Doug Curtiss Landscape Contractors, Inc

Westborough's Conservation Commission enforces the Wetlands Protection Act plus a local bylaw, and because so much of town is wet, a large share of landscape projects fall within the 100-foot buffer of a wetland, pond, or stream and need an Order of Conditions, with a stricter inner no-disturb zone. The town protects public shade trees under state law. Retaining walls over four feet require a building permit and engineering, and pools, regrading, and stormwater management work need permits. Larger subdivisions and commercial sites also face stormwater and drainage review. Routine mowing, mulching, and planting on existing lawn outside buffers does not require permitting.

Westborough pricing is typical for MetroWest. Weekly mowing on a subdivision lot runs $45-80. Spring cleanup $250-700, fall cleanup $350-1,000 depending on tree load. Bark mulch installed runs $90-135 per yard. Irrigation for a typical quarter- to half-acre lot runs $5,000-8,500. Bluestone or paver patios run $11-17K. Drainage corrections — a frequent need given the wet soils — run $3,000-12,000 depending on scope. Full design-build with new beds, plantings, irrigation, and hardscape commonly lands $25K-90K, with wetland-buffer lots running higher once conservation filings and drainage work are included.

Massachusetts requires a written contract and a Home Improvement Contractor registration for most residential landscaping work; ask for the registration number and check it before paying a deposit.

More on permits, costs, rebates and common questions, plus every other landscaping contractor serving the town, on the Landscaping in Westborough page.