Landscape Architects Orlando
Licensed Landscape Architecture, Land Planning & Irrigation Design for Orlando and Central Florida Development Projects
The Orlando metro is one of the most active development markets in the Southeast—and has been for more than two decades. Residential growth corridors like Lake Nona, Horizon West, and the Four Corners area continue to expand at a pace that puts consistent pressure on development timelines and permitting resources. Meanwhile, the region’s hospitality and entertainment-driven economy sustains a parallel market of resort, hotel, and commercial development unlike any other inland Florida market.
At the same time, Orlando’s development environment carries real technical complexity: a high concentration of jurisdictional wetlands, sandy flatwoods soils with poor nutrient retention, St. Johns River Water Management District permitting requirements, and an active urban tree canopy program administered by the City of Orlando and Orange County. Getting landscape architecture right in this market means understanding all of it—not just the design side.
Evergreen Design Group is a Florida-licensed landscape architecture firm (FL License 6666711) that has been delivering land planning, landscape architecture, and irrigation design for development projects since 2005. We work directly with architects, civil engineers, land developers, and design-build contractors on commercial, mixed-use, multifamily, master-planned community, hospitality, and civic projects throughout Orlando, Orange County, Osceola County, Seminole County, and the broader Central Florida region. We don’t design projects for homeowners.
What Shapes Landscape Architecture in Orlando and Central Florida
Jurisdictional Wetlands and SJRWMD Permitting
Central Florida has an exceptionally high concentration of jurisdictional wetlands, isolated upland wetland systems, and stormwater ponds. The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) administers the Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) program for most development projects in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Lake counties. Projects that impact wetlands, exceed impervious surface thresholds, or require stormwater management infrastructure are subject to SJRWMD review—and the landscape architect plays a direct role in stormwater treatment design, littoral planting specifications, and buffer zone documentation. Early coordination between the landscape architect and the civil engineer on SJRWMD permitting strategy is one of the most important steps in any Orlando-area development project.
Sandy, Low-Fertility Flatwoods Soils
The dominant soil type across much of the Orlando metro is Entisol—the sandy, rapidly draining, nutrient-poor flatwoods soils typical of Central Florida’s upland pine communities. These soils present challenges for plant establishment, turfgrass performance, and irrigation system design. Organic matter is quickly oxidized, nutrients leach rapidly, and drought stress can develop quickly during Orlando’s dry season even on sites with active irrigation. Our planting specifications account for these conditions through appropriate species selection, soil amendment strategies, and irrigation design calibrated to actual soil performance.
Subtropical Climate: Intense Wet Season, Persistent Dry Season
Orlando’s climate is characterized by a pronounced wet season from June through September, when the region receives the majority of its roughly 50 inches of annual rainfall, and a dry season from October through May when supplemental irrigation becomes essential. Landscape designs for Orlando development projects need to manage both extremes—adequate drainage capacity during summer storm events and sufficient irrigation infrastructure to support plant material through months of low rainfall.
Hurricane and Severe Wind Exposure
While Orlando sits roughly 60 miles from either coast, the region is not insulated from hurricane impacts. Hurricanes Charley (2004) and Irma (2017) both caused significant wind and flooding damage across Orange and Osceola counties. Our planting specifications prioritize wind-resistant species and appropriate canopy management, and our hardscape details account for wind-uplift on site structures.
City of Orlando and Orange County Tree Canopy Requirements
The City of Orlando administers a tree protection ordinance that requires permits for the removal of trees above certain size thresholds and mandates mitigation for protected tree removal. Orange County has its own landscape and tree ordinance requirements for unincorporated development. Together, these ordinances mean that tree disposition planning is a standard and substantive component of the development permit package for most Orlando-area projects—not a checkbox exercise.
Landscape Architecture Services in Orlando, FL
Evergreen Design Group provides a complete scope of landscape architecture and related design services for development projects throughout Orlando and Central Florida. We function as a single-source partner—one firm accountable for the full landscape scope, from initial land planning through permit-ready construction documents.
We analyze site topography, drainage patterns, wetland boundaries, soil conditions, regulatory setbacks, canopy requirements, and adjacent land use to develop land plans that support your project’s development strategy and move efficiently through City of Orlando, Orange County, and SJRWMD review processes. For larger master-planned communities or phased projects, our land planning work establishes the spatial and regulatory framework that the full design team builds on.
City of Orlando and Orange County tree ordinance requirements make professionally prepared tree disposition plans a standard component of the development permit package for virtually any project that involves site clearing. We document existing trees, identify protected and specimen trees, establish canopy calculations, and develop preservation and mitigation strategies that satisfy applicable review authorities.
Our Central Florida planting plans are developed around species that perform in Orlando’s specific soil and climate conditions—natives and adapted varieties that tolerate sandy flatwoods substrate, seasonal drought, and the wind exposure that comes with Florida’s storm season. We coordinate directly with your civil engineer on grading, drainage, and stormwater infrastructure, and deliver construction documents at a level of detail that supports contractor bidding and field execution.
Our licensed irrigation designers develop complete, code-compliant irrigation systems calibrated to Central Florida’s seasonal rainfall patterns, SJRWMD water use permit conditions, and Orlando Utilities Commission or Orange County Utilities reclaimed water system requirements. Reclaimed water irrigation is standard practice across much of the Orlando metro, and designing systems that meet reclaimed water regulations, backflow prevention requirements, and zone-by-zone coverage standards is a routine component of our Orlando irrigation work.
From pedestrian plazas, pool decks, and trail systems to resort-quality amenity centers, recreation facilities, and entry features, our hardscape designs are specified for Central Florida’s climate and use conditions. For the multifamily, master-planned community, and hospitality segments that drive a significant portion of Orlando’s development pipeline, amenity design quality is a direct driver of project positioning and market performance.
Project Types We Support in Orlando and Central Florida
Master-Planned Communities and Residential Subdivisions — comprehensive land planning and landscape architecture coordination for large-scale communities in growth corridors including Lake Nona, Horizon West, Four Corners, Clermont, and St. Cloud
Multi-Family Residential — apartments, condominiums, and build-to-rent communities requiring amenity design, buffer planting, tree disposition, and irrigation across both urban infill and suburban greenfield sites
Hospitality and Resort Developments — hotel, resort, vacation ownership, and themed entertainment-adjacent projects where landscape character and outdoor amenity design are integral to the product experience
Mixed-Use and Urban Infill — projects in downtown Orlando, Baldwin Park, Mills 50, Thornton Park, and other urban nodes where landscape design must perform within constrained site conditions
Commercial Developments — retail, restaurant, office, medical, and entertainment projects requiring code-compliant landscape design addressing Orange County or City of Orlando standards
Active Adult and Senior Living Communities — accessible landscape design meeting both regulatory requirements and livability expectations; a growing segment in Central Florida’s expanding 55-plus market
Civic and Institutional Projects — schools, parks, municipal facilities, and government buildings in one of Florida’s fastest-growing regions
Industrial and Logistics Facilities — functional, low-maintenance landscape design for warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing sites in Orlando’s expanding industrial corridors near SR 528, SR 417, and the Florida Turnpike
Working with Evergreen Design Group on Orlando Projects
We know Central Florida’s development regulatory environment well—SJRWMD ERP permitting, City of Orlando Permitting Services, Orange County Development Engineering, and the distinct requirements of Osceola, Seminole, and Lake county review processes each have their own rhythm and expectations. Our team understands what reviewers look for and how to structure design documentation to support efficient approvals.
We work as a collaborative extension of your project team—coordinating directly with architects, civil engineers, and contractors, attending project meetings, responding to RFIs, and keeping landscape documentation moving at the pace your schedule requires. As a national firm licensed in 44 states, we can also support your development portfolio beyond Orlando and Florida as your projects expand geographically.
Frequently Asked Questions — Landscape Architecture in Orlando, FL
Yes. Florida Statute Chapter 481 requires that landscape plans for commercial, multifamily, and certain other project types be prepared and sealed by a Florida-licensed landscape architect. The City of Orlando’s Land Development Code and Orange County’s Landscape Ordinance both specify landscape standards for commercial and mixed-use development—including buffer widths, tree canopy requirements, planting minimums, and irrigation standards.
The SJRWMD administers the Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) program for most development projects in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Lake counties. Projects that exceed certain impervious surface thresholds, impact jurisdictional wetlands, or require stormwater management infrastructure typically require an ERP from SJRWMD before local permits can be issued. The landscape architect’s role includes stormwater pond littoral zone planting design, wetland buffer planting specifications, and ensuring that landscape design doesn’t conflict with stormwater infrastructure function and maintenance access.
Central Florida’s flatwoods soils are sandy, rapidly draining, and low in organic matter and nutrients. Sandy soils drain quickly during irrigation cycles, which means irrigation systems need to be designed with appropriate application rates, cycle-and-soak programming, and zone-by-zone coverage calibrated to actual soil infiltration rates. Species selection also plays a significant role—plants that perform well in sandy, low-fertility conditions without excessive supplemental fertilization are preferred for both long-term plant health and compliance with Florida’s fertilizer ordinances.
Yes. The International Drive corridor, Lake Buena Vista, Kissimmee, and the broader I-4 corridor represent a substantial segment of Central Florida’s development activity. Landscape architecture for hospitality and resort projects in this market has distinct requirements—tropical character plant material, high-performance amenity design, durable hardscape specifications for heavy foot traffic, and coordination with themed design teams or branded hospitality standards.
In addition to the City of Orlando and Orange County, we regularly work on projects throughout Osceola County (including Kissimmee and St. Cloud), Seminole County (including Sanford and Lake Mary), Lake County (including Clermont and Minneola), and Polk County (including Lakeland and Winter Haven). We serve the full Central Florida development market.
Let’s Talk About Your Orlando Project
If you’re working on a development project in Orlando or Central Florida and need a landscape architect with regional knowledge, Florida licensure, and the capacity to deliver at any project scale, we’d like to hear about it.
Contact Us— or call us directly at (800) 680-6630.
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