What does a full yard landscaping project cost in El Dorado County, CA?

A full yard project (front and back combined) runs **$5,350 to $16,050**, with an average near **$9,630**. These figures apply a 1.07x local services adjustment to national benchmarks, reflecting the $22.49/hr mean wage for landscaping workers in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro, which is 12% above the $20.11/hr national mean.

How much does a patio or walkway installation cost in El Dorado County?

A 400-square-foot hardscape patio or walkway runs **$3,210 to $8,560**, averaging around **$5,350**. Decomposed granite and concrete pavers, both fire-resistant options well-suited to the county's wildfire risk score of 99.71, fall toward the lower end. Natural stone and brick installations trend toward the upper end.

What does sod installation cost for a 2,000-square-foot lawn?

Sod installation for 2,000 square feet runs **$1,605 to $4,280**, averaging **$2,675**, after applying the 1.07x local services adjustment. Given El Dorado County's IECC Zone 3B dry-summer climate and electricity costs of **$0.332/kWh**, many homeowners weigh sod against drought-tolerant alternatives that reduce long-term irrigation pump costs.

How does El Dorado County's wildfire risk affect landscaping design?

The county's FEMA NRI wildfire score of **99.71 out of 100 (Relatively High)** places it in the most hazardous tier. California law requires **30 feet of defensible space** around structures. Select fire-resistant ground covers (decomposed granite, succulents, native bunch grasses) within that perimeter and install non-combustible hardscape buffers between vegetation and the building.

Are landscaping labor costs higher here than the national average?

Yes. Landscaping workers in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro earn a mean of **$22.49/hr** ($46,770/yr) per 2025 OEWS data, compared to a national mean of $20.11/hr. That 12% wage premium drives the **1.07x local services adjustment** applied to all project estimates. With **7,410 workers** in the metro trade, crews exist but foothill demand keeps backlogs common.

What financing options work best for landscaping projects in El Dorado County?

With the 30-year mortgage at **6.36%** (May 2026) and median home values at **$640,500** (3.72x the national average), most owners have meaningful equity to tap via home equity lines of credit. A $9,630 average project financed over 10 years adds roughly $80 to $110/month. Some contractors offer deferred-interest promotions through third-party lenders for jobs above $5,000.

Which plants thrive in El Dorado County's IECC Zone 3B climate?

Zone 3B's dry-summer moisture regime and **2,138 annual heating degree-days** (about 42% below the national median of 3,700 HDD) favor drought-tolerant natives. Manzanita, California lilac, and native bunch grasses establish without supplemental summer water and double as fire-resistant choices. Avoid cold-sensitive tropicals at higher elevations where winter weather scores **85.39 (Relatively High)** per FEMA NRI.

REGIONAL COST GUIDE · El Dorado County, CA

How Much Does Landscaping Cost in El Dorado County, CA?

Full yard landscaping in El Dorado County runs $5,350 to $16,050. Compare 2026 local costs for hardscape, sod, and fire-resistant designs.

Cost range $5,350 – $16,050

Average $9,630

Updated May 17, 2026

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COST BREAKDOWN

What homeowners in El Dorado County actually pay.

Local market ranges built from regional labor, materials, and permitting data — not national averages.

Full Yard Landscaping (front + back)

$5,350 Avg: $9,630 $16,050

Hardscape Patio / Walkway (400 sq ft)

$3,210 Avg: $5,350 $8,560

Lawn Installation (sod, 2,000 sq ft)

$1,605 Avg: $2,675 $4,280

National avg $9,000 × 1.07x local adjustment = $9,630; min: $5,000 × 1.07x = $5,350; max: $15,000 × 1.07x = $16,050

Why El Dorado County prices look like this.

El Dorado County carries a wildfire risk score of 99.71 out of 100 (Relatively High per FEMA NRI), making fire-resistant plant selection one of the most consequential decisions any homeowner here will make. Against that backdrop, a full yard project runs $5,350 to $16,050 locally, with an average near $9,630. The county's median home value of $640,500 reflects land worth protecting, and the right plantings serve as both a fire buffer and a long-term curb-appeal investment. Hardscape installations (patios, walkways) average around $5,350 for 400 square feet, while sod installation for 2,000 square feet lands near $2,675. Sacramento metro wages push local pricing about 7% above national benchmarks, driven by a 1.07x services adjustment based on the $22.49/hr mean wage for landscaping workers in the region.

Labor Costs and Contractor Availability

Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (SOC 37-3011) in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro earn a mean wage of $22.49/hr ($46,770/yr) per 2025 OEWS data. That is 12% above the national mean of $20.11/hr and feeds directly into the 1.07x local services adjustment applied to every project estimate here. The metro employs 7,410 workers in this trade. Foothill demand from El Dorado County's fire-country neighborhoods keeps experienced crews booked weeks in advance during spring planting and fall cleanup seasons. Request at least three bids and verify each contractor holds a C-27 (Landscaping Contractor) license from the California Contractors State License Board. Licensed crews carry liability coverage that matters on sloped lots near the $640,500 median home value common in this county.

Wildfire and Natural Hazard Risks for Landscaping

El Dorado County's FEMA NRI composite risk score is 91.41 (Relatively Moderate), but the wildfire sub-score of 99.71 (Relatively High) dominates all other hazards in practical design terms. Winter weather scores 85.39 (Relatively High), which affects plant hardiness choices at higher Sierra foothill elevations. Inland flooding reaches 91.70 (Relatively Moderate), making proper lot grading and drainage a non-negotiable element on sloped parcels. Hail (18.92) and tornado (13.71) risk are both Very Low, so overhead protection for plants is a lower priority. California law requires 30 feet of defensible space around structures; favor decomposed granite, native bunch grasses, and succulents within that perimeter, and install non-combustible hardscape buffers separating vegetation from the structure.

Climate Zone and Plant Selection in El Dorado County

El Dorado County falls in IECC Climate Zone 3B (DOE Southwest region), a mixed heating-and-cooling climate with a dry-summer moisture regime. With 2,138 heating degree-days (HDD) annually, the county runs furnaces about 42% less than the national median of 3,700 HDD, but foothill winters still threaten cold-sensitive ornamentals at higher elevations. The 1,576 cooling degree-days (CDD) signal real summer heat load, especially below 2,000 feet in the valley. Zone 3B's dry-summer designation means irrigation management is essential from June through September. Native plants adapted to this regime (manzanita, California lilac, native bunch grasses) thrive without supplemental water once established. For energy-smart design, place shade trees on western and southern exposures to cut cooling loads and evergreen windbreaks on northern exposures to buffer winter winds.

Energy Costs and Solar Potential for Outdoor Projects

California residential electricity costs $0.332/kWh (February 2026), among the highest rates in the nation. That rate makes shade-tree placement a genuine cost-offset strategy: mature trees on western and southern exposures reduce summer AC loads over their lifetime. El Dorado County averages 5.91 peak sun hours per day (NREL PVWatts), a strong solar resource that makes rooftop solar viable for offsetting irrigation pumps and outdoor lighting. A 6 kW roof-mount reference system produces an estimated 9,405 kWh/year here, worth roughly $3,122/year in avoided electricity costs at current rates. Pairing drought-tolerant plantings with a smart irrigation controller further reduces outdoor electrical and water use, compounding savings over the life of the installation.

Financing a Landscaping Project in El Dorado County

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate stands at 6.36% as of May 14, 2026. El Dorado County home values run 3.72x the national average (median $640,500), giving most owners substantial equity to draw on via cash-out refinancing or home equity lines of credit. A full yard project at the $9,630 average financed over 10 years at HELOC rates adds roughly $80 to $110/month depending on lender and product. Sacramento-area fair market rents reach $2,255/month for a two-bedroom (HUD FY2026), reflecting strong rental demand that rewards investment properties with well-maintained outdoor spaces. Some regional contractors partner with third-party lenders offering deferred-interest promotions for installations above $5,000.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED · 07

Questions buyers ask about landscaping in El Dorado County.

Short answers to the most common things we hear about local pricing, scope, and timing.

What does a full yard landscaping project cost in El Dorado County, CA?

A full yard project (front and back combined) runs **$5,350 to $16,050**, with an average near **$9,630**. These figures apply a 1.07x local services adjustment to national benchmarks, reflecting the $22.49/hr mean wage for landscaping workers in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro, which is 12% above the $20.11/hr national mean.
How much does a patio or walkway installation cost in El Dorado County?

A 400-square-foot hardscape patio or walkway runs **$3,210 to $8,560**, averaging around **$5,350**. Decomposed granite and concrete pavers, both fire-resistant options well-suited to the county's wildfire risk score of 99.71, fall toward the lower end. Natural stone and brick installations trend toward the upper end.
What does sod installation cost for a 2,000-square-foot lawn?

Sod installation for 2,000 square feet runs **$1,605 to $4,280**, averaging **$2,675**, after applying the 1.07x local services adjustment. Given El Dorado County's IECC Zone 3B dry-summer climate and electricity costs of **$0.332/kWh**, many homeowners weigh sod against drought-tolerant alternatives that reduce long-term irrigation pump costs.
How does El Dorado County's wildfire risk affect landscaping design?

The county's FEMA NRI wildfire score of **99.71 out of 100 (Relatively High)** places it in the most hazardous tier. California law requires **30 feet of defensible space** around structures. Select fire-resistant ground covers (decomposed granite, succulents, native bunch grasses) within that perimeter and install non-combustible hardscape buffers between vegetation and the building.
Are landscaping labor costs higher here than the national average?

Yes. Landscaping workers in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro earn a mean of **$22.49/hr** ($46,770/yr) per 2025 OEWS data, compared to a national mean of $20.11/hr. That 12% wage premium drives the **1.07x local services adjustment** applied to all project estimates. With **7,410 workers** in the metro trade, crews exist but foothill demand keeps backlogs common.
What financing options work best for landscaping projects in El Dorado County?

With the 30-year mortgage at **6.36%** (May 2026) and median home values at **$640,500** (3.72x the national average), most owners have meaningful equity to tap via home equity lines of credit. A $9,630 average project financed over 10 years adds roughly $80 to $110/month. Some contractors offer deferred-interest promotions through third-party lenders for jobs above $5,000.
Which plants thrive in El Dorado County's IECC Zone 3B climate?

Zone 3B's dry-summer moisture regime and **2,138 annual heating degree-days** (about 42% below the national median of 3,700 HDD) favor drought-tolerant natives. Manzanita, California lilac, and native bunch grasses establish without supplemental summer water and double as fire-resistant choices. Avoid cold-sensitive tropicals at higher elevations where winter weather scores **85.39 (Relatively High)** per FEMA NRI.

SOURCES · 08

How these numbers were built.

Cost estimates are derived from government data including the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS), Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS), FEMA National Risk Index, EIA energy data, IECC climate zone classifications, Federal Reserve (FRED), and HUD Fair Market Rents.