Applications Close In:
Micah Dennis, the designer behind more than 4,500 residential projects and the Backyard Design Guy YouTube channel, is selecting one homeowner to receive a custom 3D backyard design valued at $5,000.
Professional design services are included. Construction and implementation costs are not included in the Grand Prize.
Applications close October 11, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
No purchase necessary. Entry is free.
Micah has spent more than 30 years designing and building outdoor living spaces. Across more than 4,500 residential projects, he has learned how to turn disconnected ideas into one cohesive plan for the entire backyard.
Micah and his design team work remotely with eligible homeowners across the United States. His design walkthroughs, project transformations, and planning advice have also built one of the most popular outdoor-living channels on YouTube, with nearly 190,000 subscribers and more than 34 million views.
These reviews come from homeowners who worked with Micah and his team to turn their ideas into cohesive backyard designs.
“We didn’t even make one change to the design because the designer completely captured our style and the elements we were looking for. We didn’t know where to begin but knew things we liked and she brought it all together into a comprehensive design. It was stunning and we are building to it now.”
“I had an idea of what I wanted, but wasn’t sure on how to get it accomplished. Micah suggested getting a design, and took the time to really understand what I was looking for. The design came back better than I could have ever imagined. They seemed to know exactly what I was wanting while staying within my budget.”
“Micah and his team are the elite outdoor living space designers working world wide to improve people’s quality of life. I can’t express enough how happy we are with their services!”
A professional backyard design helps you see how the entire property can work together before construction begins. It gives you a clearer way to make decisions, compare bids, communicate with contractors, and avoid treating pools, patios, kitchens, fire features, landscaping, and gathering areas as disconnected projects.
- See the entire space before construction begins.
- Bring separate ideas together into one cohesive plan.
- Make layout and material decisions earlier in the process.
- Give contractors a clearer vision to review and price.
- Identify potential conflicts while changes can still be made on the plan.
One Backyard. One Complete 3D Design.
The grand-prize winner will work with Micah and his professional design team to create a cohesive plan for the entire backyard, not just a collection of disconnected features.
You’ll go through the same design process Micah’s paying clients experience, built around your property, your priorities, and the way your family wants to use the space.
The Grand Prize Includes
- A personal design-discovery session with Micah and his team
- A whole-yard plan based on your property, priorities, family, and entertaining style
- Custom 3D visuals that let you experience the space before construction begins
- Thoughtful placement of patios, pools, spas, outdoor kitchens, fire features, gathering areas, landscaping, and other requested features
- Up to two rounds of design revisions
- Guidance for moving from the completed design into planning and construction
Grand Prize Value: $5,000
The grand prize covers the custom design services and deliverables described in the Official Rules. Construction, materials, engineering, surveying, permitting, HOA approvals, contractor fees, travel, and other implementation costs are not included.
The winner may be invited to participate in project documentation, interviews, photography, or filming. Any public use will be subject to the Official Rules and a separate written release or participation agreement where required.
What a Finished 3D Design Looks Like
Five real designs Micah’s team produced for homeowners. Swipe, or use the arrows.
Applications close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 11, 2026. Preliminary conversations with promising entrants may begin on or after October 7, 2026, while applications remain open. Once the countdown reaches zero, submissions close for good.
at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
The application takes approximately five minutes. Have a few current photos of your property ready.
You do not need to have the layout or features figured out. That is what professional design is for.
Submitting an application does not guarantee selection. Purchasing services, opting into marketing, or expressing interest in a future design project will not improve your opportunity to receive the grand prize.
Micah and the Backyard Design Guy team will personally review the eligible entries. They’re looking for a compelling combination of story, property, vision, readiness, and transformation potential.
Submit Your Backyard
Complete the application before the countdown reaches zero. Submit current photos and tell Micah what is not working, what you want the space to become, and why the transformation matters to you.
Entries Are Reviewed as They Arrive
Every completed entry is checked for eligibility as it comes in, not after the deadline. Qualifying applications are then evaluated using the criteria published in the Official Rules.
Preliminary Conversations May Begin
Micah and the Backyard Design Guy team may begin preliminary conversations with promising entrants on or after October 7, 2026, while applications remain open. These conversations are part of the evaluation process only. Being contacted does not mean that an entrant has won or is guaranteed finalist status.
The Grand Prize Winner Is Selected
After applications close, the judges complete their review and identify the highest-scoring eligible entry. That entrant is a potential Grand Prize winner until eligibility is verified and the required documents are complete.
Separately, Backyard Design Guy may offer qualifying non-winning entrants a $1,000 promotional credit under the terms stated in the Official Rules. These offers are not Contest placements or prizes and do not affect Grand Prize scoring.
Judging Criteria
The following criteria are used to determine the Grand Prize winner.
- The backyard story and its potential impact on the family
- Visual transformation potential
- Property suitability for outdoor design
- A realistic path toward implementing the design
- The entrant’s ability and willingness to participate in the documented design process
Each criterion will carry the weight stated in the Official Rules. Marketing consent, interest in purchasing services, and eligibility for a separate promotional credit are not part of the Grand Prize judging score.
Important Dates
- Applications openOctober 2, 2026
- Preliminary conversations may beginOn or after October 7, 2026
- Applications closeOctober 11, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
- Potential Grand Prize winner contacted privatelyOn or about October 16, 2026
- Grand Prize winner publicly announcedOn or about October 17, 2026, subject to verification and any required consent
Preliminary conversations may begin before applications close, but submitting early does not create a judging advantage. All timely eligible entries will be evaluated under the same published criteria.
No winner will be determined until after the Contest Period closes and all timely eligible entries have been given an opportunity to be evaluated under the same published criteria.
Every great backyard begins with a clear plan.
Explore the design samples below to see how Micah brings pools, patios, kitchens, landscaping, fire features, gathering areas, and challenging spaces together into one cohesive design.
McClellan PropertyBlaine, Washington
Clean lines and distinct zones, so cooking, dining, and lounging each have their own place without crowding one another. Glass walls open the house directly onto it, and a spa with a sheer descent waterfall sits at the center of everything.
Braun PropertyEagle, Idaho
A pavilion with a sauna and a fireplace anchors one end of the yard, the pool and spa sit at the center, and a covered kitchen with a wood-fired oven and an Argentinian grill runs along the other. Ceiling heaters and a four-season room keep the whole space in use long after the weather turns.
Larocque PropertySan Diego, California
A small lot worked into several separate rooms, so the yard carries a gathering area, a dining spot, and a quiet corner without feeling tight. Switch between the render and the photographs and you will see the finished build follows the design closely, down to the materials and textures.
Davis PropertyElgin, South Carolina
Bronze Award · 2025 Master Design Awards, Detached Structure
A lake-view yard built around a two-room covered structure: an outdoor kitchen with a bar on each side, and a fireplace room with a dining table and seating under a television. The pool and spa sit at the center, with a firepit pergola and built-in seating off to one side.
Ambrosini PropertyLong Island, New York
Doors leaving the house at different elevations and a pool off down the side, so the design works with the grade instead of fighting it. The step between the outdoor kitchen and the pavilion became a bar where guests sit facing whoever is cooking, and a run of steps carries the space down to the pool.
It will be created specifically for your property, your style, and the people who will use it.
Most homeowners wait until spring to start planning. By then, designers are busier, contractor schedules are filling, and permitting, engineering, selections, and bids can quickly consume the season. Starting with the design in fall gives each step more room to happen in the right order.
Design
Turn your wish list into a cohesive 3D plan designed specifically for your property, lifestyle, and construction goals.
Plan and Price
Work through engineering, permitting, material selections, and contractor conversations while there is still time to compare options.
Getting a completed design in front of contractors before the spring rush may also give you access to greater scheduling flexibility and more competitive bids.
Build
Enter the construction season with a clear design, a more informed budget, and contractors already involved, instead of beginning the planning process from zero.
Enjoy
Spend the season using your outdoor space instead of waiting for designs, bids, permits, materials, and scheduling.
No particular construction timeline, contractor availability, or cost savings can be guaranteed. Pricing and scheduling vary by contractor, project, market, weather, permitting requirements, and other factors. Starting earlier simply gives you more time, more options, and a better opportunity to make informed decisions.
A Separate $1,000 Credit Opportunity
Separately from the Contest, Backyard Design Guy may offer qualifying non-winning entrants a $1,000 Backyard Head Start Credit toward an eligible paid design engagement.
The credit is a promotional discount, not a Contest prize, runner-up award, or cash payment, and it does not affect Grand Prize judging or scoring. It is nontransferable, has no cash value, and may require the purchase of eligible services costing more than the credit. Any qualification, redemption, or expiration requirements are stated in the Official Rules or provided with the offer.
Is the winner chosen randomly?
No. This is a judged, skill-based Contest. Eligible submissions will be evaluated using the criteria described in the Official Rules. There is no public voting or random drawing.
Does it cost anything to enter?
No. No purchase or payment is required to enter. Purchasing services, scheduling a consultation, or opting into marketing communications will not improve your opportunity to receive the grand prize.
How many Grand Prize winners will there be?
One eligible entrant will receive the professional custom 3D backyard design package. Separately from the Contest, Backyard Design Guy may offer qualifying non-winning entrants a $1,000 promotional credit toward an eligible paid design engagement. The credit is not a Contest prize and is governed by the terms stated in the Official Rules.
What exactly does the Grand Prize winner receive?
The grand-prize winner receives custom 3D backyard-design services with an approximate retail value of $5,000. The exact deliverables are described in the Official Rules.
Does the prize include construction?
No. The grand prize covers design services only. Construction labor, materials, engineering, surveying, permitting, HOA approvals, contractor fees, travel, and other implementation costs are not included.
Can Micah design my backyard if I do not live near Portland?
Yes. Backyard Design Guy uses a collaborative remote design process and works with homeowners in multiple locations. For this Contest, the entrant and property must satisfy all geographic, ownership, and other eligibility requirements stated in the Official Rules.
Do I need to have my backyard plan figured out already?
No. You should have a general sense of what is not working and what you would like the space to do for you and your family, but you do not need to determine the layout or choose every feature before applying. Developing the cohesive plan is part of the professional design process.
Why does the application ask about my construction investment?
Micah wants to design a backyard that has a realistic opportunity to be built. Understanding the intended construction investment helps the team evaluate feasibility and avoid creating a plan that cannot reasonably move forward.
Who may enter?
The promotion is intended for legal adults who own, are building, or are under contract to purchase the property they submit. Entry is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, excluding the States of Florida and New York. Property requirements and other exclusions are defined in the Official Rules.
Do I need to be ready to build immediately?
You do not need to begin construction immediately. However, project readiness and a realistic path toward completing the backyard are part of the judging criteria.
Can starting earlier help me get better contractor pricing?
It may. Contractors who are still filling their winter or early-season schedules may have more flexibility and may quote projects more competitively than they will once the spring rush begins.
No particular savings can be guaranteed. Pricing varies by contractor, market, project scope, and availability. Starting earlier also gives you more time to compare bids and make decisions without the pressure of securing a last-minute opening.
Will Micah contact me after I enter?
Micah or a member of his team may contact you regarding your entry, your eligibility, or a preliminary conversation about your property.
You will receive additional marketing calls, emails, or text messages only according to the permissions you select on the application.
Will the selected backyard appear on YouTube?
The grand-prize winner may be required to participate in a documented design series. The final publicity and participation requirements will be stated in the Official Rules.
Can I enter more than once?
Limit one entry per household and one entry per property. Submitting multiple entries, using multiple identities, or attempting to circumvent these limits may result in disqualification.
When will the Grand Prize winner be announced?
The potential Grand Prize winner is expected to be contacted privately on or about October 16, 2026. The verified winner is expected to be publicly announced on or about October 17, 2026, subject to verification and any required consent. Promotional-credit offers are separate from the Contest and are not part of the Grand Prize announcement.
What is the separate $1,000 Backyard Head Start Credit?
The Backyard Head Start Credit is a promotional discount that may be separately offered to qualifying non-winning entrants. It is not a Contest prize, runner-up award, or cash payment and does not affect Grand Prize judging. The credit is nontransferable, has no cash value, and may require the purchase of eligible services costing more than the credit. Any qualification, redemption, or expiration requirements are stated in the Official Rules or provided with the offer.
Is this promotion sponsored by YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or Google?
No. This promotion is sponsored solely by Backyard Design Guy by Premier Backyard Living, Inc. and is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with YouTube, Google, Meta, Facebook, Instagram, or any other social platform.
Applications close October 11, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SELECTED.
Open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, excluding the States of Florida and New York, who are at least 18 years old, or the age of majority in their jurisdiction, and who satisfy the property requirements stated in the Official Rules. Void where prohibited.
The entry period begins at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 2, 2026 and ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 11, 2026.
One grand prize is available. Approximate retail value: $5,000.
Separately from the Contest, Backyard Design Guy may offer qualifying non-winning entrants a $1,000 Backyard Head Start Credit toward an eligible paid design engagement. The credit is a promotional discount, not a Contest prize; is nontransferable; has no cash value; and may require the purchase of eligible services costing more than the credit. Any qualification, redemption, or expiration requirements are stated in the Official Rules or provided with the offer.
This is a judged, skill-based Contest. The winner will not be selected at random. The winner is responsible for any applicable federal, state, local, or other taxes.
Sponsor: Backyard Design Guy by Premier Backyard Living, Inc., PO Box 66259, Portland, OR 97290.
By entering, each entrant agrees to the Official Rules and Privacy Policy. Marketing consent is not required to enter.