Landscaping License: How to Become a Certified Landscaping Contractor in the U.S. (State-by-state)

Originally published in December 2022. Last verified on April 4, 2025.

Landscaping is an exciting career that allows you to spend most of your working days outside helping people craft their dream properties, and getting your landscaping license is very straightforward in states where it’s required.

If you’re interested in becoming a landscaping contractor, the timing is as good as any. The landscaping industry is thriving with more than 1.18 million people employed across the country and that number is expected to grow to more than 1.24 million working landscaping and groundskeeping workers by 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. 

Depending on where you’d like to be a landscaping contractor, you’ll need a state landscaping license or local certification to ensure you’re qualified and legally allowed to provide landscaping services. These requirements are similar across the country and your state or municipality contracting boards have all the information you need.

And we’re also here to help. In this landscaping guide, we’ll go over all the important questions, and need-to-know info about getting your landscaping license in the United States:

Bookmark this page when you’re finished so you can revisit this guide whenever you have questions about how to get a landscape license in the United States.

Can you do landscaping without a license?

The answer to this question changes depending on the state you want to work in. 

Some states restrict the amount of work you can do based on costs, such as limiting the scope of work to $500 or less, including materials and services. Other states limit the type of work you can do, like allowing softscaping but not hardscaping. 

To be sure you’re not operating against any regional laws, it’s always a good idea to check in with your state licensing agency.

However, every state requires a pesticide applicator license (if you provide this service) and may also ask for local certification or registration, so check with your municipal government or business association to understand all the rules.

States that require a landscaping license include:

Alabama

A Horticulture Professional Services license is required to perform landscaping services in Alabama. This license is managed and issued by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.

The license, which requires an application filed to the ADAI, covers landscape design, tree surgery, setting of plant and ornamental and turf pest control, and needs to be accompanied by a commercial applicator license for pesticide use.

Licenses are valid for one year, from October 1 to September 31. The cost to obtain and maintain a license is $175 per year.

Alaska

A specialty contractor license is required to work as a landscaping contractor in Alaska. The state’s Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing manages and issues this license.

Along with your application, you’ll need to secure a $10,000 surety bond and provide proof of general liability and worker’s compensation insurance. You do not need to pass an exam to get your landscaping license.

Arkansas

Arkansas requires a state landscaping license that is dependent on the size of the area you service. The Plant Industries division of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture manages and issues the three levels of licenses, which are broken down by work up to 5,000 square feet (Level 1), from 5,001 to 15,000 square feet (Level 2), and anything over 15,000 square feet (Level 3).

All you need to do is submit your license application and pay the licensing fee for your level—$150, $300 or $450.

The landscaping contractor license covers the installation of ornamental and horticultural plants.

California

To get your C-27 landscaping contractor license in California, you need at least 4 years of journeyman-level experience working for a licensed C-27 landscaping contractor or on jobs less than $500 in labor and materials. The California State Licensing Board (CSLB) also allows applicants to use technical training, college, and apprenticeship program experience as 3 of the 4 years of required experience.

With that, you can submit a licensing application and take the contractor exam. You’ll also need to submit your fingerprints, obtain a bond, and provide proof of insurance to the CSLB.

For more information on how to get your landscaping license in California, check out our comprehensive California landscaping licensing guide.

Hawaii

Hawaii is another state that requires a C-27 landscaping contractor license. Licenses are managed and issued by the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

To earn this specialty contractor’s license, you need to submit an application, have 4 years of experience in the last 10 years, and pass an exam. You’ll also need to provide proof of liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance.

In Hawaii, there is also an additional specialty designation for a Tree Trimming and Removal Contractor license (C-27b). Combined, both classes of C-27 licenses cover many hardscaping and softscaping landscaping services you can provide to customers.

Idaho

To be a landscaping contractor in Idaho, you must secure a Nursery, Florist and Landscaping license. Licenses are managed and issued by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.

The license covers anyone who grows or sells nursery or florist stock, installs landscape plants or sells services on behalf of a landscape contractor. It does not cover landscape architecture. 

The state also has an additional requirement to register with the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses if you work on a property and make more than $2,000 in improvements.

To obtain the license, you have to create an account online and submit an application. You will also need to provide proof of general liability and worker’s compensation insurance.

Louisiana

There are three licenses for landscapers in Louisiana: a Landscape Horticulturist License, a Landscape Irrigation Contractor License, and a Landscape Architect License. The Horticulture Commission of Louisiana, Department of Agriculture and Forestry, manages and issues these licenses.

Each of the three licenses requires the submission of an application and completion of a professional exam, along with the necessary fees. 

For the Landscape Irrigation Contractor License, you must also operate with liability insurance to remain compliant. For the Landscape Architect License, you need to be deemed eligible to take the exam with an accredited degree by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) or Landscape Architects’ Landscape Architecture Accreditation Council (LAAC), or through a different combination of experience and education.

Maryland

Landscaping work in Maryland is classified under two separate licenses—the Home Improvement Contractor’s License and the Landscape Architects License. These licenses are managed and issued by the Maryland Department of Labor through the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. 

You can learn more about the Home Improvement Contractor’s License through the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) and the Landscape Architects License through the Examiners of Landscape Architects.

In order to earn these licenses, you will have to provide proof of a minimum of 2 years of experience, liability insurance, and pass an exam.

Minnesota

The state of Minnesota requires landscaping contractors to complete Certified Landscape Specialist Training, and one of these qualified individuals must be present on job sites that are involved in plant installation and establishment. This license is managed and issued by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).

In order to earn a three-year certification, you need to participate in an in-person class and pass an online exam. You can register for the class online or by mail.

Mississippi

For basic lawn maintenance work, you do not need a landscaping license in Mississippi. However, if you perform a wider range of services and advertise yourself as a landscaper, which includes having the word “landscape” in your business name, then you need one of two licenses in Mississippi—Landscape Horticulturist License and Tree Surgery License.

These licenses are managed and issued by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Regulation of Professional Services.

The Landscape Horticulturist License is earned by submitting an exam application, passing the exam, and securing a surety bond of $1,000. The license is valid for 3 years.

The Tree Surgery License is earned by submitting an exam application, passing the exam, and showing proof of general liability insurance of $100,000. The license never expires, unless suspended or revoked.

Nevada

A C-10 Landscaping License is required in Nevada to perform any landscaping work worth more than $1,000 or that requires a building permit. This license is managed and issued by the Nevada State Contractors Board.

The landscaping license in Nevada covers planting trees and other vegetation, placing sod, and installing sand, gravel or rocks. It’s important to note because you may not need a license for simple lawn maintenance jobs.

To get your landscaping license in Nevada, you’ll need to verify 4 years of experience in the last 15 years, pass a business and law and trade exams, and have business insurance. Financial statements must also be provided to determine the monetary limits of the jobs you can perform.

North Carolina

A landscaping license is only required in North Carolina if you are managing gardens, trees, lawns, shrubs, vines and anything decorative, which includes all planting. You do not need a license for sodding, general lawn care and mowing, clearing land, grading land, turf management and arboriculture. 

This license is managed and issued by the North Carolina Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board.

To become a landscaping contractor in NC, you have to submit an application and pay a fee, provide business identification, include 5 letters of reference, and secure a $10,000 surety compliance bond. With these requirements fulfilled, you have to pass a licensing exam.

Oregon

Oregon has two state licenses for landscaping contractors—Landscape Construction Professional Licence (LCP) for individuals and Landscape Contracting Business License (LCB) for businesses. These licenses are managed and issued by the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board.

To qualify for the LCP license exam as an individual, you need either two years of landscape-related experience in the last 10 years, a degree in horticulture or a related field with co-op work experience, a horticulture certificate with 72 credit hours and co-op work experience, an ISA Certified Arborist certification for the arborist license, a Landscape Industry Certified Exterior Technician certification, a Certified Professional Membership with the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, or an Oregon Backflow Assembly Tester Certification or completion of an approved 5-day course.

If you are qualified, you can submit an application and take the exam.

Tennessee

You need a state license to work as a landscaper in Tennessee, but which license depends on how much the job is worth. Anything worth more than $25,000 requires a contractors license.

Licenses are managed and issued by the Board for Licensing Contractors through the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

For everyday landscaping, which includes sodding, planting, seeding, and weed control, you need the HRA-E.2 landscaping license. This is a speciality license under the Highway, Railroad and Airport Construction (HRA) classification. No trade exam is needed for this license, but you do need to pass a business and law exam and provide proof of insurance.

For more heavy-duty landscaping, there is a landscaping contractors license that falls under the Building classification.

Utah

Landscapers in Utah are classified under a specialty contractors license—specifically the S-330 Landscape and Recreation Contractor License. This allows you to prepare land, plant gardens and lawns, and build or install various features like swimming pools, fountains, irrigation systems, and more.

This license is managed and issued by the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Professional Licensing.

Applicants must have either 2 years of work experience as a paid construction employee, passed the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors, a 4-year bachelor or 2-year associate degree in construction management, or possess a professional engineer license to qualify for licensure. You are also required to take pre-licensure education courses and provide proof of general liability insurance.

There is no trade exam for the landscaping license, but you do need to pass a business and law exam.