Landscaping in Tappan, NY
Tappan has historic-district rules near the center and wooded lots along the Sparkill Creek. We match stone and fence styles to the older houses and handle the drainage that creek-side lots need.
Working in Tappan
Tappan is a hamlet of about 2.8 square miles in the Town of Orangetown, bordering Old Tappan, Northvale, and Rockleigh in New Jersey. It is one of the oldest settlements in Rockland: the DeWint House, built in 1700 and the county's oldest existing structure, is here, as is Mabie's Inn, now The Old 76 House. Parts of the hamlet are a designated historic area under the Orangetown code.
Sparkill Creek starts on Clausland Mountain, runs through Blauvelt and Orangeburg, and passes through Tappan on its way to the Hudson at Piermont. Orangetown's flood mitigation page shows water pouring over a wall on Oak Tree Road after Hurricane Irene and notes that the side street becomes a river every few years. Low yards near the creek hold water well after a storm.
Soil maps for Tappan show a lot of Udorthents, which is reworked fill, including a type with a wet substratum, along with sandy Hinckley and Riverhead soils and Haven loam. Fill changes from one spot to the next, so we dig test holes before we size a patio base or a drain. Older properties near the center also have fieldstone walls and mature trees that we plan around.
What we build in Tappan
Fieldstone wall rebuilt to match
A common Tappan call is an old fieldstone wall that has bowed or lost its top course. We take it down, save the original stone, add matching stone where needed, and rebuild it on a compacted footing with drainage stone behind it, at 4 feet or under.
Hardscape & LightingDrainage for low yards near the creek
Yards that slope toward Sparkill Creek stay soggy after the water goes down. We regrade to move water away from the house, run downspouts underground, and set drain outlets above the level where the yard floods, so the lawn dries out faster after each storm.
Drainage & ExcavationFence that fits the historic area
Fences near the old center have to suit the houses around them. We use wood picket or board styles on the street side and privacy fencing in the rear, keep front yard fences at 4 1/2 feet or less, and prepare the plans for the historic board when the project needs a permit.
Fencing & PrivacyBluestone patio behind an older house
Backyards behind Tappan's older homes are usually private and shaded. We build bluestone or paver patios with a stone fire pit or a fireplace, in materials that suit the house. Gas lines are run by a licensed plumber.
Outdoor Kitchens & LivingFall cleanups under mature trees
The big trees near the old center drop leaves for weeks. We do an early cleanup in late October and a final one once the trees are bare, piling the leaves on the lawn within the first 10 feet of the property where Orangetown's crews can reach them.
Seasonal & SpecialtyText a few photos of the area or send the form. We come out, walk it with you, and send a written scope and a fixed price.
Before you build in Tappan
Permits and rules in Tappan
Tappan is a hamlet of Orangetown, so permits go through the Orangetown Office of Building, Zoning, Planning, Administration and Enforcement at Town Hall, 26 Orangeburg Road. Orangetown requires a building permit for all fences and walls except fences of 6 feet or less on a one- or two-family lot, and its permit list includes retaining walls. Front yard fences and freestanding walls are limited to 4 1/2 feet, and nothing over 2 1/2 feet may stand in the 35 foot sight triangle on a corner lot.
Inside the Tappan historic area the review goes further. Any change to the exterior of a structure built before December 31, 1918 needs a building permit, and every building permit application in the historic area is decided by the Historical Areas Board of Review. The application needs detailed plans and specifications, and new work has to harmonize with the buildings around it. We prepare those plans as part of the job.
Orangetown permit applications need a survey or plot plan and the contractor's Rockland County license, workers' compensation, and disability information. We file under our Rockland County Home Improvement License, H-25-001. Any driveway or drain connection to a town road needs a written permit from the Superintendent of Highways.
When to schedule work in Tappan
Drainage and grading near Sparkill Creek go best from late spring into fall, after spring high water has dropped. Projects inside the historic area need time for board review, so we suggest starting the design in winter for a spring or summer build.
Orangetown's Fall Leaf Pick-Up Program began on November 3 in 2025. Leaves are vacuumed from piles on the lawn within the first 10 feet of the property, a final pickup comes after December 1, and after that leaves must be bagged. The town's Green Waste Removal Program resumes each spring with material in biodegradable paper bags, and the town does not pick up grass. We time Tappan cleanups to those dates.
All services in Tappan
Guides for Tappan homeowners
- Retaining wall permits and engineering. In most New York and New Jersey towns, a retaining wall over 4 feet needs an engineered design and a permit, and walls under that limit can still need one if they hold up a driveway or a slope.
- Regrading a yard to slope away from the house. When the ground next to a house is flat or tilts toward the foundation, rain runs to the wall and soaks in beside it.
- Yard drainage in Rockland County. Most wet yards in Rockland come down to clay soil, a bad grade, and roof water with nowhere to go.
- Hudson Valley seasonal yard checklist. The lower Hudson Valley gets hard winters, wet springs, and a long leaf season, and a yard that is checked at the right times avoids most of the expensive repairs.
Nearby
We also work in Sparkill, Orangeburg, Piermont, Blauvelt, Pearl River, West Nyack, Nyack, Nanuet, and across Rockland County.
Questions
Does the historic area affect my fence or wall?
If your property is inside it and the work needs a building permit, yes. The Historical Areas Board of Review decides those applications and looks for work that fits the surrounding buildings.
How do I know if my house is in the Tappan historic area?
The boundaries are drawn on maps kept in the Orangetown Town Clerk's office. We check your address before we design anything visible from the street.
Do I need a permit for a 6 foot backyard fence?
Under the Orangetown zoning code, a fence of 6 feet or less on a one- or two-family lot does not need a permit. Inside the historic area we confirm with the building department before we order material.
My yard floods from Sparkill Creek. Can drainage fix it?
Drainage cannot stop the creek from rising. It does clear the water that sits after the creek drops and handles runoff from your roof and lot, so the yard dries out sooner.
Can you rebuild an old fieldstone wall with the same stone?
Usually. We salvage the original stone, add matching stone where needed, and rebuild on a proper footing so the face looks the same and the wall stops leaning.
Do retaining walls need a permit in Tappan?
Yes, Orangetown lists retaining walls as permit work. We keep every wall at 4 feet or under and include the permit in our scope.
Can I use modern materials on an older property?
For structures built after 1918, the board is required to allow modern materials. Structures built before 1919 need alterations consistent with the original materials and design.
When does Orangetown pick up leaves?
The fall program starts in early November, with a final pickup after December 1. Leaves go in piles on the lawn within 10 feet of the road, never on the pavement.
Something to haul away first? See junk removal in Tappan.
Have a project in Tappan? Tell us about it.
Three quick steps. We call you back to set up a free on-site estimate, usually the same day.
- Call or text(845) 367-4123
- Emailgeneral@landtechenterprise.com
- Based inPomona, NY
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If it is urgent, call or text (845) 367-4123.