Landscaping in Montgomery County, PA: earth moving, runoff and soil tests
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
What should Montgomery County homeowners know before hiring a landscaper?
Montgomery is a county of houses with yards: the Census Bureau counts 350,351 housing units, 73.1 percent of them single-family houses, detached or attached, and 71.4 percent of occupied homes are lived in by their owners. Two county bodies are useful before any project bigger than routine mowing. The Montgomery County Conservation District reviews erosion plans for the state, and the Penn State Extension office tests soil. Both are in Collegeville.
When does a yard project need an erosion plan or permit?
The conservation district publishes a plain table that answers this by the size of the disturbed area.
| Area of earth disturbed | Written erosion plan | District review | Construction stormwater permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 5,000 sq. ft. | Not required, except in High Quality or Exceptional Value watersheds or under another permit | Only if a local rule requires it | No |
| 5,000 sq. ft. to under 1 acre | Yes | Only if a local rule requires it | No |
| 1 acre or more | Yes | Required | Yes |
The district adds that municipal ordinances, county requirements or other state permits may require its review even where the state rule does not, so the township or borough is the place to ask first. Under the state's rules, erosion controls are required on every earth disturbance, including the smallest. A written plan for a project of 5,000 square feet or more must be prepared by someone trained in erosion control, and kept on site.
The district reviews plans and inspects sites under a delegation agreement with the state Department of Environmental Protection, and its staff are assigned by municipality. Since November 12, 2025 it has accepted applications electronically only, with payment online. It is at 143 Level Road, Collegeville, phone 610.489.4506.
What does the district tell homeowners about runoff?
That it is the main problem. On its rain gardens and barrels page, the district calls stormwater runoff pollution the greatest challenge to water resources, and lists what runoff carries to streams: fertilizer, household chemicals, petroleum products, road salt and sediment among them. It describes two remedies a homeowner can use. A rain barrel collects water from a downspout for garden use. A rain garden is a shallow, planted depression that catches runoff from a downspout or driveway and lets it soak in slowly. The same page links homeowner material on no-mow zones, basic lawn care, native plants, tree and shrub planting and porous pavers.
For a landscaper's proposal, that means two questions. Where will water from new paving or a regraded slope go? And would a rain garden or porous surface do the job better than a pipe to the street?
How do you get a soil test in Montgomery County?
Through the Penn State Extension office at 1015 Bridge Rd., Suite H, Collegeville, phone 610-489-4315, which sells kits in person and will mail one on request. The Montgomery County Master Gardeners explain what the Penn State soil test does: it measures pH, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium and makes lime, fertilizer and nitrogen recommendations. It does not test for pesticide residue, oil or other pollutants.
Their sampling advice for a lawn is to criss-cross the area, sample 12 to 15 spots 3 to 4 inches deep, discard stones, sod and thatch, and dry the soil, without heating it, before mailing. Results take about 7 to 10 days. The Master Gardeners point out that a soil test often saves money by showing that the soil already holds enough nutrients, and the office runs a Horticulture Hotline for questions about the results.
The state's Department of Agriculture suggests asking any lawn care company whether it tests the soil before deciding what your lawn needs. In Montgomery County a homeowner can run the same test and compare.
How do you check a contractor in the county?
For patios, retaining walls, walkways and drainage, the Attorney General says landscapers must register as home improvement contractors. The state's contractor search can be filtered to Montgomery County. The registration number, PA followed by digits, belongs on the estimate. For a contract over $500, the state requires it in writing with the price, dates and your right to cancel.
For the rules that apply to each kind of landscaping work, see what Pennsylvania requires. Businesses serving the county are on the Montgomery County landscapers page.
Sources
- 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
- 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau
- Chapter 102/NPDES, Montgomery County Conservation District
- Rain Gardens and Barrels, Montgomery County Conservation District
- 25 Pa. Code § 102.4. Erosion and sediment control requirements., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
- Soil Testing (Montgomery County Master Gardeners), Penn State Extension
- Homeowners and Applicators, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
- Home Improvement Contractor Search, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
- Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General