The Urban Gardener

The Urban Gardener has served San Francisco residential gardens since 1987. The team—Greg, Jesus, Chris, Fernando, and Junior—specializes in irrigation installation and troubleshooting, garden maintenance, design and installation, sod, tree pruning, and garden cleanups. They also offer garden staging and ornamental tree pruning. The business holds state license number 999606 and maintains worker's compensation and general liability insurance.

With a 5.0 rating from 4 reviews, customers have praised the team's problem-solving on irrigation zones, sprinkler tuning, and attention to detail. The Urban Gardener operates Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 5 PM, and serves San Francisco and parts of San Mateo County.

In California, landscapers typically hold a C-27 Landscaping Contractor license or C-49 Tree and Palm Contractor license issued by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Many projects require a building permit from your local building department before work begins. The City of San Francisco's building department website lists permit requirements for your specific project type.

To verify a contractor's license before hiring, use the CSLB's online license check tool at cslb.ca.gov. You can search by license number or business name. The license status will show whether the contractor is active and any complaint history. Always ask to see the plastic pocket license and confirm the number matches.

Different projects have different permit rules. Check with San Francisco's building department to learn whether your irrigation, sod, tree, or hardscape work needs a permit. Some maintenance falls outside permit requirements, while structural or major installation work may require one. Clarifying this upfront prevents delays and ensures your contractor follows local code.