California Landscape License: How to Get a Landscape License in California

Do you need a license to do landscaping in California?

Yes, to work on any project that costs more than $500 (including labor and materials) or involves multiple trades such as plumbing or electrical work, you’ll need a C-27 Landscaping Contractor’s License.

Your C-27 California landscaping license will enable you to build, install, repair, and maintain landscapes.

According to the California Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board (CSLB), landscaping projects may include work “designed to aesthetically, architecturally, horticulturally, or functionally improve the grounds within or surrounding a structure or a tract or plot of land.”

These services may include:

• Installing and maintaining lawns, plant beds, trees, shrubs, and irrigation systems.
• Building patios, walkways, retaining walls, and fences.
• Pruning, mowing, fertilizing, irrigation fixes, and general upkeep.
• Preparing and grading land before planting or construction.
• Arranging plant layouts for appearance, shade, or privacy.
• Coordinating subcontractors when other trades are needed, such as electricians or plumbers.

Who issues landscaping contractor licenses in California?

The California Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board (CSLB) oversees licensing in the state. The board manages licenses for more than 285,000 contractors across 45 different categories, including landscaping.

California landscaping license requirements

In order to qualify for your California landscaping license, you’ll need to:

• Be 18 years or older
• Have a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
• Provide proof of 4 years of journeyman-level experience in the last 10 years*
• Obtain a $25,000 bond or file a $25,000 cashier’s check with the CSLB
• Submit your application and pay the licensing fees

*Journeyman-level experience applies to a person who has completed an apprenticeship program and is qualified to provide landscaping services. This person is not yet licensed and can’t work on jobs that involve building permits, hiring employees, or costing more than $1,000 in materials and labor.

Not sure if your experience qualifies? The CSLB explains various scenarios here to help you understand more.

For example, you may be able to verify your own experience in the field (without a supervisor) if you can prove your work with landscaping invoices, 1099s, and copies of contracts.

Benefits of getting a California landscaping license

Obtaining your landscaping license in California offers several benefits, starting with the ability to legally work on larger projects and earn a living as a contractor in the state. Other benefits include:

• Managing larger projects and demanding higher wages
• Starting and running your own landscaping business
• Supervising other landscapers and job sites
• A certification that tells clients they can trust your experience and expertise

How do I get a landscaping license in California?

You’ll need a C-27 Landscaping License to begin working professionally as a landscaper in California. Here’s the step-by-step process for getting your license number:

• Obtain at least 4 years of journeyman-level landscaping experience.  
• Complete and submit your application (online, easy-fill, PDF, or mail order).
• Take and pass the landscaping contractor’s examination.
• Pay your initial licensing fees.
• Submit your fingerprints.
• Obtain a bond.
• Provide proof of insurance.

Landscaping contractor exams

There are two landscaping contractor exams you’ll have to pass in order to get your landscaping contractor license in California—a trade exam and a law and business exam.

The two exams cover common topics necessary to provide landscaping services and to operate in accordance with the state’s highest standards for professional contracting services.

The landscaping trade exam is made up of 6 sections:

• Planning and estimating (23%)
• Construction preparation (13%)
• Hardscape installation (16%)
• Drainage, irrigation, lighting, and plant installation (23%)
• Maintenance and repair (9%)
• Safety (16%)

The law and business exam is made up of 6 sections:

• Business organization and licensing (13%)
• Business finances (15%)
• Employment requirements (20%)
• Insurance and liens (12%)
• Contract requirements and execution (21%)
• Public works (5%)
• Safety (14%)

Does my California landscaping license work in any other states? 

California has reciprocity agreements with Arizona, Nevada, and Louisiana for some contractor classifications (landscaping is included).

Active licenses in these states can be used to bypass the examination process, but you may still be required to take the California business law portion of the exam.

Other California contractor licenses to grow your business

While you don’t need any other licenses to do landscaping in California, there are other classifications you might want to consider in order to strengthen your service offering.

• C-8 Concrete License lets you work on concrete projects like building patios, walkways and driveways.
• C-10 Electrical License lets you install outdoor lighting and other electrical components.
• C-12 Earthwork and Paving License lets you provide excavation and paving services, including grading and land preparation for landscaping.
• C-13 Fencing License lets you build and repair fences and other similar structures

Additional licenses and services make you more appealing to your customers and open up a wider range of opportunities to explore new revenue streams and grow your business.

How much does it cost to get a landscaping license in California?

Here’s a list of fees you can expect with your landscaping license in California:

• Application Fee: $450
• Initial License Fee (Sole Owner): $200
• Initial License Fee (Non-Sole Owner): $350
• Asbestos Certification Application: $125
• Hazardous Substance Removal Certification Application: $125
• Active Timely Renewal (Sole Owner): $450
• Inactive Timely Renewal (Sole Owner): $300
• Active Timely Renewal (Non-Sole Owner): $700
• Inactive Timely Renewal (Non-Sole Owner): $500

Fees vary depending on whether you’re a sole owner of a landscaping business and when you submit your application.

A sole owner is a person who owns the entirety of a landscaping business alone, while a non-sole owner is a person who owns a business in partnership with other people or entities.

Do I need to renew my landscaping license?

Yes, to keep your C-27 license active, you need to renew it every two years. You can renew online if your license has a single qualifier. Multiple qualifier licenses will need to submit the renewal application along with payment to the following address:

Contractors State License Board
P.O. Box 26000
Sacramento, CA 95826-0026 

If you want to keep your license, but aren’t actively contracting as a landscaper, you can renew your license as inactive. Licensing fees are lower, and you’ll only need to renew every four years.

What happens if my landscaping license expires?

You’ll want to make sure your application arrives at the CSLB’s Headquarters Office and is processed before the expiration date to make sure you can keep working as a licensed landscaper and avoid paying the delinquent renewal fees.

Here are the fees for renewing an expired license:

• Active Delinquent Renewal (Sole Owner): $675
• Inactive Delinquent Renewal (Sole Owner): $450
• Active Delinquent Renewal (Non-Sole Owner): $1,050
• Inactive Delinquent Renewal (Non-Sole Owner): $750

You have 90 days from the expiration date to petition a retroactive renewal so you can keep working. You’ll need to send the CSLB a written petition that shows that you missed your expiration date for circumstances beyond your control.

You have five years to renew an expired license before you’ll need to reapply.

Requirements for business owners

If you want to be the boss, choose the projects, hire the talent, and perform the work, you’ll need to get your insurance, permits, and documentation lined up for your landscaping business.

Starting a landscaping business typically involves 6 steps:

• Plan which services to offer: Choose which clients you will serve and which services to provide. For example, will you serve residences or commercial clients (or both)? Will you provide landscape design services or just hands-on work?
• Find financing: Check with your local bank to see if you qualify for a business loan. Starting a landscaping business isn’t cheap. While you can technically get started with just your hands, you need insurance, licensing, vehicles, and equipment—and that all costs money.
• Register your business: If you want to own and operate your own company, you must register your landscaping firm’s name and secure a business license in your city or state. Your landscaping license isn’t the same as a business license.
• Price your services: Don’t wait until it’s time to send an estimate to get your pricing together. Figure out how much things cost and what prices you need to set to turn a profit. Review what your local competitors offer so you can competitively price your services.
• Market your business: Help your customers find you. This might mean setting up a website, building social media profiles, creating a Google Business account, and running local ads.
• Hire a team: You can’t do it all yourself. When you run a business, you need employees to help. Find talent and provide competitive wages.

Need more details? We break down these steps with everything you need to know in our guide to starting a landscaping business.

Landscaping business insurance

Don’t forget about business insurance. The CSLB requires contractors to secure the following:

• Worker’s Compensation Insurance: You need Workers Compensation Insurance if you hire employees (or plan to hire any soon). Plan to go it alone? Apply for an exemption from this requirement.
• General Liability Insurance: The law requires you to have at least $1 million in liability insurance and an extra $100,000 for each additional member of your personnel (not to exceed $5 million in total).
• Contractor Bond: Secure a $25,000 bond or file a $25,000 cashier’s check with CSLB.

There are other types of insurance to consider in order to protect your business and your property. They aren’t required to get a license or start a business, but they offer additional protection for your landscaping business.

• Commercial Auto Insurance: If you’re using a vehicle or fleet of vehicles to deliver landscaping services, you’ll want coverage for accidents, damage to the vehicles, or personal medical expenses if necessary.
• Commercial Property Insurance: If you own property related to your business—a warehouse, central office, storage facility, etc.—you should protect yourself from damage, theft, and/or vandalism.
• Tools and Equipment Insurance: Coverage for your tools protects them from theft or damage, so you can recoup losses and replace vital tools quickly to continue landscaping work.

Does a landscaping license increase your earning potential?

Yes, it does. Without a landscaping license, you’ll be stuck with jobs that pay less than $500. While you can make a living on these wages, you won’t come close to tapping your full earnings potential.

From the get-go, you can expect to make around $31,000–$33,000 landscaping in California. Once you have more experience, you can earn wages up to $41,000. Your wage can also significantly grow when you become a landscaping business owner.

Curious how much you could be making as a landscaper? Take a peek at our Landscaper Salary Guide. We’ve crowdsourced data to provide salary information based on national averages, years of experience, and geographic location.

Whether you’re planning to stay in California or make your way across the country, we have the salary data you need to make an informed decision.

Originally published in July 2022. Last updated February 27, 2026.