COMMERCIAL GROUNDS • BISMARCK, ND
Commercial Landscaping in Bismarck, ND
Bismarck Landscape takes care of grounds for businesses, apartment buildings and other commercial properties in Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln. That means mowing and lawn care in summer, cleanups in spring and fall, tree work, sprinkler start-ups and blowouts, and snow and ice in winter, all from one crew and one contact.
Commercial grounds in Bismarck come with rules that homeowners rarely run into: sidewalk deadlines that apply to businesses too, landscaping requirements written into the city’s zoning code, and dead plants that have to be replaced on a schedule. We plan around those so you don’t get a notice from the city.
PROPERTY TYPES • LOCAL BUSINESS GROUNDS
Who We Work With
YEAR-ROUND • ONE CONTACT • SEVEN SERVICES
Commercial Grounds Services
Mowing and Grounds Care
Mowing on a set weekly schedule at NDSU’s recommended height of about 3 inches, plus trimming, edging and blowing off walks and lots. The City of Bismarck’s mowing rule covers businesses too: grass and weeds over 8 inches break it, and the city can hire a contractor and bill the owner plus a $60 fee per parcel. See lawn care in Bismarck.
Fertilizing and Weed Control
Feedings around Memorial Day and Labor Day, crabgrass prevention in spring and broadleaf weed control in fall, on NDSU’s timing. Anyone applying pesticides to someone else’s property for hire in North Dakota needs commercial certification, so ask to see the card. See lawn fertilization and weed control.
Seasonal Cleanups
Spring cleanup once the snow is gone and the lawn dries out, and fall cleanup with leaf removal and a final mow at about 2 inches. Leaves and grass go to the city’s yard waste sites, and branches go to the landfill. See fall and spring yard cleanup.
Trees and Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald ash borer was found in Bismarck in August 2026, and some commercial sites have ash along their frontage or in parking lot islands. We help you sort which trees to treat, which to remove and what to plant instead. A few things to know:
- Paid tree work inside Bismarck needs a city commercial arborist license.
- Trees on the boulevard between the sidewalk and the curb belong to the city and need a city permit to prune, remove or plant.
- Ash wood and chips can’t leave Burleigh County without a permit, and fines can reach $5,000.
See tree services in Bismarck and should you treat or remove your ash tree.
Irrigation
Spring start-ups, repairs, zone adjustments and fall blowouts before a hard freeze. Bismarck’s water demand climbs from about 200 million gallons a month to 600 million or more from May through September, mostly from irrigation, so a system that waters the parking lot is money down the drain. See irrigation in Bismarck.
Snow and Ice
Walks, entrances and parking areas cleared to the city’s rules, with ice melt picked for the temperature. We plan where the snow will go before the first storm, since it can’t go in the street. See snow removal in Bismarck.
Landscape Installation and Upgrades
New plantings, sod, rock and mulch beds, curbing, retaining walls and drainage fixes, including replacing dead plants the city’s landscaping ordinance requires you to keep alive. See landscape installation and yard drainage and grading.
COMPLIANCE • COMMERCIAL SITES • BISMARCK
City of Bismarck Rules Every Commercial Property Should Know
| Rule | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sidewalk snow | Clear within 24 hours after the snow stops, including crosswalk areas on corner lots. The city can clear it and bill the owner. | Ordinance 10-03-04 |
| Snow in the street | Don’t push or blow lot or sidewalk snow into the street. Fines can reach $1,000, and it applies to businesses and snow contractors too. | Ordinance 10-03-04 |
| Dumpsters | Clear snow in front of and around them so waste trucks can move them at least 7 feet | City of Bismarck |
| Fire hydrants | Clear about 6 inches below the caps and 3 to 4 feet around | City of Bismarck |
| Downtown parking | Alternate-day parking limits from 1 to 7 a.m., November 1 to March 31 | City of Bismarck |
| Mowing | Grass and weeds over 8 inches break the rule. Deadlines are June 1, July 1, August 1, and September 1 if needed. | City of Bismarck |
| Boulevard trees | City-owned. Permits needed to prune, remove or plant. | City Forestry |
| Gutter water | Send it to lawns or planted areas, not across driveways and sidewalks | City of Bismarck stormwater |
Full details are on our Bismarck snow rules page.
ZONING CODE • NEW DEVELOPMENTS • PARKING LOTS
Bismarck's Landscaping Requirements for New Commercial Sites
If you’re building new or adding on, the city’s Landscaping and Screening Ordinance, Section 14-03-11 of the zoning code, likely applies. It covers new commercial, industrial, institutional and multi-family buildings with three or more units, parking lots expanded by five or more spaces, and some major reconstructions.
Highlights from the 2018 ordinance:
| Requirement | What the ordinance says |
|---|---|
| Landscape plan | Required for all development covered by the ordinance |
| Street trees | 3 deciduous trees for every 100 linear feet of street frontage |
| Parking lot edges (under 100 spaces) | 1 shade or ornamental tree and 5 shrubs for every 25 linear feet of street frontage |
| Parking lot islands (50 or more spaces) | 10 square feet of landscaped area per parking space, each island at least 10 by 10 feet |
| Parking lot trees | At least 1 shade tree and 3 shrubs for every 20 parking spaces |
| Buffer yards | Required between certain uses, like commercial next to homes |
| Minimum sizes | Shade trees 1½-inch caliper, ornamental trees 1 inch, upright evergreens 4 feet, shrubs in at least 2-gallon containers |
| Species mix | No single species can be more than 50% of the required trees or shrubs, except hedges and street trees |
| Dead plants | “Dead plants must be promptly removed and replaced within the next growing season.” |
| Street trees in the right-of-way | Need a Forestry Division planting permit first |
The species rule matters more than ever now. A site with all ash, or all of any one tree, is exactly what emerald ash borer punishes. The city has also been drafting a new Land Development Code, so confirm current requirements with the City of Bismarck before you finalize plans. Our landscape design service can help lay out a plan.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • CONTRACT CLARITY • NO SURPRISES
What a Good Commercial Grounds Contract Covers
Before you sign with anyone, make sure the contract spells out:
- Scope by season: exactly which areas get mowed, cleaned up, fertilized and cleared of snow
- Frequency: weekly mowing, number of cleanups, number of feedings
- Snow triggers: what snow depth starts a visit, whether walks get done before the lot, and how ice melt is billed
- Where snow goes: pile spots that stay off the street, hydrants and dumpster access
- Licenses: city arborist license for tree work and state pesticide certification for spraying
- Proof of insurance before work starts
- One contact person and how fast they respond
- How extra work gets approved, so there are no surprise invoices
WRITTEN PROPOSAL • SEASON OR YEAR
How Commercial Pricing Works
Commercial sites vary too much for a fair price list. We walk the property, measure the turf, beds, walks and lot, and give you a written proposal by season or for the full year. The main things that change the price are mowing area, how much trimming and hand work there is, how many cleanups you want, tree and irrigation needs, and for winter, the size of the lot, the walks and how fast you need them cleared.
For general local prices, see how much landscaping costs in Bismarck and our pricing page.
Questions
Commercial Landscaping FAQ
Answers about sidewalk deadlines, city landscaping requirements, permits and year-round commercial service.
Managing grounds for more than one property?
Start with the contract checklist to review the scope, insurance and snow triggers.
How fast do businesses have to clear sidewalks in Bismarck?
Within 24 hours after the snow stops, under City Ordinance 10-03-04. The rule covers owners and tenants, including businesses, and includes crosswalk areas on corner lots. If it isn’t done, the city can clear the sidewalk and bill the property owner.
Can I push parking lot snow into the street?
No. Bismarck doesn’t allow snow to be pushed or blown into the street, and the rule applies to businesses and snow contractors as well as homeowners. Fines can reach $1,000. Plan pile spots on your own property before winter.
What landscaping does Bismarck require for a new commercial building?
Under the city’s 2018 Landscaping and Screening Ordinance, new commercial, industrial, institutional and larger multi-family sites need a landscape plan. Requirements include 3 deciduous street trees per 100 feet of frontage, parking lot trees and shrubs, and buffers between certain uses. Confirm current rules with the city.
Who has to replace dead plants on a commercial site?
The property owner. Bismarck’s Landscaping and Screening Ordinance says dead plants must be promptly removed and replaced within the next growing season. Build replacements into your grounds budget, especially for ash trees declining from emerald ash borer.
Does a crew need a license to trim trees or spray weeds on my property?
Yes. Paid tree pruning or removal inside Bismarck requires a city commercial arborist license. Applying pesticides, including weed killers, to someone else’s property for hire in North Dakota requires commercial certification through NDSU Extension’s program.
Do you serve commercial properties in Mandan and Lincoln?
Yes. We serve commercial properties in Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln. Snow, mowing and permit rules differ by city, so we follow each city’s rules for each site.
Bismarck Landscape
Get a Commercial Grounds Proposal
Managing a property in Bismarck, Mandan or Lincoln? Contact Bismarck Landscape to set up a site walk. We’ll give you a written proposal for the season or the full year.
You can also see our services, our other contact options or our FAQ.