[papercutter]

I have a client who's looking to open a small retail garden center in RI, and I'm working with him on the design. He's under the impression that any plans submitted to the town or state for landscape approval (the decorative/ screening stuff, not grading, drainage or site plans) are required to be stamped by an RLA. Does anyone have any experience with this? I don't think it'll impact the decision to work with me on this, but I'll want to spell it out in my proposal that finished plans will need stamped by a local LA.

Thanks!

Dave

[Inspired]

You could always submit the plans and see what happens. I didn't say that..... I've done that, though.



Bill

[BigD]

Every municipality is different, but things are usually spelled out somewhat clearly on their websites...it just takes a little bit of searching to find it.

[TrickyDick]

I'm in Rhode Island and while I haven't done a lot of commercial work I have never known the municipalities I work in to be much involved in approving planting designs. RI's laws are fairly restrictive as to what anyone other than an LA can legally do (though it's mostly ignored on residential work) but I haven't heard of restrictions on planting design. If there are my guess is that it varies by municipality and individual zoning district. I'd call the town directly.

Now that I'm thinking about it....we did do a large project at a private school last year and the designs were not done by an LA. The project managers did need planting plans for submittal but they were pretty clear that the submitted plans didn't have to match the installed landscape. They just needed "something" to submit.

[papercutter]

Thanks, Tricky. I'll work it out with my client. This whole thing just gripes me- here in VA, as long as the county plan reviewer agrees it'll work, anyone can put forth a design.