Applications Close In:
Micah and his team are selecting one homeowner to receive a complete custom 3D backyard design, a $5,000 value.
Merit-based selectionNo purchase necessaryApplications close October 11
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 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.
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.
Fill out the survey below to enter. It takes about 5 minutes. Have a few photos of your backyard ready.
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. Tell us about your property, what isn’t working, what you want to create, and why the transformation matters to your family.
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 their backyard. Unfortunately, that’s when everyone else starts too.
Designers get busier. Contractors’ calendars begin filling up. Engineering, permitting, material selections, bids, and scheduling all take time.
Starting now gives every part of the project 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.
Micah has spent more than 30 years designing and building outdoor-living spaces across the United States and internationally.
Through more than 4,500 residential projects, he has learned that the best backyard isn’t the one with the longest list of features. It’s the one that reflects the people who live there.
That means understanding how your family spends time together, who will gather in the space, which problems need to be solved, and how every part of the property should work together.
It’s also why nearly 190,000 people subscribe to the Backyard Design Guy YouTube channel, where Micah’s design walkthroughs, transformations, and planning advice have generated more than 34 million views.
If your backyard is selected, Micah won’t simply place features on a plan. He and his team will study the property, challenge the obvious ideas, and show you possibilities you may not have considered.
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.
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 is the $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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why does the form 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.
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.
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.
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.