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Landscaping in Centennial
Licensed landscaping services for Centennial and Arapahoe County. Outdoor spaces that inspire.
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Outdoor spaces that inspire
EVERY PROJECT STARTS WITH DESIGN
Local Service
Landscaping Services in Centennial, Colorado
Autotelic provides professional landscaping services throughout Centennial and the surrounding Arapahoe County area. Full landscape design and installation including hardscape, softscape, irrigation, and landscape lighting. Whether you're in Centennial (south Denver metro) or nearby communities, our team delivers quality workmanship backed by Colorado licensing and full insurance coverage.
Permits & Licensing
Permits in Centennial
Centennial building permits, inspections, and contractor license approvals are handled by the city's Building Division. Permits and contractor licenses must be applied for online through the city's Self-Service Portal, and we handle that process as part of every project. Authority: City of Centennial — Building Division.
Permit Thresholds
Centennial permit thresholds
- Code reference
- In Centennial, Colorado, building permits for residential remodel work are governed by the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) Section R105 (adopted via Centennial Municipal Code Chapter 18 – Building Regulations, per Ordinance 2023-O-06 and related adoptions of the 2021 I-Codes).Section R105
- Code reference
- Typically exempt work (aligning with IRC R105.2 exemptions, with local application) includes:
- Code reference
- One-story detached accessory structures (e.g., sheds) ≤200 sq ft.
- Code reference
- Fences ≤7 ft high; retaining walls ≤4 ft high (measured from bottom of footing).
- Code reference
- Prefabricated swimming pools <24 inches deep.
- Code reference
- Window awnings projecting ≤54 inches.
- Code reference
- Decks ≤200 sq ft, ≤30 inches above grade, and not attached to the dwelling.
- Use tax (not collapsed into a single rate)
- City of Centennial Use Tax of 2.5% applied to the actual cost of materials, plus Arapahoe County Use Tax of 0.25% applied to the actual cost of materials.
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with City of Centennial — Building Division.
Energy Code
Centennial energy code quick facts
- Code reference
- Centennial, Colorado, has adopted the 2018 IECC (with the 2021 I-Codes package) as its energy code, with no mention of Denver-specific overlays such as the Denver Green Code or Energize Denver.
- Code reference
- This is enforced by the City’s Building Division under Ordinance No. 2023-O-06 (adopting the referenced codes by reference, effective as part of the 2021/2023 code update package).Ordinance No. 2023-O-06
- Code reference
- Centennial is in Climate Zone 5B.
- Code reference
- The code applies to alterations, additions, and remodels per IECC Chapter 5 (existing buildings), with the prescriptive requirements of Chapter 4 (or equivalent U-factor/UA paths) generally applying to new or modified portions of the thermal envelope.
- Code reference
- Key prescriptive requirements relevant to remodels/additions (drawn from 2018 IECC Table R402.1.2 and related sections for CZ 5; these are the base code values with no local amendments identified that alter them):
- Ceiling/attic insulation
- Minimum R-49 (or equivalent U-factor ≤ 0.026).
- Adopting reference
- 2018 IECC R402.1.2 (Table R402.1.2).
- Wood-frame wall insulation
- R-20 cavity or R-13 cavity + R-5 continuous insulation (or equivalent U-factor ≤ 0.060).
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with City of Centennial — Building Division.
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What Landscaping Covers in the Denver Metro
Typical landscaping work in Denver includes site preparation, planting of trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses, turf establishment or conversion, mulching, edging, debris removal, irrigation installation or repair, and ongoing maintenance such as mowing, pruning, and weeding. On new development or significant redevelopment, landscaping also supports site plan requirements like minimum landscape coverage, buffers, screening, and tree planting or protection standards. Hardscape items such as patios or retaining walls may overlap with landscape projects, but structural work is often scoped and permitted separately.
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Water-Wise Materials and Methods That Fit Denver
Denver projects increasingly emphasize climate-resilient materials and methods. That commonly means native or adapted plants from the Official Denver Resilient Plant List; approved turf choices such as buffalograss, blue grama, or native shortgrass mixes for non-functional areas and Kentucky bluegrass blends or fescues for functional or recreational areas; mulch at least three inches deep; rock or cobblestone where appropriate; and efficient irrigation systems. Sound installation practice includes soil amendment, planting at specified stock sizes, tree and utility protection details, and a maintenance approach that supports plants as they reach mature size. State rules also restrict non-functional turf, artificial turf in non-functional or decorative areas, and invasive species on many commercial, institutional, industrial, common-interest, and right-of-way properties.
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Permits, Inspections, and Local Code Considerations
Routine residential maintenance like mowing or basic bed care typically does not require a permit. Installation work or major alterations may. The City and County of Denver’s Community Planning and Development (CPD) department handles most zoning and site-related reviews for private-property landscape components of construction, alteration, or site improvement projects. Site development plans often need plant schedules, mature landscape area designations, and clear distinctions between private property and public right-of-way. The Office of the City Forester issues free permits for planting, removal, injection, or attachments involving street trees or protected trees in the public right-of-way, with review often taking up to five business days. Denver Water may require irrigation and landscape plan review for larger irrigated areas, and new sod or irrigation work can trigger watering establishment permits under drought restrictions. Basic residential landscaping generally does not need a CPD permit unless it involves structural changes, significant grading or drainage alterations, new electrical or plumbing for irrigation, or a larger site plan. Code expectations center on Denver Zoning Code landscaping, fencing, walls, and screening standards; adopted green construction requirements; minimum landscaped-area percentages by property type; tree diversity, spacing, and protection; buffers and screening; drainage and permeable surfaces; and low-water, non-invasive plant selections. Requirements can vary by metro jurisdiction.
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What Buyers and Property Owners Should Evaluate
Before starting work—or when reviewing an existing property—check CPD records for permits related to structural, drainage, irrigation, or site work so unpermitted alterations are easier to identify. Confirm street-tree and right-of-way compliance through City Forester records, and look at irrigation efficiency, HOA or zoning landscape-plan adherence, drainage and grading performance, plant species selection, and overall condition against resilient landscape standards. On newer builds or recent remodels, a pre-purchase or pre-construction review of site plans and recent modifications is especially useful, along with awareness of water restrictions or conversion-related rebate programs that may apply.
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How a General Contractor Coordinates Landscape Work
As a municipally licensed Denver general contractor, we coordinate landscaping as part of broader property improvements and site readiness. That includes scoping planting, irrigation, turf conversion, and related site prep; aligning the plan with applicable zoning and water-wise expectations; and coordinating licensed specialty trades when electrical, plumbing, grading, or other specialty work is required. Landscape projects are planned around access, drainage, plant establishment, and inspection pathways so homeowners and property managers understand what is maintenance-level work versus work that may need plan review or permits.
FAQ
Common questions
What landscaping work usually needs a permit in Denver?
Routine maintenance such as mowing or basic bed care typically does not. Installation or major alterations can, especially when the work involves site development plan components, significant grading or drainage changes, new electrical or plumbing for irrigation, street trees or protected right-of-way trees, or larger irrigated areas subject to Denver Water review. Requirements can also differ across metro jurisdictions.
Who handles the landscaping permits and licensing?
A municipally licensed Denver general contractor coordinates the project and works with licensed specialty trades as needed. Zoning and site-related reviews are handled through Community Planning and Development; street-tree or protected right-of-way tree work goes through the Office of the City Forester; and larger irrigation or landscape plan reviews may involve Denver Water.
What plants and turf options work best for Denver conditions?
Water-wise projects commonly use native or adapted plants from Denver’s resilient plant guidance, mulch, efficient irrigation, and turf suited to the use of the space. Functional recreational areas may use approved cool-season blends, while non-functional areas are better candidates for lower-water options such as buffalograss, blue grama, or native shortgrass mixes. Invasive species and non-functional high-water turf are increasingly restricted on applicable property types.
Do street trees in the tree lawn count as my responsibility?
Property owners are responsible for right-of-way trees, and work such as planting, removal, injection, or attaching materials to street trees or protected trees generally requires a free permit from the Office of the City Forester. Review commonly takes up to five business days.
What should I review before buying a property or starting a landscape remodel?
Look for prior permits on irrigation, drainage, grading, or site work; check tree and right-of-way status; evaluate irrigation efficiency; confirm the landscape plan still aligns with zoning or HOA expectations; and assess plant species, turf type, and drainage conditions against current resilient landscape standards.
Is hardscaping included with landscaping?
Patios, retaining walls, and similar hardscape elements can be part of a broader outdoor project, but structural or drainage-related work is often scoped and permitted separately from planting, mulch, turf, and irrigation. The right approach depends on the site and the scope of changes.
Service Area
Serving Centennial and Arapahoe County
We serve Centennial, CO and all surrounding Denver metro communities. Our team is based in Denver and operates throughout the Front Range, from Castle Rock to Longmont and everywhere in between. Contact us for a free estimate on your Centennial project.
How It Runs
01
Survey
02
Design
03
Build
04
Verify
DESIGN SERVICES
Discovery & Site Analysis
Needs + preference programming, site survey, as-built documentation, feasibility.
We walk, measure, and photograph your property — existing conditions, utilities, structure, and constraints. You get the as-built documentation and feasibility read that every later decision rests on.
Learn more →Concept Design & Space Planning
Schematic design, floor plan studies, layout options.
Your scope becomes schematic floor plans you can compare side by side — circulation, daylight, adjacencies, and what each option does to the budget. Layout decisions happen on paper, where changes are cheap.
Learn more →Architectural Design & 3D Renderings
Design development, materials + finishes, photorealistic visualization.
The chosen concept resolves into materials, finishes, fixtures, and lighting — with the automation layer drawn in. Photorealistic renderings let you walk the space and adjust before anything is priced.
Learn more →Construction Documents & Permitting
Full CD sets, structural + MEP engineering coordination, permit-ready drawings.
Approved designs become coordinated architectural, structural, and MEP sheets — the set your jurisdiction permits from and trades build from. We submit, track, and answer review comments.
Learn more →CONSTRUCTION
New Construction & Custom Homes
Ground-up homes and light commercial, dirt to keys.
Ground-up residential and light commercial builds — foundations through finishes, including modular and steel construction. One accountable builder from dirt to keys.
Learn more →Remodels & Additions
Kitchens, baths, basements, pop-tops, whole-home.
Kitchens, baths, basements, pop-tops, and whole-home renovations that respect the house you already have. We handle structure, permits, and the dust.
Learn more →Commercial Tenant Finish & Build-Outs
Shells to working spaces — retail, office, restaurant, school.
Raw shells become working spaces — showrooms, offices, restaurants, schools. Dealer-spec finishes, code compliance, and opening dates held.
Learn more →ADUs & Modular Construction
Backyard cottages, garage conversions, factory-built homes.
Backyard cottages, garage conversions, and factory-built homes — zoning, design, permits, and set. Denver’s ADU rules are a specialty, not a surprise.
Learn more →Outdoor Living & Patio Structures
Decks, pergolas, and dining patios built for Colorado weather.
Decks, pergolas, and dining patios engineered for Colorado sun, snow, and hail — structure, shade, and drainage done right the first time.
Learn more →TECHNOLOGY
Smart Home Automation
Lighting, shades, climate, audio, security — one interface.
Whole-home control of lighting, shades, climate, audio, and security from a single interface — Crestron, Lutron, Savant, and Control4 designed in, not bolted on.
Learn more →A/V Systems
Theaters, distributed audio, video walls, commercial sound.
Theaters, distributed audio, video walls, and commercial sound — designed, installed, and tuned by the same team for over 20 years.
Learn more →Control Systems
Custom programming — scenes and schedules that fit the space.
Every subsystem brought into one elegant interface — custom programming for homes and venues, with scenes and schedules that match how the space is actually used.
Learn more →Networking & Edge Compute
Enterprise Wi-Fi, structured cabling, racks, on-prem compute.
Enterprise-grade Wi-Fi, structured cabling, racks, and on-premise compute — the backbone that makes everything else reliable, including our own Barbot platform.
Learn more →Solar & Energy Storage
Solar arrays, Tesla Powerwall, EV charging — certified install.
Solar arrays, Tesla Powerwall, and EV charging designed and installed by a Tesla Energy Certified team — roof, electrical, and app in one scope.
Learn more →TRUSTED TO BUILD FOR
- Punch Bowl SocialFirst four locations
- Spectrum RetirementSenior living communities
- Denver HighlandsFirst modular custom home