Lawn & Outdoor
Book an independent local Pro for mowing, yard cleanup, landscaping, snow removal and fence or deck repairs.
Subcategories
Lawn Care
Mowing, edging and routine lawn maintenance for your yard. Book an independent local Pro, compare profiles and availability, and book online.
Snow Removal
Clear snow from driveways, walkways and entrances during winter storms. Book an independent local Pro, compare profiles and book online.
Yard Cleanup
Seasonal and routine yard cleanup: leaves, weeds and other yard debris. Book an independent local Pro and compare profiles online.
Landscaping & Garden
Planting, mulching, garden work, and shrub and hedge trimming for your yard. Book an independent local Pro and compare profiles online.
Fence & Deck
Minor repairs and upkeep for fences and decks, from loose boards to broken gates. Book an independent local Pro and compare profiles online.
What lawn and outdoor work covers
Outdoor work follows the seasons:
- Spring to fall: lawn mowing and lawn care on a schedule, and landscaping and garden work such as new beds, fresh mulch or hedges that have got away from you.
- Fall: yard cleanup and leaf removal once most leaves are down. Fall runs on different clocks across the region: on average the first frost comes around October 14 at Dulles, which reflects western Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William, and around November 6 at Reagan National, which reflects Arlington and Alexandria (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).
- Winter: snow removal for driveways, walks and steps. Arrange it before the season, not once a storm is forecast.
- Any time: fence and deck repair for a sagging gate, a loose rail or a soft deck board.
Fence and deck work: licenses and digging
In Virginia, a construction, repair or improvement job worth more than $1,000 needs a DPOR contractor license (Va. Code § 54.1-1100, as of September 2026). Look the Pro up for free on DPOR's License Lookup. On One Stop Pros, that check is the customer's to make.
Replacing a fence post, setting a new one or planting a shrub all mean digging. Virginia requires anyone digging, homeowners included and even by hand, to contact Virginia 811 at least three working days first. It's free. Private lines, such as the water pipe from your meter to the house or an invisible pet fence, aren't marked, so show the Pro where they run.
How to prepare
- Mark sprinkler heads, landscape lights and anything else in the lawn that a mower could hit.
- Unlock gates, and keep pets inside while the Pro works.
- Say whether yard waste should be bagged for your curbside pickup or hauled away.
- Before the first snow, mark the edges of the driveway and anything a shovel or plow could catch.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends where you live. Arlington requires owners to clear the sidewalk next to their property within 24 hours after the snow stops (36 hours for 6 inches or more), and Alexandria allows 24 to 72 hours depending on the storm level. Fairfax County has no ordinance and only asks residents to help, though some HOAs require it (county and city snow pages, as of September 2026).
No. A Pro who adds fence and deck work to their profile confirms they will take on only work they are legally authorized to do, and One Stop Pros records that statement without checking or certifying the license. Look the Pro up on DPOR's License Lookup, and ask for proof of insurance, before you book.
A new deck generally needs a building permit in Virginia; Prince William, for example, requires one for any deck whose floor is 16.5 inches or more above the ground. For repairs, it depends on the work and your county, so check with the building department before work starts (as of September 2026).
Most fences don't need a building permit in Virginia, but pool barriers do, and zoning limits the height: in Fairfax County, 4 feet in a front yard and 7 feet at the side and rear. Arlington has its own fence permit, so check with your county before you build (as of September 2026).