Fire-safe foothill landscapes, hillside retaining walls, and outdoor living, engineered for Highland’s 1,200 to 2,500+ foot terrain, Santa Ana winds, and San Bernardino National Forest proximity.
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Highland’s proximity to the San Bernardino National Forest makes fire-safe landscaping a requirement, not an option.
Highland neighborhoods above Base Line, including East Highland Ranch, Greenspot, and the properties along Highway 330 toward Running Springs, sit squarely in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). CAL FIRE classifies much of upper Highland as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. The 2003 Old Fire burned over 91,000 acres and destroyed 993 homes in the San Bernardino Mountains, including properties in the Highland foothills. The 2020 El Dorado Fire started near Yucaipa and burned toward Highland, forcing evacuations.
PRC 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in three zones. This is law, and CAL FIRE inspects Highland properties for compliance.
We design landscapes that meet CAL FIRE standards while preserving the mountain views that make Highland properties valuable:
Every Highland foothill project includes a defensible space plan as part of our free estimate.
East Valley Water District serves Highland and enforces permanent water-use restrictions: three watering days per week, no irrigation between 10 AM and 6 PM, and tiered pricing that punishes overuse. Every gallon you save by replacing lawn with artificial turf or drought-tolerant landscaping drops you into a lower tier.
EVWD does not offer a per-square-foot turf replacement rebate, but it does offer up to $200 for qualifying water-efficient landscaping, so confirm current terms with EVWD. Smart irrigation controller rebates are also available for Rachio, Hunter Hydrawise, and Rain Bird ESP-TM2 units. A typical 800 sq ft Highland lawn replacement with turf rebate saves $1,600–$2,400 upfront plus $40–$70/month in water bills permanently.
Monarch handles all rebate documentation: pre-project photos, water-use calculations, EVWD applications, and post-installation verification. We handle EVWD rebate paperwork for Highland homeowners.
Every service engineered for Highland’s foothill terrain, fire zones, and decomposed granite soils. Licensed C-27 contractor, CSLB #957605.
PRC 4291 defensible space design for Highland’s WUI zones. Three-zone approach with hardscape buffers, fire-resistant plantings, and fuel reduction.
Learn More →Multi-tier hillside wall systems with geogrid reinforcement. Engineered for Highland’s decomposed granite subgrade. All county permits included.
Learn More →EVWD rebate-qualifying installations. Wind-anchored edges for Santa Ana gusts, cooling infill for 100°F+ days. Eliminate lawn watering permanently.
Learn More →Alumawood insulated and non-insulated structures. Wind-rated for Highland foothill exposure. Building permit included. Mountain-view gable profiles.
Learn More →Reinforced slabs engineered for Highland’s sandy loam and DG soils. ACI 305R hot-weather curing for 100°F+ pour days. Stamped, broom-finish, exposed aggregate.
Learn More →Full-property designs for Highland’s USDA Zones 9b–10a. Fire-safe species, slope engineering, MWELO-compliant irrigation plans.
Learn More →Gas-burning fire features with Highland building permits. Wind guards for exposed foothill properties. Natural stone, concrete block, and steel bowl options.
Learn More →Smart drip and spray systems built for EVWD’s three-day schedule. Zone-based controllers, pressure regulation for hillside elevation changes.
Learn More →French drains, channel drains, and surface grading for Highland’s hillside lots. Critical behind retaining walls and on slopes where runoff channels toward structures.
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“Our hillside lot in East Highland Ranch was a mess. Erosion every winter, dead grass in summer, and a slope we couldn’t use. Monarch built a three-tier retaining wall system, installed artificial turf on the upper level, and designed fire-safe plantings throughout. The county permit process was seamless because Monarch handled all the engineering drawings. Now we have a usable backyard with mountain views instead of a dirt hillside.”
“We replaced our entire front yard, 900 square feet of dead bermuda, with drought-tolerant landscaping and a DG walkway. Monarch designed it to meet CAL FIRE defensible space requirements since we’re close to the national forest. They handled the East Valley Water District rebate paperwork and we got $2,700 back. Our water bill dropped from $160 to $85 a month. The Cleveland sage and manzanita look better than the lawn ever did.”
Every neighborhood in Highland has different elevation, soil, fire zone status, and slope conditions.
Upper foothill community with panoramic San Gorgonio and San Bernardino Mountain views. Elevation 1,800–2,500 feet. Soboba gravelly sandy loam transitioning to decomposed granite at 18–24 inches. Many properties border the San Bernardino National Forest, so CAL FIRE defensible space is mandatory. Steep lots require engineered retaining walls. Our most common projects here: hillside terracing, fire-safe plantings, and patio covers designed to frame mountain views.
Northeast Highland along Greenspot Road toward Mill Creek. Elevation 1,600–2,200 feet. Rural foothill character with larger lots, citrus remnants, and direct mountain exposure. Decomposed granite subsoil at shallow depth. Strong Santa Ana wind exposure through the mountain gap. Projects here focus on wind-resistant structures, hillside stabilization, and fire-safe native landscaping that suits the semi-rural aesthetic.
Mid-elevation residential area south of Base Line. Elevation 1,400–1,700 feet. Sandy loam soil with moderate drainage. Close enough to the WUI to warrant fire-conscious design on upper-street properties. Mix of 1980s–2000s homes with aging landscapes due for renovation. Popular projects: full backyard installs with turf, hardscape, and outdoor living structures.
Valley-floor neighborhood in western Highland, elevation ~1,200 feet. Deeper alluvial sandy loam deposited by City Creek over millennia. The best digging conditions in Highland. Flatter lots with established neighborhoods. USDA Zone 10a, warmer microclimate than the foothills. Ideal for full outdoor living builds: patios, turf, fire features, and concrete driveways without the hillside engineering costs.
Bordering Highland to the west along Del Rosa Drive. Elevation 1,500–2,000 feet. Foothill terrain similar to East Highland Ranch but within San Bernardino city limits. Properties on the Highland side share the same soil and fire zone conditions. Monarch works both sides of the Highland/San Bernardino border. Same crew, same engineering standards, same county permit process.
Core residential area along Base Line between Boulder and Church Avenues. Elevation 1,300–1,500 feet. Mix of older ranch homes and newer infill construction. Sandy loam soil, relatively flat terrain. Most affordable area for full landscaping projects since slope engineering costs are minimal. Popular projects: front yard drought-tolerant conversions, concrete driveways, and backyard patio installations.
Highland sits at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains, placing many neighborhoods in CAL FIRE’s Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. PRC 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in three zones: Zone 0 (0–5 feet) uses hardscape only, no combustible plants or mulch. Zone 1 (5–30 feet) gets irrigated, fire-resistant plantings like lavender, rosemary, red yucca, and California fuchsia spaced apart to break fire continuity. Zone 2 (30–100 feet) reduces fuel load with decomposed granite, native bunch grasses, and strategic rock placement. Monarch designs fire-safe landscapes that meet CAL FIRE standards while preserving the mountain views that make Highland properties valuable. Every foothill project includes a defensible space plan. Schedule yours free.
Highland’s elevation ranges from 1,200 feet in the valley to over 2,500 feet in the upper foothills. Properties in East Highland Ranch, Greenspot, and along Highway 330 sit on slopes of 15–30% grade with Soboba gravelly sandy loam transitioning to decomposed granite at depth. Without proper retaining wall service page, hillside soil erodes during winter storms and slides downhill, taking patios, fences, and plantings with it. San Bernardino County requires a building permit and engineered plans for any retaining wall over 4 feet tall. Monarch designs multi-tier wall systems using Versa-Lok or Allan Block segmental units with geogrid reinforcement, proper Drainage Solutions behind each tier, and footings engineered for Highland’s decomposed granite subgrade. We handle all PE-stamped drawings and county permits. See retaining wall costs →
Highland is served by East Valley Water District (EVWD), which enforces permanent water-use restrictions. Outdoor watering is limited to three days per week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for odd-numbered addresses; Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday for even-numbered addresses. No watering between 10 AM and 6 PM. EVWD does not offer a per-square-foot turf replacement rebate, but it does offer up to $200 for qualifying water-efficient landscaping such as a drought-tolerant conversion, so confirm current terms with EVWD. Smart controller rebates are also available. Monarch designs irrigation systems that comply with EVWD schedules and MWELO water budgets, using drip irrigation and smart controllers to maximize every drop. See turf cost guide →
Highland spans USDA Zones 9b to 10a, with lower elevations warmer than the upper foothills near the San Bernardino National Forest. The best plants combine drought tolerance, wind resistance, and fire safety. Trees: desert willow, California sycamore, coast live oak, Chinese pistache, and Chitalpa. All handle Highland’s heat, Santa Ana winds, and occasional freezes above 2,000 feet. Shrubs: Cleveland sage, ceanothus ‘Yankee Point,’ toyon, manzanita ‘Dr. Hurd,’ and dwarf bottlebrush. Groundcovers: Dymondia margaretae, creeping thyme, Myoporum ‘Putah Creek,’ and lantana. Avoid eucalyptus and Italian cypress near structures. Both are fire-prone. Monarch selects species matched to your specific elevation and exposure within Highland.
Highland is an unincorporated community governed by San Bernardino County Land Use Services. The county requires a building permit for any retaining wall over 4 feet tall measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall. Walls that retain a surcharge (driveway, structure, or slope above) may require permits at lower heights. All permitted walls need PE-stamped structural engineering drawings and a grading plan. The county also requires a grading permit for any cut or fill exceeding 50 cubic yards. For hillside properties in East Highland Ranch or Greenspot, most meaningful retaining wall projects trigger both building and grading permits. Monarch handles all engineering, applications, inspections, and county coordination as part of every Tiered retaining walls project.
Highland landscaping costs vary by project scope and hillside complexity. synthetic grass installation runs $6 to $9 per square foot installed, and rebates do not apply to synthetic turf. retaining wall page cost $75 to $90 per linear foot depending on material. Hillside projects with multi-tier walls and engineering run higher. Concrete Services patios and driveways cost about $7 to $15 per square foot. patio cover run $27 per square foot non-insulated and $35 per square foot insulated. Full backyard transformations in Highland typically run $25,000–$85,000 depending on slope work, walls, hardscape, turf, and structures. Monarch provides free on-site estimates with detailed line-item pricing. Request yours here.
Serving East Highland Ranch, Greenspot, Highland Hills, Highland Grove, Del Rosa, Central Highland & all foothill neighborhoods
Monarch serves homeowners across the Inland Empire. Explore landscaping services in your city.
Regional hub page for all Monarch IE services. Overview of our Inland Empire coverage area, service capabilities, and project portfolio across San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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Free on-site estimates for homes across Highland. We’ll assess your slope, check your fire zone, evaluate your soil, and give you an honest quote. No pressure, no obligation.
consultation pageOr call now: (760) 792-7627
