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HOA country
Landscaping & tree care in Germantown
Most Germantown properties sit inside a homeowners association, and the association usually has a view on what you are about to build.
Germantown is one of the most association-governed parts of the county. For a homeowner that means a patio, a fence line, a retaining wall or a front-garden replanting may need written approval before work starts, and approval processes run on their own timetable. We would rather build that delay into the schedule than discover it halfway through.
We also work for the associations themselves — grounds maintenance, common-area planting and tree work on a written contract with one point of contact. Being on both sides of that relationship is useful: we know what a board will approve and why they turn things down.
What we do in Germantown
Local rules worth knowing
What governs work in Germantown.
Ask any tree company for their licence number
Maryland requires commercial roadside tree work to be carried out under a Licensed Tree Expert, and a firm doing the physical work must have at least one on staff. The DNR Forest Service licenses LTEs on experience, education and an examination. Ours is #1798. It is a fair question to ask anyone quoting you tree work.
Trees along the road are not yours to cut
Under Maryland's Roadside Tree Law (Natural Resources Article §§5-401–5-411) any planting, pruning or removal of a tree in the public road right-of-way needs a permit from the Maryland DNR Forest Service first — and the work has to be done under the direction of a Licensed Tree Expert. A permit is not permission from the tree's owner: that comes separately from the State Highway Administration, the county, or the municipality. We hold Maryland Tree Expert License #1798 and handle the permit as part of the job.
Regulations change. These notes summarise published guidance from the agencies named and are a starting point, not legal advice — we confirm the current position for your specific property before any permit-affecting work begins.
Questions we get asked in Germantown
Straight answers.
Do I need HOA approval for a patio in Germantown?
In most Germantown communities, yes — exterior alterations typically need written approval from the association before work begins. Requirements differ between associations, so check your own covenants. We can supply the drawings and specification a board normally asks for.
Does DEL Landscapes work for homeowners associations directly?
Yes. We hold grounds maintenance and tree care contracts with associations across Montgomery County, on a written contract with one point of contact.
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