Symbio Design

Cambridge has one of the strictest tree ordinances in Massachusetts. Removal or significant pruning of a protected tree on private property requires a Tree Removal Permit from the city arborist, with a hearing in many cases and replacement plantings or in-lieu fees often required. Work within 100 feet of the Charles, Fresh Pond, Alewife Brook, or any other wetland resource needs a Notice of Intent with the Cambridge Conservation Commission. Retaining walls over four feet need a building permit and engineer-stamped plans through the Inspectional Services Department. Pools require a permit and four-foot fencing. Historic districts including Old Cambridge and Half Crown-Marsh have additional design review through the Cambridge Historical Commission for fences, walls, and other visible exterior elements.

Cambridge pricing runs close to Boston levels and sometimes higher because of access and permitting overhead. Weekly maintenance on a small Cambridge lot typically lands $55-$95, with spring cleanups for a Mid-Cambridge or Riverside garden in the $300-$800 range. A bluestone patio of 300 square feet in West Cambridge or Avon Hill usually falls in the $13,000-$22,000 range, with material carry-through and tree-protection requirements driving the upper end. Full design-build projects involving plantings, irrigation, and hardscape commonly start at $35,000 and run past $120,000 for larger Avon Hill or Brattle Street properties.

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 Cambridge page.