Landscape Design & Build in Garden City.
We design and build landscapes for Garden City homes, from riverfront lots on the Greenbelt to the small lots of Old Town: terraces, gardens, walls and outdoor living, with floodplain permits and Greenbelt setbacks handled.
PhotoLakeside TerracesBoise · Lakeside
- Typical backyard
- $75k–$130k, design and build
- Floodplain
- About 1,700 properties sit in the regulatory floodplain
- Greenbelt
- No fences or walls within 5 feet of the path
- Riverbank
- A permit before clearing plants within 25 feet of the river
Our Work Near Garden City.
We haven't published a Garden City project yet. The three below are nearby, in Boise and Eagle.
A Terraced Foothills Backyard: Stone Walls, Wide Steps and a Fire Terrace With a View
A Boulder Fire Pit, a Stacked-Stone Waterfall Wall and a Dog Run, Set Against the Eagle Foothills
A Paver Terrace, a Built-In Gas Fire Table and Drainage That Finally Works
A River City, Mostly Floodplain.
- The Boise RiverOn average the river reaches flood stage at the Glenwood Bridge once every five years. Grades, drains and planting are designed for high water, not just a dry August.
- Two Flood MapsGarden City still builds to FEMA's 2003 maps, which count on its levees. FEMA's newer model doesn't, and puts about 74% of the city in the 100-year floodplain, so we check your lot against both.
- Riverbank PlantingWithin 25 feet of the river, clearing or damaging plants needs a permit first. We plan the bank with the city and favor natives that hold the soil.
- Greenbelt NeighborsLots on the Greenbelt or the Nature Path keep fences and walls 5 feet back and low within 15 feet, so privacy comes from planting as much as from fencing.
- Older Lots, Few New HomesGarden City permitted 14 new single-family homes in 2025, so most projects here rework an existing yard, often on the small lots of Old Town.
- A Bee CityGarden City became Idaho's first Bee City USA in 2015. Pollinator planting suits it, and it sits well on a water-wise plant list.
The River Sets Most of the Rules.
Much of Garden City sits in the Boise River floodplain, and the Greenbelt runs through it, so a landscape here starts with the city's floodplain and river rules. We confirm each one for your lot before the design is final.
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74%
Floodplain, Mapped Two Ways
The city builds to FEMA's 2003 flood maps, which count on its levees. FEMA's newer model doesn't, and puts about 74% of Garden City in the 100-year floodplain.
Garden City Comprehensive Plan (2021) -
Permit
Grading, Fill and Fences
Before you re-grade, fill or build in the floodplain, the city wants a floodplain application. Even a fence or a shed under 200 square feet needs a minor-work permit, and each review cycle can take up to 15 working days.
Garden City, floodplain development -
25 ft
The Riverbank
Within 25 feet of the river, find out the permits before any work or landscaping; removing or damaging vegetation there needs one. The city also points owners to river-friendly planting.
Garden City, flood information -
5 ft
Fences by the Greenbelt
No fence or retaining wall within 5 feet of the Greenbelt or Nature Path. From 5 to 15 feet, fences stay at 3.5 feet, or up to 6 feet if screened by landscaping or see-through with planting in front.
Garden City, fences (8-4A-4)
Checked against Garden City's floodplain, flood and fence pages and its comprehensive plan. Flood maps and rules change, so we confirm them again for every lot.
What a Garden City Project Invests.
Set up for a complete backyard. On a smaller lot, an outdoor living space is often the place to start; change the scope to see how the range moves. Your real number is set in design, once we've walked the site.
Questions From Garden City Homeowners.
Something else on your mind? Ask a Designer
Is my Garden City lot in the floodplain?
Quite possibly; about 1,700 properties are. The city still builds to FEMA's 2003 maps, and FEMA's newer model would put far more of the city in the 100-year floodplain. We check your parcel against both before we design.
Do I need a permit to regrade or put up a fence in the floodplain?
Yes. Grading or fill in the floodplain needs a floodplain development application, and even a fence or a small shed needs a minor-work permit. Each review cycle can take up to 15 working days, so we submit early.
How close to the Greenbelt can a fence go?
No closer than 5 feet. Between 5 and 15 feet from the path, a fence stays at 3.5 feet, or up to 6 feet if it is screened by landscaping or see-through with planting in front. We design the edge so the yard feels private without a wall.
What does a backyard cost in Garden City?
Most complete backyards we design and build invest $75,000–$130,000. On a smaller lot, an outdoor living space with a terrace, a fire feature and planting typically invests $50,000–$85,000, and a whole property $120,000–$210,000. The real figure is set during design.
Can we plant or clear along the riverbank?
With a permit. Removing or damaging vegetation within 25 feet of the river needs city approval first, and the city encourages river-friendly planting. We design the bank with both in mind.
How tall can a front fence be in Garden City?
3.5 feet along the street. A fence can reach 6 feet if it sits flush with or behind the house, or at least 10 feet back from the sidewalk with landscaping in front. Side and rear fences between homes can be 6 feet.
Keep Planning
Let's Design Your Garden City Yard.
A design consultation, a clear process, and a designer who tells you honestly what's possible within your range.
Rather talk? Call or text (208) 994-9204 Mon–Fri 8am–5pm