Lawn & Property Landscape

Braintree Conservation Commission has jurisdiction within 100 feet of the Monatiquot River, Sunset Lake, the Cochato River, and any wetland or stream. Soil disturbance, hardscape, planting, and tree removal in the buffer all need filings, typically a Request for Determination of Applicability or a Notice of Intent for larger projects. The town does not have an aggressive private-property tree bylaw, though street trees fall under the Tree Warden and require approval before removal. Retaining walls over four feet need a building permit with engineering review. Pools require zoning, building, and electrical permits in addition to any wetland review.

South Shore inner-suburb pricing runs close to inner-128. Weekly mowing on a typical Braintree lot is $50–$75, spring cleanups $300–$650, fall cleanups $400–$950. Mulch installed is $100–$130 per yard. A quarter-acre irrigation install runs $5,000–$8,500 with 5-7 zones standard. Bluestone or paver patios in the 300–400 sf range typically land $11,000–$17,000 installed with proper base and drainage. Full design-build packages on the larger Highlands and outer subdivisions typically start at $30,000 and reach $70,000–$95,000 with hardscape, planting, drainage, irrigation, and lighting in scope.

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 Braintree page.