When Is a Landscape Architect Hired on a Project?

A plain-language guide to landscape architecture timing and how it relates to permit filings · Updated July 2026

Short answer: It varies more than any other design discipline. On entitlement-driven commercial and multifamily projects, the landscape architect is hired early because planning approvals often require landscape plans. On many other projects, landscape scope is designed and contracted late, after the building permit is filed, as a separate site or landscape package. That makes permit filings a genuinely useful early signal for landscape firms.

Landscape architects design the outdoor and site experience of a project: planting, hardscape, amenity decks and roof terraces, streetscape, irrigation, and site furnishings, and they coordinate with civil on grading and drainage. Where they enter a project depends heavily on what drives the project's approvals.

When landscape architects come in early

Entitlements and planning review. Many jurisdictions require landscape plans as part of site plan approval, design review, or planned-development entitlements. On those projects the landscape architect is engaged during planning, before any building permit is filed.
Amenity-driven multifamily and hospitality. Where outdoor space sells the project, developers bring landscape design into concept work alongside the architect.
Campus and civic work. Institutional projects often carry a landscape architect from master planning onward.

When landscape scope is assigned late

Separate landscape packages. On phased projects, site and landscape improvements are often designed and permitted after the building shell is under way.
Amenity retrofits. Roof decks, courtyards, and common-area upgrades on existing buildings are frequently stand-alone projects, owner-led and assigned close to filing.
High-end residential. Homeowners commonly engage landscape designers after the house design is set, sometimes after construction starts.
Compliance triggers. Stormwater, green-area, and street-tree requirements can add landscape scope to projects that did not originally include it.

How permit filings relate to selection

Because so much landscape work rides behind the building permit, a filing is often an early signal rather than a closed door. A new multifamily filing this month plausibly means landscape decisions over the following months. Filings also identify the developers, architects, and owners who repeatedly build the kind of projects that carry real landscape budgets.

A filing is not proof that a landscape slot is open. It is a reason to research the project and its team earlier than a directory or referral would surface it. To see how firms turn filings into a pursuit list, see landscape architecture leads from permit filings and what the pre-bid window is.

Frequently asked

Is the landscape architect hired before or after the building permit?

Both patterns are common. Entitlement-driven projects hire landscape architects early because planning approvals require landscape plans. Phased projects, amenity retrofits, and residential work often assign landscape scope after the building permit is filed.

Who hires the landscape architect?

Developers and owners hire landscape architects directly on amenity-driven and retrofit work. On larger design teams the architect may hold the landscape contract as a subconsultant, and public work is usually contracted by the agency.

Does a building permit filing help find landscape work?

Yes, more than for most disciplines. Because landscape packages often trail the building permit, a fresh filing for a multifamily, hospitality, or high-end residential project is an early flag that landscape decisions are coming.

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