Mass Home Comfort
Find contractors
Landscaping · Chilmark, MA

Landscaping in Chilmark, Massachusetts

Compare contractors serving Chilmark, Dukes County — call them directly, or send one request and let the ones who want the job come to you.

30 contractors serving Chilmark.

Contractors serving Chilmark

Claimed listings within 5 miles come first, then the rest by rating, then distance. Google ratings as of October 2026. How we list and rank contractors

Landscaping in Chilmark — what to know

Site & seasonal factors

Chilmark is in Eversource territory, inside Mass Save's program area for energy work — but Mass Save doesn't apply to landscaping. The regulatory layers that do apply on Chilmark landscape projects stack thicker than almost anywhere else in Massachusetts.

Layers include the Wetlands Protection Act enforced by the Chilmark Conservation Commission (which uses a stricter local wetlands bylaw on top of state law), the Martha's Vineyard Commission for projects classified as Developments of Regional Impact, the Chilmark Stone Wall and Historic Roads Bylaw protecting heritage walls, and on coastal properties, additional review for coastal banks and dunes. For a substantial landscape project, expect permitting timelines in months and multiple boards reviewing the same plan.

Permits in Chilmark

Plantings don't need permits, but almost everything else does. Beyond the standard MA thresholds, Chilmark protects heritage stone walls — you cannot dismantle or relocate an old farm wall without specific approval. Any project that alters the visual character of an Up-Island road frontage may face Historic District Commission or other local review. Coastal-bank work requires NOI plus often Chapter 91 review. Plan a 3–6 month permitting front end for substantial projects.

Typical project cost

Chilmark is among the most expensive landscape markets in MA. Ferry logistics, labor scarcity, sourcing of native stock, and the high-end design-build market push prices well above mainland averages. A planting refresh on a modest residential property starts around $10,000–$25,000. A bluestone or fieldstone terrace with low walls routinely runs $40,000–$150,000+. Heritage stone wall reconstruction or extension by a skilled Vineyard waller often runs $400–$800+ per linear foot, depending on stone and design.

About Chilmark homes

Chilmark is an Up-Island Martha's Vineyard town of about 1,561 year-round residents but roughly 1,613 housing units — an unusually high seasonal share, with a market dominated by high-end second homes and a small year-round community concentrated near Menemsha and Beetlebung Corner. Median home age is around 44 years, though the housing fabric is layered: pre-1900 Vineyard farmhouses, mid-century summer cottages, and a heavy share of luxury custom builds from the 1990s on.

The land is iconic: pasture, stone wall, beach plum hedgerow, coastal bank, and salt pond. Chilmark's landscape character is intentionally preserved — heritage stone walls are protected, and the visual fabric of the Up-Island countryside is one of the town's defining assets.

Common questions — Landscaping in Chilmark

Can I move or dismantle an old stone wall on my Chilmark property?
Not without specific approval. The Chilmark Stone Wall and Historic Roads Bylaw protects heritage walls and their associated road landscapes. Many owners and their landscapers preserve and restore walls in place rather than risk the process — it's also the right move aesthetically.
Does the Martha's Vineyard Commission review my landscape project?
It depends on scale. Smaller residential projects usually clear at town level. Larger projects — substantial clearing, major site work, or projects flagged as Developments of Regional Impact — go to the MVC. A landscaper who has worked DRIs before is worth the premium.
I'm on a coastal bank. What can I do at the water's edge?
Less than you'd expect. Coastal banks have strict erosion and stability protections, and Chilmark ConCom enforces them rigorously. Stabilization with deep-rooted natives and minimal hardscape is the usual approved approach — engineered armoring is rarely permitted.
What plants survive a Chilmark exposure?
Salt-tolerant natives carry the day: bayberry, beach plum, rugosa rose (native form), little bluestem, switchgrass, beach grass on dunes. Mainland 'cottage garden' favorites usually burn out in a season exposed to Vineyard salt and wind.
When should I start planning a Chilmark project?
Months in advance, and earlier than mainland MA. Top Vineyard design-build firms book the season by late winter, ferry logistics add lead time on materials, and permitting alone can take 3–6 months. Start in fall for the following summer's project.

Landscaping guides for Massachusetts homeowners

All Landscaping guides →

Landscaping contractors in nearby towns

AquinnahWest TisburyGosnoldTisburyOak BluffsEdgartownDartmouthFalmouth