as a driveway, building or slope at any height. Those walls need a DBI building permit and an engineer's structural design.
SFPUC customers who pay their own water bill can get up to $250 per EPA WaterSense smart controller, for up to two controllers on landscapes under 10,000 sq ft. A landscape assessment by SFPUC staff is required first.
Send your address and a few photos. We'll confirm the San Francisco rules and give you a free estimate.
