Stamped drawings that pass permit review.
Every construction document set we produce is stamped and sealed by a registered Vermont landscape architect. Accepted by every Chittenden County municipality for grading, stormwater, and shoreline projects.
— Why permit review stalls projects
Unstamped drawings stop at the building department.
Most landscape designs are unstamped — meaning they cannot be used for any permit involving grading, drainage, wetland buffers, or structural work. The result: build-season delays of 4–10 weeks while the project gets re-drawn or stamped retroactively.
Designer is not licensed.
Most landscape designers are not registered architects. Their drawings cannot legally be stamped — and most municipalities require a stamp for permits involving grading or drainage.
Drawings produced without permit review in mind.
Even when stamped, drawings that don’t follow the local code reviewer’s expected format add weeks of back-and-forth with the building department.
Wetland and shoreline buffer mistakes.
Most non-architect designers miss the 100-ft Lake Champlain shoreline buffer or 50-ft wetland setback. Permits get rejected; project waits a season.
Grading changes not properly documented.
Cut-and-fill calculations missing, drainage flow not shown, retaining wall over 4 ft without engineering — all common reasons for permit denial.
— Stamped drawings, by the numbers
— What’s included
A permit-ready package.
Every stamped drawing set we produce is built for permit review — not just for the contractor.
Title sheet with stamp
Project information, drawing index, stamp/seal/signature, code references.
Site plan (existing + proposed)
Existing conditions, proposed work, grade changes, distances from setbacks, wetland and shoreline buffers.
Grading + drainage plan
Existing vs. proposed contours, cut-fill calculations, drainage flow arrows, French drain detail.
Hardscape construction details
Wall sections, footing detail, retaining wall engineering (when over 4 ft).
Permit submission package
PDF + paper copies (when required), permit application, fee schedule, anticipated review timeline.
Code compliance memo
Plain-language summary of which sections of the local code apply and how the design complies.
Permit submission + tracking
We submit the permit, follow up with the reviewer, and respond to any RFIs as part of the design fee.
— How permit drawings move
Four steps. Eight to fourteen weeks.
Design + permit review typically runs 8–14 weeks total. Design phase is 4–8 weeks; permit review is typically 2–6 weeks depending on the municipality.
Site visit
Two-hour walk with the architect. We listen, you talk. We measure light, slope, drainage, and existing material. No PowerPoint.
Design
Hand-drawn schematic, then full construction documents. Material specs, sections, footing detail. Two reviews built in.
Quote
Fixed-price proposal, line-itemed by trade. You see the math. Change orders signed before any change happens.
Build
Our in-house crew, on site every working day. Weekly progress photos. Architect at every milestone. We don’t leave until punch list is empty.
— Recent stamped projects
Three recent permitted builds.
Lakefront master plan, 2½ acres.
Three terraced rooms stepping down to Lake Champlain. 240 ft of dry-laid stone wall, cedar pavilion, native pollinator beds.
Read project →
Seven-terrace hilltop garden.
Re-grading a north-facing slope into seven dry-stone-walled terraces of perennials, fruit trees, and a 60-foot meditation walk.
Read project →
1,400 sq ft contemporary courtyard.
Bluestone paving, cedar slat screening, a small reflecting pool, and three Japanese maples for autumn color.
Read project →Permit-ready construction documents
Includedin design fee
We don’t charge extra for the stamp — every construction document set we produce is sealed at no additional cost. Permit submission and reviewer back-and-forth is also included.
We have your existing drawings
$1.5K–$4Kreview + submit
If you have drawings from another designer that need stamping or permit submission help, we can review them and submit them on your behalf. Fee depends on scope.
— Stamped drawing questions
Permit and license questions.
When do I need stamped drawings?
Required for: any retaining wall over 4 ft, any grading change requiring a permit, work in shoreline or wetland buffers, structural pool/spa decks. Not required for simple patios under 1,000 sq ft or walls under 4 ft (though we still stamp them at no charge).
Can you stamp drawings from another designer?
Generally no — a registered architect can only stamp drawings she has reviewed in detail and agrees represent buildable, code-compliant work. We can review another designer’s drawings and produce a stamped revision based on them, but the fee for that approaches a full design fee.
Which municipalities accept your stamps?
All Chittenden County towns (Burlington, S. Burlington, Shelburne, Charlotte, Williston, Essex, Hinesburg, Jericho, Underhill, Richmond, Colchester, Winooski) and most surrounding counties. Vermont state permits (ANR, shoreline) also accept our stamps.
What if my permit gets denied?
We follow up with the reviewer, respond to comments, revise drawings, and re-submit at no charge for issues caused by our drawings. If the denial is for client-driven scope changes, revisions are billed.
How long does permit review take?
Varies by municipality. Burlington and South Burlington: 2–4 weeks for residential. Shelburne: 4–6 weeks. State shoreline permits: 6–12 weeks. We schedule design timelines accordingly.