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Landscapers in Chelmsford, MA
Most of Chelmsford sits on sand and gravel over its aquifer, which shapes everything from patio bases to how much of a lot can be paved. Call (000) 000-0000 or send the form for a free estimate. We'll review your request and help you with the next step.
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- North to South Chelmsford
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Landscaping services in Chelmsford
What are you planning in Chelmsford?
Patios & Walkways
Pavers, bluestone and natural stone, set on a compacted base that survives frost.
Retaining Walls
Block and stone walls that hold a slope, with drainage behind them.
Landscape Design & Plantings
A plan for the whole yard, then beds, shrubs and trees that suit the site.
Yard Drainage
Grading, drains and dry wells for wet lawns and water near the foundation.
Outdoor Living
Fire pits, outdoor kitchens, pergolas and seating walls.
Chelmsford, village by village
A center, four old villages and a lot of sand
The town's open space plan says most of Chelmsford's land is sand and gravel, on landforms from rolling hills to flat ground. That's good news for patio bases and dry wells, which like fast-draining soil. It's also why so much of the town is protected as aquifer. Bedrock shows in the south and west, with granite outcrops on Oak Hill and old limestone deposits at Robin Hill, where lime was quarried as early as 1736.
Chelmsford Center
The historic heart of the town, a village setting that became mostly residential. Much of it is the Chelmsford Center Historic District, where visible fences, walls and paving should be cleared with the Historic District Commission.
North Chelmsford
The old mill village, with workers' housing around Vinal Square, which grew into the town's largest village by the mid-1800s. Freeman Lake is here. Closer-set houses where compact patios and side walks do the most.
South Chelmsford
An agricultural village with a Federal-period core, near Heart Pond. Larger lots and older houses, where stone walls, walkways and full yard plans fit the setting.
West Chelmsford
Once home to a scythe factory and the Eagle Mills, which burned in 1883. The ground in the west of town is rockier, with bedrock near the surface in places, which can affect excavation for walls and footings.
East Chelmsford
The original East Chelmsford split off in 1826 to become Lowell. The name lives on in the East Chelmsford Water District, which doesn't supply water for irrigation, so in-ground sprinkler systems can't connect to it. Plant choices there need to account for that.
Wetlands and the aquifer
Chelmsford's three-step wetland setback
Chelmsford's wetlands bylaw is stricter than the state law, with three separate distances from a resource area:
- 25 feet: no disturbance.
- 30 feet: no impervious surfaces, such as a mortared patio or a paved walk.
- 50 feet: no buildings, on lots of 40,000 square feet or more.
The Commission's regulations then list some projects as minor activities inside the 100-foot buffer: a patio, deck or pool on existing lawn more than 50 feet from the resource area with erosion controls; stone walls and fences that don't block wildlife; pervious private walkways up to five feet wide; and native, non-invasive plantings. New turf lawn isn't on the list.
Aquifer Protection District. Because the aquifer under the town has no clay layer to protect it, zoning requires a special permit to make more than 15 percent or 2,500 square feet of a lot impervious, whichever is greater, with a groundwater recharge system. Ask whether your lot is in the district before choosing between solid and permeable pavers.
Permits and local rules
Permits and approvals in Chelmsford
Building permit. The Building Department requires a permit for fences over seven feet and sheds over 200 square feet, and asks for a certified plot plan with lot-coverage figures for sheds and roofed structures. Under the state building code, retaining walls over four feet from the bottom of the footing, or walls supporting a load above, need a permit and a licensed construction supervisor.
Conservation. The Conservation Commission administers the town wetlands bylaw along Beaver, Deep, Stony, Black and Hales Brooks, Freeman Lake, Heart Pond, Russell Mill Pond and the Merrimack and Concord Rivers.
Chelmsford Center Historic District. A local historic district since 1975. The bylaw's listed exemptions cover things like paint and roof colors, not fences, walls or walks, so check with the Historic District Commission before building anything visible from the street.
Outdoor watering. Three water districts serve most of town: the Chelmsford Water District, the North Chelmsford Water District and the East Chelmsford Water District. Each runs odd/even watering in summer with stricter levels during drought.
Licensing. We verify the credentials a job requires before we send a contractor any calls.
New England Landscapers is a referral service. We don't pull permits or do landscaping work. The contractor who does the job handles the permit.
FAQ
Chelmsford questions
How close to a wetland can I build a patio in Chelmsford?
Chelmsford's wetlands bylaw prohibits disturbance within 25 feet of a resource area and impervious surfaces within 30 feet, and on lots of 40,000 square feet or more, buildings within 50 feet. Under the Conservation Commission's regulations, a patio on existing lawn is treated as a minor activity only if it's more than 50 feet from the resource area, with erosion controls.
Do I need a permit for a fence or shed?
Fences over seven feet need a building permit. Sheds under 200 square feet don't; sheds from 201 to 260 square feet do; larger ones must meet the district's zoning setbacks. Keep sheds at least 10 feet from side and rear lot lines and check with Conservation first.
Can I put in an irrigation system?
It depends on your water district. Chelmsford is served by three districts, and the East Chelmsford Water District does not supply water for irrigation, so in-ground systems can't connect to it. In the other districts, summer watering follows an odd/even schedule that tightens during drought.
Is there a limit on paving in Chelmsford?
In the Aquifer Protection District, making more than 15 percent or 2,500 square feet of a lot impervious, whichever is greater, needs a Planning Board special permit and a groundwater recharge system. Permeable pavers can help.
Is there a charge to use New England Landscapers?
No. The call and the referral are free to homeowners. Your estimate and any work are agreed directly between you and the contractor.
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