Home to the south metro's largest lake

Pavers in Prior Lake, MN

Lake-facing patios, steps down the slope and walls that hold the hillside, built with the water at the bottom of the yard in mind.

Get a Free Estimate (952) 800-9409

Free on-site estimates
Written, itemized quotes with base depth listed
Base built in compacted lifts, not dumped and leveled

Hardscape for Homes That Face the Water

Pavers in Prior Lake are often about one thing: getting from the house to the lake comfortably. Water covers about 15.8% of the city's area, and Prior Lake itself, split into the 810-acre Lower Prior Lake and the 354-acre Upper Prior Lake, is the largest lake in the southern metro. Spring Lake, 290 acres, reaches into the city's east side. Many lots slope toward one of them, so a patio here usually comes with steps, terraces or a retaining wall.

Shoreland rules come first

Minnesota has managed shoreland since 1969. Lakes are classified by size and sensitivity to development, and the DNR notes that minimum setbacks differ by classification, with local governments enforcing the rules through their own ordinances. On a lake lot that can affect how close a patio sits to the water, how much of the lot can be hard surface and how much grading is allowed. We look up your lot's requirements with the city before drawing anything, and we design the project to fit them rather than asking for exceptions.

Building on a slope

A flat patio on a sloped lot means either cutting into the hill, building it up, or both. Segmental retaining walls are the usual answer. On these jobs we pay attention to:

Footing and base: a compacted aggregate base under the first course, set level and partly buried
Drainage behind the wall: clean stone and a drain path so water does not build pressure behind the block
Terracing: two shorter walls with a planting bed between often fit a lake slope better than one tall wall, but terraced walls that are too close together can add load to the lower wall, so the spacing is engineered rather than guessed
Height and permits: taller walls usually need a building permit and engineered design, so we confirm the city's threshold before quoting

Steps and paths to the dock

A paver or wall-block stair down the hill is safer underfoot than a worn dirt path, and each landing can double as a spot for chairs. We keep rises consistent, build each tread on its own compacted base and pitch landings slightly so they shed water rather than freezing into ice sheets in spring.

Keeping runoff out of the lake

Every square foot of hard surface sends water downhill, and on a lake lot downhill means the lake. Two ways to soften that:

Permeable pavers. The Minnesota DNR describes them as letting rain pass through surface voids into a stone reservoir where it is stored and infiltrated, and lists patios and driveways among suitable uses.
Rain gardens or planting beds below the patio to catch what runs off.

The DNR also stresses keeping nearby soil and planting beds stabilized, because loose sediment clogs permeable joints.

What we build in Prior Lake

Lake-view paver patios and terraces
Retaining walls and terraced beds on sloped lots
Paver and block steps down to the shore
Driveways and front walks
Fire pits and seating walls facing the water
Releveling of patios that have shifted on fill

Talk it through on site

Lake lots are hard to price from a photo. Call (952) 800-9409 and we will walk the slope with you, take measurements and follow up with a written quote.

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Prior Lake Lots and Water

Two-part lake, 1,164 acres. Lower Prior Lake covers 810 acres and Upper Prior Lake 354 acres, linked by a navigable channel under Eagle Creek Avenue. Together they form the largest lake in the southern metro.
Water is a big share of the city. Of Prior Lake's 19.53 square miles, about 3.25 square miles, or 15.77%, is water. Spring Lake, 290 acres, sits several feet higher and drains north into Upper Prior Lake.
Shoreland rules since 1969. Minnesota's shoreland program dates to 1969. Waterbodies are classified by size and sensitivity, setbacks and lot sizes vary by class, and local governments administer the rules through ordinances.
Owners who stay put. About 86.2% of Prior Lake homes are owner-occupied, households average 2.79 people, and 91.0% of residents lived in the same house a year earlier (Census, 2020 to 2024).
An old south metro town. Prior Lake was founded in 1872, incorporated as a village in 1891 and as a city in 1921, making it one of the oldest cities in the south metro. The 2020 Census counted 27,617 residents.

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Prior Lake Questions

Can I build a patio near the water on my Prior Lake lot?

Often, yes, but shoreland setbacks and limits on hard surface apply, and they depend on the lake's classification. We check your lot's requirements with the city before designing, so the patio is placed where it can be approved.

Do I need an engineer for a retaining wall on a lake slope?

Taller walls usually require a building permit and an engineered design, and terraced walls can add load to each other. We confirm the city's height threshold and bring in engineering when a wall needs it.

Will permeable pavers keep runoff out of the lake?

They let rain soak into a stone reservoir instead of running downhill, which reduces runoff from the patio itself. They need their joints vacuumed periodically and should not have loose soil washing onto them.

How long does a lakeside patio project take?

It depends on access and slope. Lake lots often need smaller equipment and more hand work, especially for steps and walls near the shore. We give you a schedule along with the written quote.

Free Estimates in Prior Lake, MN

Free on-site estimates for Prior Lake lake lots and hillside patios.

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