Research
Which states license landscapers, and for what
A 50-state table of landscape contractor licences, irrigator credentials and turf-and-ornamental applicator programmes — plus the seven-state roster that shows why “licensed landscaper” is not a portable sentence.
Written by HyreYard Research Desk Primary-source research and fact checking
The finding
Published · Last verified · Next review
Published: 5 September 2026. Last verified: 5 September 2026. Primary sources: each state’s board or statute linked in the table. Next review: 5 December 2026, or sooner if a board renames a classification (Arizona already did), a dollar floor moves, or EPA amends Part 171.
Licensing is a frequently changing topic. A retrieval date is not a substitute for opening the register.
Two distinctions we refuse to collapse
Unable to verify is not unlicensed. Georgia’s irrigator credential is recorded as unverified because it was not confirmed on the Department of Agriculture’s published list. That is a data-access finding, not a finding that Georgia companies are unlicensed. HyreYard’s store has 222 Georgia city masters and 0 companies. We do not invent Georgia coverage from an empty roster.
A store count is not a licence count. The 10,711 companies on file cover seven states. Texas is 2,999 of them, on a self-reported NAICS sales-tax permit, because Texas licenses no landscaper. Florida is 552, and DBPR publishes no mandatory landscape, hardscape or irrigation licence type. Arizona’s 2,284 rest on CR-21, which does not verify landscaping. Any figure drawn from that roster is titled to those seven states and to the evidence behind each row.
HyreYard does not landscape, irrigate, apply pesticides or issue licences. HyrePest owns pest treatment. HyrePlumber owns backflow. This page records whether a credential exists.
Landscaping itself is largely unlicensed
The search query is “do landscapers need a licence.” Competitors answer as if every state runs a landscape board. Most do not.
Source fact. Of 50 states, 10 publish a named landscape contractor licence or a landscaping classification of a contractor licence as of 5 September 2026: California (C-27 Landscaping Contractor); Hawaii (C-27 Landscaping Contractor); Louisiana (Landscape Horticulturist); Mississippi (Landscape Horticulturist); Nevada (C-10 Landscape Contracting); North Carolina (Landscape Contractor); Oregon (Landscape Construction Professional + Landscape Contracting Business); Tennessee (BC-29 Landscaping (contractor classification)); Utah (S330 Landscape and Recreation Contractor); Virginia (LSC Landscape Service Contracting specialty).
Source fact — the rest of the map. Washington registers a landscaping specialty with no exam (WAC 296-200A-016(33)). Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania fold yard work into home-improvement contractor registration. Arizona’s CR-21 is a hardscape-and-irrigation class that does not cover planting. 33 states have no dedicated landscape contractor licence we could find on the board pages we opened.
HyreYard analysis: “licensed landscaper” is not a portable description. In California it means C-27. In Oregon it means two licences, one individual and one business, and mowing is not regulated. In North Carolina it means a Chapter 89D licence that triggers at $30,000 per job site in twelve months. In Texas it means nothing, because the licence that exists is an irrigator licence. Asking “are you licensed” invites a yes from anyone who holds any card. Ask which state, which class, and which part of the job it covers.
HyreYard classification of 50 state regimes, retrieved 5 September 2026. Bars are state counts, not company counts.
Arizona CR-21 does not verify landscaping
Source fact. Arizona Registrar of Contractors classification CR-21 / C-21 / R-21 is now titled Hardscaping and Irrigation Systems. Existing CR-21 Landscaping and Irrigation licences were reclassified. The published scope covers non-loadbearing concrete, pavers, decks at or under 29 inches, decorative walls at or under 6 feet, retaining walls at or under 3 feet, low-voltage lighting, water features and irrigation, including a potable connection and backflow. Planting, turf and trees are not in that scope.
HyreYard analysis: an earlier pass over-claimed on this class. A CR-21 holder is licensed for hardscape and irrigation in Arizona. They are not, by that card, a licensed landscaper. Treating the rename as a clerical change would repeat the error. The seven-state roster’s 2,284 Arizona companies rest on this class; they are a hardscape-and-irrigation roster, not a planting roster.
Irrigation and pesticide application are the credentials that actually exist
Source fact — irrigators. 7 states run a dedicated irrigator credential, including Texas (TCEQ Licensed Irrigator, Occupations Code Chapter 1903), New Jersey (Board of Landscape Irrigation Contractors, N.J.S.A. 45:5AA-1), Virginia (ISC specialty, licensed regardless of contract amount) and Illinois (irrigation contractor registration under 225 ILCS 320/2.5). 7 fold irrigation into the landscape class (California C-27, Hawaii C-27, Oregon LCB Irrigation & Backflow phase, Nevada C-10, Arizona CR-21, North Carolina 89D drainage and cisterns, Utah S330). Florida’s Certified Irrigation Specialty Contractor is voluntary; Fla. Stat. § 489.113(6)(a) says a board-rule specialty “does not create a mandatory licensing requirement.” Georgia’s irrigator credential is unverified on the list we retrieved.
Source fact — applicators. EPA 40 CFR Part 171 is the federal certification standard for pesticide applicators. Category (c), ornamental and turf pest control, is the landscape-adjacent category. Every state in this table implements a commercial applicator programme under that rule. Unlike a landscape contractor licence, the federal category means the same thing in all 50 states. HyrePest owns treatment. This page records that the credential exists; it does not write how to apply anything.
HyreYard analysis: the consumer point almost nobody is told is the split. The person who mows the lawn is often unlicensed as a landscaper. The person who installs the sprinklers, or who sprays the turf, usually is not. A bid that is silent on which card covers which line is an incomplete bid.
The 50 states
| State | Landscape licence | Threshold | Irrigator | Applicator | Arborist | Board / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | None found | — | None found | Alabama Dept of Agriculture and Industries — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | No landscape contractor board found |
| Alaska | None found | — | None found | Alaska DEC — pesticide applicator certification (40 CFR 171) | None found | DCBPL Construction Contractors Program — not landscape-specific |
| Arizona | No — CR-21 is hardscape and irrigation | $1,000 (any contracting, A.R.S. Title 32 Ch. 10) | Inside CR-21 (irrigation systems, including 120 V or less, potable connection, backflow) | Arizona Dept of Agriculture, Pest Management Division — Qualified Applicator | None found | Arizona Registrar of Contractors |
| Arkansas | None found | — | None found | Arkansas State Plant Board — commercial pesticide applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board — not landscape-specific |
| California | C-27 Landscaping Contractor | $1,000 labour and materials (BPC § 7048 as amended by AB 2622, effective 1 Jan 2025); a permit or any employee still requires a licence below that figure | Inside C-27 (irrigation is in the C-27 exam content outline) | California DPR — qualified applicator licence / certificate (40 CFR 171) | C-49 Tree and Palm Contractor (separate CSLB classification); ISA is voluntary | Contractors State License Board |
| Colorado | None found | — | None found statewide | Colorado Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found (ISA is voluntary) | No statewide contractor licence for landscaping |
| Connecticut | Home Improvement Contractor registration | HIC registration; landscaping sits inside the statutory definition of home improvement (CGS § 20-419) | None found as a dedicated irrigator licence | CT DEEP — commercial supervisor / operator (40 CFR 171) | CT DEEP Commercial Arborist licence — required to advertise, solicit or contract for arboriculture | Dept of Consumer Protection |
| Delaware | None found | — | None found | Delaware Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | No statewide landscape contractor licence found |
| Florida | None found (no mandatory DBPR type) | — | Voluntary Certified Irrigation Specialty Contractor (not mandatory statewide) | FDACS — Chapter 482 pest control / Chapter 487 pesticide; Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance certification for hire | None found (ISA is voluntary) | DBPR / Construction Industry Licensing Board — no landscape classification |
| Georgia | None found | — | Unverified — not confirmed on GDA’s published list | Georgia Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator, ornamental and turf (40 CFR 171) | None found | No landscape contractor board found |
| Hawaii | C-27 Landscaping Contractor | $1,500 in labour and material, or any project requiring a building, electrical or plumbing permit | Inside C-27 (drainage and sprinkler systems) | Hawaii Dept of Agriculture — pesticide applicator (40 CFR 171) | C-27b Tree Trimming and Removal Contractor (separate classification) | DCCA Contractors License Board |
| Idaho | None found | — | None found | Idaho State Dept of Agriculture — professional applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | No dedicated landscape contractor licence found |
| Illinois | None found | — | Irrigation contractor registration (225 ILCS 320/2.5) | Illinois Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found statewide (some municipalities license tree work) | No landscape contractor board found |
| Indiana | None found | — | None found | Office of Indiana State Chemist — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | No statewide landscape contractor licence found |
| Iowa | None found | — | None found | Iowa Dept of Agriculture and Land Stewardship — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | Iowa Division of Labor — contractor registration, not landscape-specific |
| Kansas | None found | — | None found | Kansas Dept of Agriculture — commercial pesticide business (40 CFR 171) | None found | No statewide landscape contractor licence found |
| Kentucky | None found | — | None found | Kentucky Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | No statewide landscape contractor licence found |
| Louisiana | Landscape Horticulturist | Any person receiving fees for the regulated profession (R.S. 3:3804) | Landscape Irrigation Contractor licence (separate Horticulture Commission credential) | LDAF — pesticide applicator certification (40 CFR 171) | LDAF Arborist licence; Utility Arborist licence. Arborist regulation is preempted statewide (R.S. 3:3804(E)). | Louisiana Horticulture Commission (LDAF) |
| Maine | None found | — | None found | Maine Board of Pesticides Control — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | Maine Arborist licence — required to provide independent arboricultural services | No landscape contractor licence found |
| Maryland | Home Improvement Commission contractor | MHIC licence for home improvement; landscaping construction commonly sits inside that statute | None found as a dedicated irrigator licence | Maryland Dept of Agriculture — certified pesticide applicator; certified fertilizer applicator is a separate MDA credential | Maryland DNR Licensed Tree Expert — required to practice or advertise tree care for compensation | Maryland Home Improvement Commission |
| Massachusetts | Home Improvement Contractor registration | HIC registration for residential contracting in the published HIC range | None found | Massachusetts Dept of Agricultural Resources — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found as a state licence (MCA is voluntary) | Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation |
| Michigan | None found | — | None found | Michigan Dept of Agriculture and Rural Development — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | No statewide landscape contractor licence found |
| Minnesota | None found | — | None found | Minnesota Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | Tree Care Registry — registration, not a licence | DLI licenses residential building contractors; landscaping is not a named trade licence |
| Mississippi | Landscape Horticulturist | Required to advertise, solicit, bid, contract or receive a fee to render landscaping services and setting of plants | Irrigation is exempt from the landscape-horticulturist licence; no separate irrigator board found | MDAC Bureau of Plant Industry — professional services / commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | Tree Surgery licence (separate MDAC professional-services credential) | MDAC Bureau of Plant Industry |
| Missouri | None found | — | None found | Missouri Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | No statewide landscape contractor licence found |
| Montana | None found | — | None found | Montana Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | No landscape contractor licence found |
| Nebraska | None found | — | None found | Nebraska Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | Nebraska Dept of Labor — contractor registration, not landscape-specific |
| Nevada | C-10 Landscape Contracting | NRS 624 contractor licence; commonly $1,000 or a required permit | Inside C-10 (construct systems of drainage and landscape irrigation) | Nevada Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (NRS 555; 40 CFR 171) | None found as a separate arborist licence | Nevada State Contractors Board |
| New Hampshire | None found | — | None found | New Hampshire Dept of Agriculture, Markets & Food — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found (NHAA certified arborist is voluntary) | No landscape contractor licence found |
| New Jersey | Home Improvement Contractor registration | HIC for residential improvement of $500 or more (N.J.S.A. 56:8-136 et seq.) | Board of Landscape Irrigation Contractors certificate + business permit (N.J.S.A. 45:5AA-3) | NJDEP — commercial pesticide applicator (40 CFR 171) | New Jersey Board of Tree Experts — Licensed Tree Expert / Licensed Tree Care Operator; every company performing tree work must have at least one licensed employee | Division of Consumer Affairs (HIC); Board of Landscape Irrigation Contractors (irrigation) |
| New Mexico | None found as a named GS classification | CID contractor licence above the Construction Industries Licensing Act floor for construction work | None found as a dedicated irrigator licence | New Mexico Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | Construction Industries Division — no landscaping classification confirmed in NMAC 14.6.6.9 |
| New York | None found statewide | — | None found statewide | NYSDEC — commercial pesticide applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found statewide (NYC and other cities may license tree work) | No statewide landscape contractor licence |
| North Carolina | Landscape Contractor | $30,000 of labour, material and other items for a given job site during any consecutive 12-month period (G.S. 89D-12). Local governments may not require licensure below that floor. | Landscape drainage and cisterns sit inside 89D; a separate irrigator board was not found | NCDA&CS — commercial pesticide applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found as a state arborist licence | North Carolina Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board |
| North Dakota | None found | — | None found | North Dakota Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | Secretary of State contractor licence — not landscape-specific |
| Ohio | None found | — | None found | Ohio Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses commercial trades, not landscaping |
| Oklahoma | None found | — | None found | Oklahoma Dept of Agriculture, Food and Forestry — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | No statewide landscape contractor licence found |
| Oregon | Landscape Construction Professional + Landscape Contracting Business | Required for landscape construction; maintenance is not regulated. Casual work for an existing customer is capped at $500 per job site per year and may not be advertised. | Irrigation & Backflow is an LCB licence phase (Laws/Rules, Irrigation, Backflow exams) | Oregon Dept of Agriculture — pesticide applicator licence (40 CFR 171) | Tree work is CCB jurisdiction, not LCB. No separate arborist licence found. | Oregon Landscape Contractors Board |
| Pennsylvania | Home Improvement Contractor registration | HICPA registration for residential home improvement of $5,000 or more | None found | Pennsylvania Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Home Improvement Contractor Registration |
| Rhode Island | None found as a landscape trade licence | Contractor registration (CRLB); single contracts under $500 excepted | None found | Rhode Island DEM — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | Rhode Island DEM Arborist licence — required for commercial arboriculture | Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board — registration, not a landscape exam |
| South Carolina | None found | — | None found | South Carolina Dept of Pesticide Regulation — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | LLR Contractors' Licensing Board / Residential Builders Commission — no landscape trade licence confirmed |
| South Dakota | None found | — | None found | South Dakota Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | No statewide landscape contractor licence found |
| Tennessee | BC-29 Landscaping (contractor classification) | $25,000 as prime contractor (T.C.A. § 62-6-102). Landscaping subcontractors bidding to a licensed contractor, not the owner, are not required to hold the contractor licence for this classification. | BC-33 Irrigation classification (same $25,000 prime-contractor floor) | Tennessee Dept of Agriculture — charter for pest-control operations / commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found as a state arborist licence | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors |
| Texas | None found | — | TCEQ Licensed Irrigator (Occupations Code Ch. 1903; 30 TAC 344) | Texas Dept of Agriculture — commercial pesticide applicator (Agriculture Code Ch. 76; 40 CFR 171) | None found (ISA is voluntary) | TDLR does not list landscaping among regulated occupations |
| Utah | S330 Landscape and Recreation Contractor | Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act (Title 58 Ch. 55) contractor licence; specialty S330 | Inside S330 (irrigation is in the published scope) | Utah Dept of Agriculture and Food — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found as a state arborist licence | Division of Professional Licensing, Contractors |
| Vermont | None found | — | None found | Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | No landscape contractor licence found |
| Virginia | LSC Landscape Service Contracting specialty | Class C generally over $1,000 per contract. Landscape irrigation is licensed regardless of contract amount (Va. Code § 54.1-1103(C)). | ISC Landscape Irrigation specialty — licensed regardless of contract amount | Virginia Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found as a state arborist licence | Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) |
| Washington | Specialty contractor registration — Landscaping | Registration required to contract; no competency exam for this specialty | Separate L&I specialty: Irrigation sprinkler systems (WAC 296-200A-016(32)). Pumps require plumber certification and/or an electrical licence. | Washington State Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | Tree removal is an L&I specialty (WAC 296-200A-016(57)), registration not an arborist exam | Washington Dept of Labor & Industries |
| West Virginia | None found as a landscape trade licence | West Virginia contractor licence is not landscape-specific | None found | West Virginia Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board |
| Wisconsin | None found | — | None found | Wisconsin DATCP — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | DSPS dwelling contractor is not a landscape credential |
| Wyoming | None found | — | None found | Wyoming Dept of Agriculture — commercial applicator (40 CFR 171) | None found | No statewide landscape contractor licence found |
HyreYard retrieval of published boards and statutes, 5 September 2026. “None found” means we opened the board or code and did not find a dedicated landscape contractor licence. It is not a finding that a city cannot require a local registration, and it is not a finding that a named company is unlicensed.
Georgia: irrigator recorded as unverified, not as absent. Arizona: CR-21 is hardscape and irrigation, not landscaping. Florida: irrigation specialty is voluntary statewide. Texas: TCEQ irrigator is mandatory; landscaper is not.
Seven roster states, titled to the evidence
| State | Companies on file | What the roster actually rests on | Landscape board? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,999 | Largest roster on the weakest evidence. Texas licenses no landscaper; the roster is a sales-tax permit, not a board record. | No |
| Arizona | 2,284 | CR-21 was renamed from Landscaping and Irrigation. It verifies hardscape and irrigation, not landscaping. An earlier pass over-claimed on it. | Yes |
| Washington | 1,730 | Registration, not a competency licence. No exam for the landscaping specialty. | Yes |
| California | 1,600 | A real landscape contractor classification. Irrigation sits inside C-27. Tree-and-palm work is a separate C-49. | Yes |
| Oregon | 1,140 | Two licences: the individual Landscape Construction Professional and the Landscape Contracting Business. Maintenance is not regulated. | Yes |
| Florida | 552 | DBPR publishes no mandatory landscape, hardscape or irrigation licence. A voluntary Certified Irrigation Specialty Contractor exists by board rule; Fla. Stat. § 489.113(6)(a) says that does not create a mandatory licensing requirement. | No |
| North Carolina | 406 | A real landscape contractor board. The licence is required at $30,000 per job site in any consecutive 12-month period. | Yes |
10,711 companies across 7 states. This is a sample of our own construction, not a census of the trade. Record counts reflect research effort and the publicness of the register, not industry size.
Texas is 2,999 of 10,711 — the largest slice, on the weakest evidence. Florida’s 552 sit where DBPR publishes no mandatory landscape type. Arizona’s 2,284 sit on CR-21. Georgia is not in this table because the store has zero Georgia companies.
What to actually check before hiring
- Ask which state, which class, and which part of the job
Not “are you licensed.” In Texas the relevant card for sprinklers is a TCEQ irrigator licence. In Arizona CR-21 does not cover planting. In Oregon mowing does not require the LCB licence and tree work sits with a different board.
- Check the dollar floor
North Carolina triggers at $30,000 per job site in twelve months. Tennessee BC-29 is a $25,000 prime-contractor floor. California C-27’s BPC § 7048 floor is $1,000 as of 1 January 2025, and a permit or any employee still requires a licence below that. A valid licence for the wrong scope, or below the floor that does not apply, is still the wrong answer.
- Ask for the applicator certificate if anyone is spraying
Ornamental and turf pest control is 40 CFR 171.101(c). It is federal, and it is the credential that actually translates. HyrePest owns treatment; you still want to see the card.
- Do not read an unverifiable register as a red flag
Some states do not publish a searchable landscape register because they do not issue the licence. That is a fact about the state, not about the crew.
- A licence is a floor, not a recommendation
It establishes permission to do the work that class covers. It says nothing about soil, drainage, plant choice or whether the wall needed an engineer.
Method and limitations
- Source
Each of 50 states: the board page, administrative code or statute we opened on 5 September 2026, stored with the URL. Applicator programmes are recorded as the state lead agency implementing 40 CFR 171, not as a 50-state scrape of individual certificates.
- “None found” is a search result
We looked for a dedicated landscape contractor licence or a named landscaping classification. A general contractor licence that can incidentally cover yard work is not counted as a landscape licence. Local city registration is noted where we saw it and is not a statewide finding.
- The store is seven states
Company counts are HyreYard’s roster, not BLS employment. They are titled to TX, AZ, WA, CA, OR, FL and NC. They are not a national market share.
- Snapshots age
A classification renamed on a date after this retrieval is not in the table. Arizona already demonstrated that a name change is a scope change. Re-check the board.
Questions
Do all states license landscapers?
Does Texas license landscapers?
Does Arizona license landscapers?
Does Florida license landscapers?
What credential means the same thing in every state?
How do I check a landscaper’s licence?
Does HyreYard license or landscape?
Written and audited by
HyreYard Research
Primary-source research, data analysis and fact checking
We are a research desk, not a landscaping company. We read the statute, the municipal code, the water-district rule or the federal soil file ourselves, and we publish the figure with the document it came from and the date we retrieved it. Where a number cannot be traced to a primary source, we publish the shorter page and say what we could not verify. This programme is new. The counts below are what we can already stand behind — a seven-state roster and a rule that we will not make a national claim from it.
- 10
- studies published
- 50
- states in the licensing and HOA tables
- 7
- states the contractor roster is titled to
- 0
- national claims drawn from our own store
How this desk works
- Primary sources only. A rule comes from the statute, ordinance, board or agency that issued it, cited by section, with the URL and the retrieval date. We do not cite a blog that cites a code.
- Coverage is a number, not a vibe. A table titled to fifty states has fifty sourced rows. A table of cities is titled to the cities we actually read. Gaps are published as gaps.
- Store-based facts stay inside the seven states. Texas, Arizona, Washington, California, Oregon, Florida and North Carolina. Texas is the largest roster on the weakest evidence — a self-reported NAICS sales-tax permit — because Texas licenses no landscaper. National claims rest on federal or state agency data, never on our counts.
- Fact, calculation, analysis and recommendation stay labelled. "According to…" is a source. "HyreYard analysed… and calculated…" is ours. "This suggests…" is interpretation. We do not present our reading as something the source stated.
- We do not landscape, irrigate, treat pests or pull permits, and we take no payment for placement, ranking or a favourable mention. Nobody buys a position on this site.
Data as of Boards and statutes retrieved 5 September 2026. Authorship on this site is organisational: the analysis belongs to the desk rather than to a named individual, and we do not publish credentials we do not hold. Our editorial policy sets out how we source, date and correct what we publish.
Sources & retrieval dates
- EPA — 40 CFR Part 171, Certification of Pesticide Applicators , Ornamental and turf pest control is category 40 CFR 171.101(c). Federal standard every state implements. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- EPA — Federal Certification Standards for Pesticide Applicators (explainer) , Plain-language companion to Part 171. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Alabama — No landscape contractor board found , None found. ALBGC licenses general contractors above $50,000; landscaping is not a named trade classification on the board’s published list retrieved Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Alaska — DCBPL Construction Contractors Program — not landscape-specific , None found. Alaska licenses construction contractors; no dedicated landscape classification found as of the retrieval date Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Arizona — Arizona Registrar of Contractors , No — CR-21 is hardscape and irrigation. R-21 / C-21 / CR-21 Hardscaping and Irrigation Systems. Existing CR-21 Landscaping and Irrigation licences were reclassified as Hardscaping and Irrigation. Scope: non-loadbearing concrete, pavers, decks ≤29 in, decorative walls ≤6 ft, retai Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Arkansas — Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board — not landscape-specific , None found. ACLB licenses contractors above published dollar floors; no dedicated landscape contractor classification found as of the retrieval date Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- California — Contractors State License Board , C-27 Landscaping Contractor. 16 CCR, C-27: constructs, maintains, repairs, installs or subcontracts landscape systems and facilities, and prepares and grades plots for architectural, horticultural and decorative treatment. Business & Professions Code Division 3, Chapter 9. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Colorado — No statewide contractor licence for landscaping , None found. Colorado does not issue a statewide landscape or general contractor licence. Municipal registration may apply. No landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Connecticut — Dept of Consumer Protection , Home Improvement Contractor registration. Connecticut does not issue a landscape contractor licence. Landscaping is home improvement. A 2014 OLR report identified five states that licensed landscape contractors and did not include Connecticut among them. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Delaware — No statewide landscape contractor licence found , None found. Division of Revenue business licence is not a landscape trade credential. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Florida — DBPR / Construction Industry Licensing Board — no landscape classification , None found (no mandatory DBPR type). Fla. Stat. § 489.113(6)(a): a certified specialty contractor category established by board rule “exists as a voluntary statewide licensing category and does not create a mandatory licensing requirement.” CILB’s irrigation specialty (FAC 61G4-1 Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Georgia — No landscape contractor board found , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. GDA licenses commercial pesticide applicators (O.C.G.A. Title 2 Ch. 7) and live-plant dealers. A statewide Certified Landscape Irrigation Contractor under O.C.G.A. § 2-32 is cited by secondary c Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Hawaii — DCCA Contractors License Board , C-27 Landscaping Contractor. HRS Chapter 444. C-27: prepare plots for architectural horticulture; tree trimming; decorative treatment of gardens, lawns, shrubs, vines, bushes, trees; drainage and sprinkler systems; rockscaping, ornamental pools, fountains, walls, fences, walks; h Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Idaho — No dedicated landscape contractor licence found , None found. Idaho licenses public-works contractors and several trades; no dedicated landscape contractor classification found as of the retrieval date. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Illinois — No landscape contractor board found , None found. Illinois does not issue a landscape contractor licence. Irrigation contractors must register annually under 225 ILCS 320/2.5 (Illinois Plumbing License Law) — insurance, a $20,000 indemnification bond or letter of credit, and at least one employee who has passed an ap Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Indiana — No statewide landscape contractor licence found , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Local registration may apply. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Iowa — Iowa Division of Labor — contractor registration, not landscape-specific , None found. Iowa registers construction contractors. No dedicated landscape contractor classification found as of the retrieval date. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Kansas — No statewide landscape contractor licence found , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Local licensing may apply. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Kentucky — No statewide landscape contractor licence found , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Local licensing may apply. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Louisiana — Louisiana Horticulture Commission (LDAF) , Landscape Horticulturist. R.S. 3:3801 et seq.; R.S. 3:3804. The commission licenses landscape horticulturists, landscape irrigation contractors, arborists, utility arborists and landscape architects. Lawn mowing, edging and hand-weeding are not the regulated profession. A landsca Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Maine — No landscape contractor licence found , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Maine does license arborists. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Maryland — Maryland Home Improvement Commission , Home Improvement Commission contractor. Maryland does not issue a landscape-contractor-named trade licence. Home improvement contracting is licensed. Tree care is a separate DNR credential. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Massachusetts — Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation , Home Improvement Contractor registration. Massachusetts does not issue a landscape contractor licence. Home improvement contractor registration applies to residential contracting. The Massachusetts Certified Arborist credential is an association certification, not a state licence Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Michigan — No statewide landscape contractor licence found , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Local registration may apply. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Minnesota — DLI licenses residential building contractors; landscaping is not a named trade licence , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Minnesota maintains a Tree Care Registry (registration, not a competency licence). Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Mississippi — MDAC Bureau of Plant Industry , Landscape Horticulturist. Miss. Code §§ 69-19-1 through 69-19-11. A Landscape Horticulturist Licence is required for landscaping services and the setting or replacement of any plants. Irrigation installation and lawn maintenance (mowing, fertilising) do not require this licence. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Missouri — No statewide landscape contractor licence found , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Local licensing may apply. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Montana — No landscape contractor licence found , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Independent-contractor exemption certificates are not a landscape credential. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Nebraska — Nebraska Dept of Labor — contractor registration, not landscape-specific , None found. Nebraska registers contractors. No dedicated landscape contractor classification found as of the retrieval date. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Nevada — Nevada State Contractors Board , C-10 Landscape Contracting. NAC 624.280. A C-10 holder may grade and prepare plots for architectural horticulture, plant and maintain gardens, lawns, shrubs, vines, bushes, trees and other vegetation, construct drainage and landscape irrigation, install xeriscape materials, hydro Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- New Hampshire — No landscape contractor licence found , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- New Jersey — Division of Consumer Affairs (HIC); Board of Landscape Irrigation Contractors (irrigation) , Home Improvement Contractor registration. No dedicated landscape contractor licence. HIC registration covers home improvement. Landscape irrigation is a separate mandatory credential: N.J.S.A. 45:5AA-1 et seq. A business permit plus a certified landscape irrigation contractor are Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- New Mexico — Construction Industries Division — no landscaping classification confirmed in NMAC 14.6.6.9 , None found as a named GS classification. NMAC 14.6.6.9 lists general-specialty classifications GS-1 onward (acoustical, awnings, and so on). A dedicated GS landscaping classification was not found in that list as of the retrieval date. Contracting above the CID dollar floor still Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- New York — No statewide landscape contractor licence , None found statewide. New York does not issue a statewide landscape contractor licence. New York City licenses home-improvement contractors. No landscape contractor licence found at state level as of the retrieval date. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- North Carolina — North Carolina Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board , Landscape Contractor. G.S. Chapter 89D. Landscape contractor includes installing, planting, repairing and managing gardens, lawns, shrubs, vines, trees or other decorative vegetation; horticulture consultation or planting design; landscape drainage and cisterns (no plumbing conne Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- North Dakota — Secretary of State contractor licence — not landscape-specific , None found. North Dakota issues a contractor licence through the Secretary of State. No dedicated landscape contractor classification found as of the retrieval date. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Ohio — Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses commercial trades, not landscaping , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Local registration may apply. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Oklahoma — No statewide landscape contractor licence found , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Local registration may apply. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Oregon — Oregon Landscape Contractors Board , Landscape Construction Professional + Landscape Contracting Business. ORS 671; OAR Chapter 808. Two licences. Work requiring a licence includes planning or installing new plantings, irrigation work with compressed air, artificial turf and sod, arbors, decks, patios, driveways, fe Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Home Improvement Contractor Registration , Home Improvement Contractor registration. Pennsylvania does not issue a landscape contractor licence. Home improvement contractor registration applies to residential contracting above the published floor. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Rhode Island — Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board — registration, not a landscape exam , None found as a landscape trade licence. Rhode Island registers construction contractors. No dedicated landscape contractor classification found as of the retrieval date. Rhode Island does license arborists. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- South Carolina — LLR Contractors' Licensing Board / Residential Builders Commission — no landscape trade licence confirmed , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found on the LLR published contractor classifications as of the retrieval date. Local licensing may apply. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- South Dakota — No statewide landscape contractor licence found , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Tennessee — Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors , BC-29 Landscaping (contractor classification). T.C.A. § 62-6-102; Rule 0680-01-.16 Appendix A. BC-29 Landscaping is a named building category. BC-33 Irrigation is a separate category. A contractor licence is required to bid or contract as prime at $25,000 or more. This is a lands Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Texas — TDLR does not list landscaping among regulated occupations , None found. Texas issues no landscape contractor licence. Occupations Code Chapter 1903 and 30 TAC Chapter 344: a person may not sell, design, install, maintain, alter, repair, service or inspect an irrigation system, or consult in those activities, unless licensed by TCEQ. Lands Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Utah — Division of Professional Licensing, Contractors , S330 Landscape and Recreation Contractor. S330 Landscape and Recreation Contractor covers grading and planting for horticultural or decorative treatment, irrigation, retaining walls, pergolas, patios, decking, fencing, athletic courts and playgrounds, and factory-built spas. 25-h Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Vermont — No landscape contractor licence found , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. OPR residential contractor registration is not a landscape credential. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Virginia — Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) , LSC Landscape Service Contracting specialty. 18VAC50-22-30. “Landscape service contracting” (LSC): alteration or improvement of a land area not related to any other classification by excavation, clearing, grading, construction of retaining walls for landscaping purposes, or place Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Washington — Washington Dept of Labor & Industries , Specialty contractor registration — Landscaping. RCW 18.27; WAC 296-200A-016(33). Landscaping specialty: construct, maintain, repair, install and develop landscape systems; prepare and grade plots; install topsoil; hydroseed; plant decorative vegetation; non-load-bearing slabs an Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- West Virginia — West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board , None found as a landscape trade licence. West Virginia licenses contractors. No dedicated landscape contractor classification found as of the retrieval date. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Wisconsin — DSPS dwelling contractor is not a landscape credential , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Local licensing may apply. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
- Wyoming — No statewide landscape contractor licence found , None found. No dedicated landscape contractor licence found as of the retrieval date. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
The next question is who near you holds one
A licence establishes permission for a class of work. Comparing what each bid actually includes is how you tell a complete crew from a cheap one. HyreYard does not landscape and does not issue licences.
This page is general information about licensing regimes, retrieved on the dates shown. It is not legal advice, is not a determination about any named company, and is not a substitute for searching the issuing board. HyreYard does not perform landscaping, irrigation, pesticide application or licensing work. Unable to verify is not unlicensed.