HIRING GUIDE • BISMARCK, ND
How to Choose a Landscaper in Bismarck
To choose a landscaper in Bismarck, check the license that fits the job, get more than one written bid, compare what’s actually included, and never pay the full price before the work is done. Then ask a few questions only a crew that knows Bismarck can answer, like how deep they build a patio base on clay or where the ash wood goes.
This guide walks through each step, with the North Dakota and City of Bismarck rules that apply.
Compare what matters.
Check licensesMatch credentials to the actual job.
Get written bidsReview materials, scope and timeline.
Protect your paymentNever pay the full price before completion.
LICENSE CHECK • NORTH DAKOTA AND BISMARCK
Match the License to the Job
Different jobs need different licenses here. Ask for the one that fits your project.
| Job | What to check | Where to check it |
|---|---|---|
| Patios, walls, grading and other construction over $4,000 | A North Dakota contractor license | The Secretary of State’s FirstStop contractor search |
| Tree pruning or removal inside Bismarck | A City of Bismarck commercial arborist license | The city’s public list of licensed arborists |
| Spraying weeds or other pesticides for pay | Commercial pesticide applicator certification | Ask to see the card. NDSU Extension runs the program. |
| A crew from out of the area | A transient merchant license from the Attorney General | Ask to see it |
| Every job | Liability insurance | Ask for a certificate of insurance |
The $4,000 rule. The North Dakota Secretary of State says that when a job costs more than $4,000, “the person doing the work must be licensed as a contractor in North Dakota.” Licensed contractors also have to show proof of liability coverage, and those with North Dakota employees need a current certificate from Workforce Safety & Insurance (WSI). You can check any license in the Secretary of State’s FirstStop search.
Tree work. Bismarck requires a city commercial arborist license for paid tree pruning or removal. To get one, a person must be ISA certified or pass the city’s test, and carry insurance.
Weed control. In North Dakota, anyone who applies pesticides “to the land or property of another for hire” needs commercial certification. Weed killers count.
SMART QUESTIONS • LOCAL CLAY AND WINTER
Bismarck Questions to Ask Before You Hire
A good local crew answers these without guessing:
- Patio or wall: “How deep is the gravel base, and do you put fabric over clay?” Industry guides call for at least 4 inches of base under a patio, plus 2 to 4 inches more in cold, wet soil. See paver patios in Bismarck.
- Retaining wall: “What’s behind the block?” The answer should include clean drainage stone and a drain pipe with an outlet. See retaining walls in Bismarck.
- Tree work: “Who pulls the boulevard permit, and where does the wood go?” Boulevard trees need a city permit, and ash wood can’t leave Burleigh County without a permit. See boulevard tree permits.
- Digging: “Will you call 811?” North Dakota requires a call at least 48 hours before digging.
- Sod or seed: “When will it go down, and who waters it?” New sod needs daily water for about 3 weeks.
- Snow: “Where will you put the snow?” Pushing it into the street can bring a fine of up to $1,000.
- Lawn feeding: “When’s the last fertilizer of the year?” The right answer is around Labor Day, not October.
If the answers are vague, keep looking.
WRITTEN SCOPE • MATERIALS • PAYMENT
What a Good Written Estimate Includes
Written contract essentials
The North Dakota Attorney General says to get a written contract that covers:
- When the work will start and how long it will take
- A detailed description of the work
- Materials by “type, grade, quality and cost”
- The name and license number of any subcontractors and how they’ll be paid
- Warranties or guarantees for the materials or the job
- Who gets any required permits
For landscaping projects
For landscaping, also look for:
- Measurements: square feet of patio, linear feet of wall or curbing, number of trees
- Base depth and drainage for any patio or wall
- Cleanup and hauling, including where tree wood and old materials go
- Lawn repair after equipment drives across it
- Payment schedule
COMPARE WHAT IS INCLUDED • NOT JUST THE PRICE
How to Compare Bids
The Attorney General’s advice: “Get more than one bid, and carefully compare the bids.” It also warns that the bid “is not necessarily the bottom line; less reputable contractors may cut corners for low bids.”
When one bid is much lower, look at what’s missing. Common gaps are a thinner patio base, no drainage behind a wall, no stump grinding, no hauling or no lawn repair. Line the bids up side by side, item by item.
For typical local prices, see how much landscaping costs in Bismarck.
PAYMENT SAFETY • COMPLETION MILESTONES
How to Pay for a Landscaping Job
The Attorney General says paying something up front for materials can be normal, but don’t pay in full early. Hold the final payment until the work is finished and you’re happy with it. Be wary of crews that insist on cash.
A simple, fair setup for a bigger job is a deposit for materials, a payment at a clear milestone, and the balance at completion, all written into the contract.
WARNING SIGNS • AVOID EXPENSIVE MISTAKES
Red Flags
- Door-to-door crews after a storm. The Attorney General warns that many “storm chaser” contractors misrepresent their reputations and skills.
- Cash only, or a big discount for cash
- No written contract, or a one-line estimate
- Pressure to sign today
- No license for work over $4,000, or no arborist license for tree work in Bismarck
- Offers to haul ash wood out of town, which breaks the Burleigh County quarantine
- Fall fertilizer pushed into October, or spraying weeds on a windy day
CONSUMER PROTECTION • NORTH DAKOTA
Your Rights If You Signed at the Door
North Dakota gives you time to change your mind on sales made away from a seller’s place of business. According to the Attorney General:
- You have three business days to cancel a purchase over $25 made away from a permanent place of business, including from a door-to-door salesperson.
- If you’re over 65, you have 15 days to cancel a transaction over $50.
For help, call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection division or use its North Dakota toll-free line. The Secretary of State also takes certain complaints against contractors.
BOOK AHEAD • SHORT GROWING SEASON
When to Book in Bismarck
With only about 129 days between frosts, good crews fill up fast. Book spring projects like patios, sod and planting in late fall or winter. Book sprinkler blowouts before the first hard freeze and snow removal before the first snow. Our Bismarck yard care calendar shows when each job happens.
Questions
Choosing a Landscaper FAQ
Answers to local questions about licenses, estimates, contracts and contractor selection.
Want to check the details before signing?
Review our licensing checklist, compare the contract essentials and see the hiring FAQ.
Does a landscaper need a license in North Dakota?
It depends on the job. The North Dakota Secretary of State requires a contractor license when a construction job costs more than $4,000, which can include patios, walls and grading. Tree work in Bismarck needs a city arborist license, and spraying pesticides for pay needs state certification.
How do I check a contractor’s license in North Dakota?
Use the North Dakota Secretary of State’s FirstStop contractor search, which shows whether a contractor is licensed and in good standing. For tree work in Bismarck, check the City of Bismarck’s public list of licensed commercial arborists.
Does a tree service need a license in Bismarck?
Yes. Bismarck requires a city commercial arborist license for paid tree pruning or removal. To get one, a person must be ISA certified or pass the city’s test, and carry insurance. The city keeps a public list.
How much should I pay up front for landscaping?
Only what’s reasonable for materials. The North Dakota Attorney General says some payment up front for materials can be normal, but don’t pay in full until the work is finished to your satisfaction. Be wary of crews that insist on cash.
Can I cancel a contract I signed with a door-to-door salesperson?
Usually, yes. The North Dakota Attorney General says you have three business days to cancel a purchase over $25 made away from a permanent place of business. If you’re over 65, you have 15 days to cancel a transaction over $50.
How many landscaping quotes should I get?
More than one. The North Dakota Attorney General says to get more than one bid and compare them carefully, because the lowest bid isn’t necessarily the bottom line. Compare what’s included item by item, like base depth, drainage, hauling and cleanup.
Bismarck Landscape
Ask Us the Same Questions
We’d rather you ask hard questions than hire the wrong crew, so ask Bismarck Landscape everything on this page. Request a written estimate that spells out the work, the materials and the schedule.
You can also read about us, see our pricing, our other contact options or our FAQ.