Marin and Sonoma County's Father and Son Landscape Team Since 1998
Two generations. One crew. Nearly three decades of building outdoor spaces throughout Marin and Sonoma County.
How Novara Became Marin and Sonoma's Trusted Landscape Builder
Novara Landscape and Construction started in 1998 with one truck, one crew, and one promise from Esteban Garcia. Every project would get the same care he would put into his own home.
Esteban came up through the trades the long way. He learned hardscape from masons who insisted on perfect base prep. He learned planting from old-school gardeners who knew which natives would actually live in Marin's clay soil. He learned drainage and grade work from job sites where shortcuts caused expensive failures within a few rainy seasons.
By the time Novara was founded, Esteban had a clear philosophy. Build the invisible parts to a higher standard than anyone could see. Then the visible parts will hold up for decades. That standard has not changed in twenty-eight years.
What Every Novara Landscape Client Gets
Every client gets the same crew, the same standards, and the same level of attention regardless of project size. A small backyard refresh and a multi-acre estate build run on the same systems and the same standards of work.
We design every project in 3D before construction starts. You see the finished property before any excavation happens. You approve the design. You know exactly what you are getting. No surprises after work begins.
The Father and Son Behind Every Novara Landscape Build
Novara is a true family operation. Esteban leads the crew. Steven leads design and project management. Together they make every Novara build happen.
Esteban Garcia
Founder and Lead BuilderEsteban founded Novara in 1998 and has been on every job site since. With nearly three decades of experience across Marin and Sonoma County, he leads the crew, manages construction, and walks every property before, during, and after each build.
His attention to base prep, drainage, and craftsmanship is what separates a Novara build from the rest. If a wall is leaning twenty years from now, Esteban wants to know about it. So far that call has not come.
Steven Garcia Ochoa
Co-Owner and Lead DesignerSteven grew up on Novara job sites, learned the trade from his father, and now leads the design side of the company. Every Novara project starts with Steven walking the property and translating client vision into a detailed 3D design.
Steven manages client communication from first consultation through final walkthrough, runs the project schedule, and pulls every permit. The 3D process he brought to Novara is why clients see their finished property before excavation begins.
Credentials Behind Every Novara Build in Marin and Sonoma
Working with a licensed, insured, and warrantied contractor protects you. Working with a contractor who has been at this for nearly thirty years protects your investment.
28+ Years
Building since 1998
C-27 #1134876
California Landscape Contractor
400+ Builds
Across Marin and Sonoma
2-Year Coverage
On every project
Fully Covered
Liability and workers comp
Two Counties
Marin and Sonoma
Why Marin and Sonoma Homeowners Choose Novara for Landscape Work
3D Design Before Construction
Every Novara project starts with a detailed 3D rendering of your finished property. You see the design, walk through it digitally, and approve every detail before excavation begins. No surprises. No costly mid-build changes.
Our Own Crew on Every Job
No outside subcontractors you have not met. The same crew that built our flagship Belvedere Estate is the crew on your project. Continuity matters.
Built for the Invisible Parts
Most landscape failures happen in the layers no one sees. Base prep. Drainage. Foundations. We engineer those systems for the specific clay soil, slope, and rainfall of Marin and Sonoma County, not generic specs.
One Team, Every Trade
Hardscape, softscape, irrigation, lighting, drainage, permits all handled in-house. You manage one relationship instead of coordinating five.
Two-Year Workmanship Warranty
Every project comes with a two-year workmanship warranty. If something we built fails for reasons not caused by extreme weather or owner alteration, we come back and fix it.
Locally Rooted Landscape Work Across Marin and Sonoma
Twenty-eight years in this region means twenty-eight years of learning what works here. The coastal fog. Marin's clay soil. Sonoma's vineyard properties. The microclimates that change block to block. The permitting offices and inspectors. The local nurseries. The trusted suppliers.
That regional knowledge is something a contractor coming in from outside cannot replicate in a year, or five. It is the difference between a contractor doing a job in your neighborhood and a contractor who knows your neighborhood.
Real Reviews from Marin and Sonoma County Homeowners
Every Mill Valley project we build comes with a story. Here is what our clients say in their own words.
Common Questions About Novara Landscape Builds
How long has Novara been working in Marin and Sonoma County?
Novara has been building landscapes throughout Marin and Sonoma County since 1998. Esteban Garcia founded the company that year and has been on every job site since. His son Steven joined the company and now leads design and project management.
Is Novara licensed and insured?
Yes. We hold California C-27 Landscape Contractor License #1134876, required for any landscape construction, retaining walls, hardscape, irrigation, and grading work. We also carry full general liability and workers compensation insurance. Certificates of insurance are available on request before any project begins.
Do you handle the entire project in-house or use subcontractors?
We handle every trade in-house including hardscape, softscape, irrigation, lighting, drainage, and permits. The same crew works on every project from start to finish. You manage one relationship instead of coordinating five different contractors.
What kinds of properties does Novara work on?
Everything from small residential refreshes to multi-acre estate builds. Our flagship Belvedere Estate project shows the scale we can handle on the high end. Most of our work is residential including Marin homes, vineyard estates, and Sonoma craftsman properties. Same crew, same standards, every project.
How does the 3D design process work?
After our initial site visit, we build a full 3D rendering of your finished property covering every transition, every plant, every hardscape detail. You walk through the design digitally and approve every element before excavation starts. See our full process here. The 3D phase is what eliminates surprises and costly mid-build changes.
What does the Novara warranty cover?
Every project comes with a two-year workmanship warranty covering structural integrity, drainage performance, and base settlement. Manufacturer warranties on materials transfer separately. If something we built fails within those two years for reasons not caused by extreme weather, tree root damage, or owner alterations, we come back and fix it at no cost.
Where does Novara work?
We serve all of Marin County and Sonoma County. See our full service area here including Mill Valley, Tiburon, Belvedere, Sausalito, San Rafael, Petaluma, Sonoma, Healdsburg, and every city in between.
How do I get started with Novara?
Call us at (707) 494-8197 or request a free consultation here. We schedule a site visit at your property, walk the space together, and follow up with a 3D design preview and written estimate within two weeks.