Landscape Design-Build in San Tan Valley, AZ
Arizona's newest town — we sort out Town vs. County permits.
Out in San Tan Valley, the nights are darker and the mountains are closer. You can watch the sun drop behind the San Tans from your back patio, then see the stars come out an hour later. The house is great. The backyard is still dirt. Picture a paver patio with a fire pit facing the ridgeline, soft lighting that doesn't wash out the sky, and a waterfall you can hear from the kitchen window.
Fernweh Outdoor is a landscape design-build company based in Gilbert, at 2536 E Harrison Ct, a short drive north of San Tan Valley. Owner JR Ramirez is a second-generation landscape contractor with 15 years in the field. We design and build complete landscapes in San Tan Valley: paver and travertine patios, artificial turf, irrigation, outdoor kitchens, shade structures, fire features, lighting, retaining walls, and our signature pondless waterfalls. Every project starts with a site survey and a design you see before we build.
Building in San Tan Valley: what’s different here
San Tan Valley grew from open desert to nearly 100,000 residents by 2020, and voters approved incorporating it as a town in 2025. It sits in Pinal County at about 1,493 feet, bordered by San Tan Mountain Regional Park on the west. That combination of fast growth, mountain edges and a brand-new town government shapes landscape projects here.
Newer homes and blank backyards
Most San Tan Valley homes are recent builds in master-planned communities like Johnson Ranch, Copper Basin and San Tan Heights. Many homeowners start with a bare backyard, which is the best time to design the whole space at once, with irrigation, gas and electrical planned before any hardscape goes in.
Acreage and mountain-edge lots
San Tan Valley also has larger rural-residential lots with room for horses, gardens and outbuildings, and communities like San Tan Heights sit right against the San Tan Mountains. More space and more terrain mean more options: long pondless streams, fire pit areas framed by the view, and retaining walls and terracing where the ground slopes.
Dark skies and lighting
Part of what people love about San Tan Valley is the dark night sky. Good landscape lighting fits right in when it's done correctly: fixtures aimed down and at the features you want to see, not up into the sky or into your eyes. That's how we design lighting anyway, and out here it matters more.
Permits: Town or County?
Because the Town of San Tan Valley is new, permitting is still in transition. The Town has launched a permit portal for properties within town limits, but many building permits and zoning services are still handled by Pinal County. We'll confirm which jurisdiction covers your address and pull the permits our work requires, including gas lines through our licensed plumber and electrical through a licensed electrician.
Water providers
San Tan Valley doesn't have a single water utility. EPCOR serves much of the area through its San Tan water district, and the Town of Queen Creek's utility serves parts of north and east San Tan Valley. EPCOR offers customers leak detection help, usage monitoring, self-audit kits and landscape watering guides. Conservation incentives depend on your provider and address, so we'll help you check before planning around one. Note that Queen Creek's grass conversion incentive is for homes within Queen Creek town limits.
Heat and monsoons
July highs in San Tan Valley average about 104 degrees, and summer monsoon storms can move a lot of water quickly across newer, graded lots. Every design includes shade, heat-tolerant materials, and bases and grading built to drain.
What we build in San Tan Valley
- 3D Landscape Design. A professional survey of your lot, including elevations on sloped and mountain-edge properties.
- Paver Patios, Walkways and Driveways. Belgard and Phoenix Pavers on a compacted base built to stay flat through monsoon season, with a 10-year workmanship warranty.
- Travertine and Natural Stone. Flagstone patios and steppers that suit the desert setting, and travertine pool decks with bullnose coping.
- Artificial Turf. Turf Hub products on a base that drains, for families and pets.
- Irrigation Systems. Drip and lawn irrigation with pressure regulation and Wi-Fi controllers, installed right from the start in a new yard.
- Water Features. Pondless waterfalls and streams, our signature work, with room to run on bigger lots.
- Ponds. Aquascape-built ponds and water gardens, 24 inches deep for water gardens and 30 inches or more for fish.
- Outdoor Kitchens. Blaze appliances as standard and permitted gas lines, starting at $9,995.
- Shade Structures. Alumawood pergolas and insulated patio covers, engineered and permitted.
- Fire Pits and Fire Tables. Natural gas, propane or wood-burning, placed to face the mountain views.
- Landscape Lighting. FX Luminaire and WAC fixtures aimed to light your landscape without washing out the night sky.
- Retaining Walls. Belgard and block walls up to 4 feet for terracing and grade changes.
Prefer a set scope and price? See our landscape and water feature packages.
San Tan Valley neighborhoods we serve
We work throughout San Tan Valley, including Johnson Ranch, Copper Basin, San Tan Heights, Pecan Creek South, Archer Meadows and Skyline Ranch, as well as acreage properties across the area.
San Tan Valley landscaping FAQs
Does my project need a permit from the Town of San Tan Valley or Pinal County?
It depends on your address and the project. The new Town handles some permits for properties inside town limits, while many building permits are still handled by Pinal County during the transition. We confirm the right jurisdiction and pull the permits our work requires.
Are there water rebates in San Tan Valley?
It depends on your water provider. EPCOR and the Town of Queen Creek both serve parts of San Tan Valley and run their own conservation programs. We'll help you check what applies to your address before you plan around an incentive.
I have a new build with a dirt backyard. Where do I start?
With a full design. Planning the whole yard at once lets us run irrigation, gas and electrical once instead of cutting into finished work later. The consultation is free, and our 3D design is $279, credited toward your project.
Can you work with a sloped or mountain-edge lot?
Yes. We survey the grade first, then use retaining walls up to 4 feet, terracing and drainage to create level, usable space.
How much does a backyard cost in San Tan Valley?
It depends on lot size and what goes in. Outdoor kitchens start at $9,995, and our packages give set prices for common projects. Everything else is quoted after a site visit.
Our warranty
Paver installations carry a 10-year workmanship warranty. All other services carry a 3-year workmanship warranty, with manufacturer warranties on top.
Start your San Tan Valley project
We're local. We'll come out, survey your yard, talk through what you want and what your HOA allows, and show you your new landscape in 3D before we build.
Also serving nearby Queen Creek and Gilbert.
Ready to start your San Tan Valley project?
Free on-site consultation. Your 3D design ($279) comes after, credited toward your project.
Schedule a Consultation