Not legal advice. These are general templates; laws and enforceability vary by state. Consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Landscaping contract template for installation projects
A landscaping contract is an agreement for a one-time project, such as a patio, planting beds or a retaining wall, that sets the scope, the price, the deposit and progress payments, how changes are approved and what the plant and materials warranty covers. Build yours below, read every clause for free, and edit it before you download.
Not legal advice. These templates have not been reviewed by an attorney.Last updated:
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What a landscaping contract includes
A landscaping contract should describe the project in detail, state the price and payment schedule, explain how changes are approved, and record who handles permits, utility marking, cleanup and the warranty.
- The project address and a written scope, with an attached plan or materials list if you have one.
- The total price, a deposit and progress payments.
- Estimated start and finish dates, stated as estimates.
- Change orders for anything added after signing.
- Substitutions and natural variation in plants and stone.
- Permits, association approvals and utility marking.
- Site cleanup and a final walk-through.
- A limited warranty on plants and materials.
Deposits and progress payments
A deposit secures the schedule and pays for early materials, and progress payments tie each payment to a stage of work so neither side is far ahead of the other.
| Schedule | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit and final balance | A deposit at signing, the rest when the project is substantially complete | Short projects of a few days |
| Deposit and progress payments | A deposit, then a payment as each stage is finished | Multi-week installs with materials delivered in stages |
| Deposit and weekly payments | A deposit, then weekly payments for work done | Longer projects with steady crews |
The form offers a deposit of 10, 25, 33 or 50 percent. Pick the percentage from your material costs and your scheduling risk. Rules on deposit limits for home projects vary by state, so ask a licensed attorney in your state.
Change orders and unexpected conditions
A change order is a written, signed change to the work, price or schedule, and it should be signed before the changed work starts so there are no surprises on the final bill.
Hidden conditions such as rock, roots, buried debris, poor drainage or unsuitable soil are a common reason for a change order. The template says you tell the customer as soon as you find them, and that you are not required to do extra work until the customer signs.
Utility marking, permits and association approval
Before you dig, request that public underground utilities be marked, and write down who handles permits and approvals so the project is not stopped halfway.
In the United States, 811 is the number used to request marking of public underground utility lines. This is general information only. The template also asks the customer to tell you about private lines that public marking does not cover, such as irrigation, low-voltage lighting, drainage and invisible fencing. Permits are your responsibility at cost unless you write otherwise, and homeowners association approval is the customer's. Holding any license the law requires for the work is yours.
Plant and materials warranty, and liens
A limited warranty of 30, 60 or 90 days says that you will repair or replace plants and materials that fail because of your installation or materials, and it excludes neglect, weather extremes, pests, normal settling and natural variation.
The template allows one replacement and says a replacement does not restart the warranty period. It also includes a short note on liens as general information only: in many states, unpaid contractors and suppliers may have the right to file a lien on the property, and the rules vary by state, so each party can ask a licensed attorney how they work.
Landscaping contract or lawn care contract?
A landscaping contract is for a project that has an end, and a lawn care contract is for service that repeats.
If you install a new lawn or beds and then maintain them, use a landscaping contract for the installation and a lawn care contract for the weekly work that follows.
Key terms
- Scope of work
- The written description of what you will build or plant.
- Deposit
- Money paid at signing that is credited to the price.
- Progress payment
- A payment due when a defined stage of the work is finished.
- Change order
- A signed written change to scope, price or schedule.
- Substantial completion
- The point at which the project can be used for its purpose, apart from small punch-list items.
- Lien
- A claim against a property for unpaid work; rules vary by state.
Build it in four steps
- Describe the project. Names, address and the scope of work.
- Set price and payments. Total price, deposit and progress payments.
- Choose dates and warranty. Estimated start and finish and a 30, 60 or 90 day warranty.
- Read, edit and download. Every clause shows in the preview.
Related contracts
Compare all six on the contractor contract templates page, or open another one.
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- Lawn care contract
- Pressure washing contract
- Junk removal contract
- Tree service contract
- Independent contractor agreement
- Service agreement template
Hiring a helper for your crew? Use the independent contractor agreement.
Which states is this for?
These are general US templates, written to be used in any US state. They do not contain state-specific provisions. The state you choose only fills in the governing-law clause.
Enforceability and required wording often vary by state. Some states may limit liability waivers, and some may require specific notices in contractor contracts. Check the rules for your state, or ask a local attorney, before you rely on a document.
Questions and answers
What should a landscaping contract include?
It should include the scope of work, the price, a deposit and payment schedule, estimated dates, how change orders work, permits, utility marking, cleanup and a limited warranty on plants and materials.
How much deposit should a landscaper ask for?
It depends on material costs and risk. The form offers 10, 25, 33 or 50 percent. Some states set limits on deposits for home improvement work, so ask a licensed attorney in your state.
What is a change order?
A change order is a written, signed agreement that changes the work, price or schedule. It is signed before the changed work begins.
Do I need to call 811 before digging?
811 is the number used in the United States to request that public underground utility lines be marked before digging. This is general information, and the rules for when it is required vary by state. Ask a licensed attorney or your state's one-call center.
Does the warranty cover plants that die?
A limited warranty usually covers plants that fail because of the installation or defects, and not plants that die from neglect, too little or too much water, pests or extreme weather. The template lists these exclusions.
What is the difference between this and a lawn care contract?
A landscaping contract covers a project with a start and finish, and a lawn care contract covers recurring service like weekly mowing.
How much is the landscaping contract?
The live preview is free: you can answer every question, read every clause and edit the wording without paying. Your first clean PDF and Word download is free and leaving an email gets 2 more; after that this contract costs 1 credit, from $5.27 per document in a pack.
Is this legal advice, and has an attorney reviewed it?
No. These templates have not been reviewed by an attorney. They are general US templates and not legal advice, and this site is not a law firm. Rules vary by state, so check your state or ask a local attorney.
Does this work in my state?
The templates are general US templates written for use in any state. They have no state-specific provisions, and the state field only fills the governing-law clause. Enforceability and required wording vary by state, so check your state's rules or ask a local attorney.