Topo d'Oro Landscape Design
(847) 387-9509
City Lots & Rooftops

Landscape Design & Build on Chicago's North Side

Call (847) 387-9509Request a Design Consultation
Landscape design and build project by Topo d'Oro in Chicago, Illinois

Chicago work is a different discipline from suburban work. The residential fabric is platted narrow and deep, which makes a North Side project a courtyard, rooftop, terrace and side-yard problem rather than a lawn problem. Topo d'Oro designs and builds across the North Side lakefront neighborhoods — Lincoln Park, Lake View, Edgewater, Uptown and the Gold Coast — with rooftop and terrace work as a specialty. We carry the Certificate of Liability Insurance the City requires for tree work, naming the City of Chicago as additional insured at a minimum of one million dollars general liability per occurrence.

Services

What we build in Chicago

  • Landscape Design

    Custom landscape design for Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka and Chicago's North Shore. AutoCAD site plans, 3D renderings, planting design and full build documentation.

  • Hardscaping

    Natural stone patios, walkways, driveways, retaining walls and stone fireplaces built for Chicago freeze-thaw. Serving Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka and Chicagoland.

  • Decks & Pergolas

    Custom cedar and ipe decks, pergolas, railings, fences and privacy screens built in-house. Iron and woodwork for Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka and Chicagoland.

  • Outdoor Living

    Custom outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, fire pits and rooftop terraces designed and built for Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka and Chicago's North Shore.

  • Lighting & Water

    Low-voltage LED landscape lighting, color-changing systems, fountains and ponds designed and installed for Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka and Chicago's North Shore.

  • Artificial Turf

    Professional artificial turf installation for lawns, pet areas, putting greens and rooftops in Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka and Chicagoland. Built on a drained base.

  • Commercial Landscaping

    Commercial and association landscaping across Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka and Chicago's North Shore. Grounds care, hardscape restoration, drainage and entrance work for property managers and condo boards. Call (847) 387-9509.

  • Snow & Ice Management

    Snow plowing, sidewalk clearing and ice management for residential and commercial property across Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka and Chicago's North Shore. Seasonal contracts. Call (847) 387-9509.

Narrow and deep, and what that forces

A Chicago residential lot is long and thin, hemmed by neighbors on both sides, and usually terminated by a garage. That geometry rules out the suburban approach entirely and rewards a different one: the yard becomes a sequence of rooms rather than a single space, vertical surfaces do the work that horizontal ones do in a suburb, and the roof becomes the most valuable unbuilt real estate on the property.

The zoning code caps what can occupy the back of the lot. The combination of all accessory buildings may not occupy more than 60 percent of the area of a required rear setback, and no accessory building or structure located in a required rear setback — other than a coach house — may exceed 15 feet in height. Those numbers set the outer bound on garage-adjacent structures and pergolas, so they belong at the front of the design conversation.

Rooftop and garage-top decks

On a city lot the roof is where the space is. Rooftop and garage-top decks require structural review, correct waterproofing and drainage detail, weight-conscious material selection and a realistic plan for getting materials up — none of which is optional and all of which is the difference between a deck and a leak.

We build rooftop decks, terraces, planters, screening, pergolas and lighting as one integrated assembly, with drainage-layer construction that protects the membrane underneath. Rooftop artificial turf and lightweight planter systems make the difference between a usable roof and a hot empty platform.

Landmark districts and the permit reality

Chicago's North Side is dense with designated districts. Astor Street was designated a Chicago Landmark on December 19, 1975, covering the 1200 to 1600 blocks and cross streets with buildings from 1880 to 1940. Alta Vista Terrace is a single block of forty rowhouses built in 1904 by Samuel Gross in twenty different exterior styles, each house built to match the one diagonally opposite — it is both an NRHP listing and a Chicago Landmark district. Lakewood Balmoral covers 63 acres with roughly 490 contributing buildings in Queen Anne and Shingle Style, and Edgewater Glen holds over 400 contributing structures, mostly single-family homes built between 1900 and 1928 and predominantly American Foursquare.

The Historic Preservation Division reviews all permit applications for work involving designated and proposed Chicago landmarks and landmark districts, with new infill construction, additions and demolitions going to the Commission on Chicago Landmarks at a public meeting. Whether a specific fence, drive, deck or garden wall triggers review is a question to ask the City before design commits, and that is what we do.

Tree work, insurance and the paperwork that keeps a project moving

The Bureau of Forestry issues permits for any work involving trees, and the permit request requires specifying whether the work occurs on public or private property. Standard requests need a minimum of 24 hours' notice; removal requests need ten business days. Any landscaping company or contractor must provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance naming the City of Chicago as additional insured, with a minimum of one million dollars general liability per occurrence, and a copy of the permit must remain in the vehicle at all times.

That is not red tape for its own sake — it is the reason a properly credentialed contractor can work on your block and an uninsured one cannot. The City also publishes Standard Tree Protection Instructions, which we build into the drawing set.

Local detail

Local conditions and village requirements

Accessory structure limits
Under zoning ordinance 17-9-0200, all accessory buildings combined may not occupy more than 60 percent of a required rear setback, and no accessory building or structure in a required rear setback — other than a coach house — may exceed 15 feet in height.
Bureau of Forestry permits
Required for any work involving trees, specifying public or private property. Minimum 24 hours' notice for standard requests, ten business days for removals.
Contractor insurance requirement
A Certificate of Liability Insurance naming the City of Chicago as additional insured, minimum one million dollars general liability per occurrence. A copy of the permit must remain in the vehicle at all times.
Landmark permit review
The Historic Preservation Division reviews all permit applications for work involving designated and proposed Chicago landmarks and landmark districts. Infill construction, additions and demolitions go to the Commission on Chicago Landmarks at a public meeting.
Rooftop and terrace specialty
City lots push usable space upward. Rooftop work requires structural review, waterproofing and drainage detail, and weight-conscious material selection.
Where we work

Neighborhoods and areas we serve

  • Lincoln Park
  • Old Town Triangle
  • Sheffield
  • Wrightwood Neighbors
  • Park West
  • Mid-North
  • Lake View
  • Alta Vista Terrace
  • Edgewater
  • Andersonville
  • Edgewater Glen
  • Lakewood Balmoral
  • Uptown
  • Sheridan Park
  • Gold Coast
  • Astor Street
Questions

Frequently asked in Chicago

Can you build a rooftop deck on my Chicago two-flat or garage?

Yes — it is one of the things we specialize in. It requires structural review, correct waterproofing and drainage detailing, weight-conscious material selection and a plan for material access. It is a different scope than a backyard deck and we price and schedule it as one.

How big can a structure be in my back yard?

Under the zoning ordinance, all accessory buildings combined may not occupy more than 60 percent of the area of a required rear setback, and no accessory building or structure in a required rear setback — other than a coach house — may exceed 15 feet in height. That sets the outer bound; the right size is usually well inside it.

Do I need a permit for tree work in Chicago?

The Bureau of Forestry issues permits for any work involving trees, and the application specifies whether the work is on public or private property. Standard requests need at least 24 hours' notice and removals need ten business days. Contractors must carry a Certificate of Liability Insurance naming the City as additional insured at a minimum of one million dollars per occurrence, and keep a copy of the permit in the vehicle.

My building is in a landmark district. Does that affect the yard?

It can. The Historic Preservation Division reviews all permit applications for work involving designated and proposed Chicago landmarks and landmark districts, and infill construction, additions and demolitions go to the Commission at a public meeting. Whether a specific site element triggers review is worth confirming before the design commits, and the City encourages pre-permit guidance.

What works in a narrow city yard?

Rooms rather than one space. Built-in seating instead of stored furniture, vertical screening and green walls instead of horizontal lawn, a compact water or fire feature as a focal point, artificial turf in the deep-shade section, and a lighting plan that does most of the heavy lifting after dark. On a narrow lot, precision beats ambition.

Do you work south or west of the North Side?

Our core area is the North Side lakefront neighborhoods and the North Shore suburbs. We will tell you honestly if a project falls outside where we can staff it well rather than taking it and stretching.

Nearby communities

We also work in

  • Lincolnwood

    Landscape design, hardscaping, decks, outdoor living and lighting in Lincolnwood, IL — built for tight city-edge lots, combined sewers and the Village's stormwater and grading rules.

  • Evanston

    Landscape design, hardscaping, outdoor living and lighting in Evanston, IL. Local studio at 1329 Dodge Ave, working within Evanston's tree canopy and historic district rules.

  • Skokie

    Landscape design, hardscaping, decks, outdoor living, lighting and turf in Skokie, IL — built for bungalow lots, postwar yards and heavy clay drainage.

  • Wilmette

    Landscape design, hardscaping, decks, outdoor living and lighting for Wilmette, IL — from Indian Hill Estates to the lakefront and the postwar streets west of Ridge.

Begin your golden sanctuary.

Tell us about the property and how you want to use it. We will walk the site, scope the work and put it in writing.

Call (847) 387-9509Request a Design Consultation