Landscaping in Ogden, UT
Locally owned Ogden landscapers, each checked against the same published standard. Below the list: Utah's landscaping license, Ogden's sprinkler and backflow rules, what you can put in a park strip, and the turf rebates open in 2026.
No landscaping listed yet. We're reviewing applications now and only list businesses that pass every check, so this page stays empty until one does.
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What Utah requires of a landscaper
Landscape contracting falls under DOPL's S330 Landscape and Recreation Contractor license. It covers planting, lawns, sprinkler systems, patios, decking, fences and most retaining walls (not walls holding back vehicles or structures). It excludes electrical, plumbing and gas work. Mowing and routine yard maintenance aren't contracting. Jobs under $7,000 can fall under Utah's handyman exemption. Check licenses in the state's Licensee Lookup and Verification System.
Sprinklers and backflow in Ogden
If your sprinklers run on culinary (drinking) water, Ogden requires a backflow preventer so yard water can't siphon back into the city system. The approved types are atmospheric vacuum breakers, pressure vacuum breakers, reduced-pressure assemblies and spill-resistant vacuum breakers. Double-check valves aren't approved for irrigation.
- Testing: pressure vacuum breakers and reduced-pressure assemblies must be tested by a certified tester within 10 days of first use and every year after. The owner is responsible. Atmospheric vacuum breakers don't need testing.
- Secondary water only: systems fed only by secondary water aren't required to have backflow protection.
- Both sources: a system that can switch between culinary and secondary water must use a reduced-pressure assembly.
Ask any sprinkler installer which water source and device they're planning, and whether they're a certified tester or work with one.
Water in a dry year
Governor Cox declared a statewide drought emergency on May 21, 2026. Weber Basin's secondary water normally runs from mid-April to mid-October, subject to supply; in a dry year your provider may shorten the season, so check with whoever supplies your secondary water. Ogden's water shortage plan prohibits lawn watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. once restrictions reach Phase II.
USU Extension advises applying ½ to 1 inch of water each time you irrigate and avoiding 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The state's weekly lawn watering guide tells you how often to water this week.
Getting paid to remove lawn
Three programs can pay you to replace grass with water-wise landscaping:
- Ogden Flip Your Strip: up to $2.50 per square foot for single-family park strips, up to 8 feet deep.
- Weber Basin Lawn Exchange: $1.25 to $2.50 per square foot. You must apply before work begins.
- Utah Water Savers: Weber County residents are directed to Weber Basin's portal.
We couldn't confirm whether the Ogden and Weber Basin programs can be combined, so ask both before you start. Don't remove anything before approval and inspection.
For new development, state rules ban lawn in park strips and areas under 8 feet wide, and in Weber County cap lawn at 35% of front and side yard landscaping.
Ogden park strip rules
- A street tree is required, and planting one needs a free permit from the City Forester (801-629-8284). Under power lines, the tree can be at most 25 feet tall at maturity.
- Nothing over 2 feet tall except street trees, and no retaining walls or fences without an encroachment permit.
- Rock should be 1½ to 4 inches.
- Corner lots have a 40-foot sight triangle where everything stays under 2 feet.
What landscaping costs in Ogden
We don't publish project prices, because we haven't found a dated local survey we'd stand behind. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median wage for landscaping and groundskeeping workers in the Ogden area at $19.08 an hour (May 2025): what workers earn, not what you're billed. What moves the price: sod or turf removal and haul-away, irrigation changes, rock and plant material, hardscape, grading and drainage, and whether a rebate inspection fits the schedule.
How to choose a landscaper
- Check for an active S330 on anything beyond maintenance.
- Ask about the water source and the backflow device for any sprinkler work.
- If you're chasing a rebate, ask whether they've done approved conversions, and don't let work start before approval.
- Ask about drip for beds and park strips; it uses far less water than spray.
- Get a written plan with plant list and materials.
Every landscaper listed here has been checked for a real Ogden-area address, local ownership, a Utah license and insurance. See how we vet.
Landscaping questions
Does my sprinkler backflow preventer need a yearly test in Ogden?
If your system is fed by culinary (drinking) water and uses a pressure vacuum breaker or reduced-pressure assembly, yes: Ogden requires a test by a certified tester within 10 days of first use and every year after, and the owner is responsible. Atmospheric vacuum breakers don't need testing. Systems fed only by secondary water aren't required to have backflow protection.
Can I get paid to replace my park strip lawn?
Yes. Ogden's Flip Your Strip program pays up to $2.50 per square foot for single-family park strips, and Weber Basin's Lawn Exchange pays $1.25 to $2.50 per square foot. Apply before any work starts; both programs require approval first.
Do I have to keep a tree in my park strip?
Yes. Ogden's forestry FAQ says a park strip tree is required, and planting one needs a free permit from the City Forester. Under power lines the tree can be at most 25 feet tall at maturity.
When should I blow out my sprinklers?
USU Extension lists blowing out irrigation systems as an October and November task in northern Utah, before hard freezes. Use the drain valves or a compressor, or hire it out.