Landscaping insurance has a split personality. Mowing, edging and seasonal cleanups are unlicensed in every state, so no state sets an insurance minimum for them. But the moment a landscape company plants trees, builds a retaining wall, pours a patio or trenches an irrigation line, it crosses into contractor territory in about a third of the states, and those states attach bonds and liability minimums to the license.
Then there’s the market. Builders, HOAs, commercial property managers and municipalities require $1,000,000 in general liability from every landscape vendor, licensed or not, and landscape crews run mowers, trailers and skid steers that make commercial auto and equipment coverage non-negotiable.
This guide covers all 50 states and DC: where the state attaches insurance or a bond to landscape work, the dollar thresholds that trigger it, the workers’ comp rules for seasonal crews, and the coverage a landscape company actually needs. Checked against licensing agencies and rules, current as of November 2026.
Quick answer: 18 states tie an insurance minimum or bond to landscape installation work, from Connecticut’s $20,000 to Vermont’s $1,000,000 / $2,000,000, usually through a contractor license or home improvement registration that kicks in at $1,000 to $30,000 per job. 6 more license landscape work without an insurance minimum. 27 states set nothing. Mowing and maintenance are unlicensed everywhere. Workers’ comp applies from the first hire in most states, and pesticide application needs its own license in all 50.
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Maintenance vs. Installation
Every state draws the same line, just in different places:
- Maintenance (mowing, edging, weeding, mulch, cleanups, light pruning): Unlicensed in all 50 states. Oregon’s Landscape Contractors Board, the strictest in the country, exempts mowing, edging, weeding, small shrub pruning and even programming irrigation controllers. North Carolina exempts mowing, turf management and debris removal at any price. No state sets an insurance minimum for maintenance work.
- Installation (planting, sod, hardscape, walls, irrigation, grading, lighting): This is where licensing starts. California (C-27, $1,000), Arizona (C-21, $1,000), Nevada (C-10, $1,000), Hawaii (C-27, $1,500), Oregon (LCB, almost any planting), Washington (L&I registration), North Carolina ($30,000 per site), Utah (S330, $7,000), Mississippi (any landscaping) and New Mexico license it as contracting, and those licenses carry bonds and, in several states, liability minimums.
- Residential installation as home improvement: New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut and Pennsylvania treat landscape installation on homes as home improvement, so their registrations (with insurance minimums of $500,000, $50,000, $20,000 and $50,000 / $50,000) apply to landscapers.
- Chemicals: Fertilizer and pesticide application is licensed in every state, and those licenses usually require proof of liability insurance of their own. See our lawn care pesticide license guide.
States With a Landscaping Insurance or Bond Requirement
The 18 states where a license or registration covering landscape installation carries an insurance minimum or bond. BI is bodily injury, PD is property damage, CSL is combined single limit.
| State | Insurance / Bond Minimum | Tied To |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $1,000,000 / $2,000,000 | Contractor registration at $10,000+ |
| Oregon | $500,000 + $20,000 bond | LCB landscape contracting business license |
| New Jersey | $500,000 per occurrence | HIC registration (planting, sod, hardscape) |
| Rhode Island | $500,000 | Contractor registration |
| Idaho | $300,000 | Contractor registration over $2,000 |
| Washington | $200,000 / $50,000 or $250,000 CSL + $15,000 bond | L&I specialty registration |
| Hawaii | $100,000 / $300,000 BI + $50,000 PD | C-27 Landscaping license (over $1,500) |
| Utah | $100,000 / $300,000 (2026 increase reported) | S330 license at $7,000; affirmation at $3,000 |
| Maryland | $50,000 | MHIC license (landscaping is home improvement) |
| Pennsylvania | $50,000 BI + $50,000 PD | HICPA registration ($5,000+/yr) |
| Connecticut | $20,000 | HIC registration |
| Alaska | $20,000 PD; $50,000 / $100,000 BI + $10,000 bond | Specialty contractor registration |
| California | $25,000 bond (LLCs: $1M GL) | C-27 Landscaping license ($1,000+) |
| North Carolina | $10,000 bond | Landscape contractor license ($30,000+ per site) |
| New Mexico | $10,000 bond | CID license for landscape construction |
| Arizona | Bond by volume (from $4,250) | ROC C-21 / R-21 ($1,000+) |
| Nevada | Bond $1,000–$500,000 | NSCB C-10 ($1,000+) |
| Mississippi | $1,000 bond | Landscape Horticulturist license |
Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Tennessee and Virginia license landscape work too, but set no insurance minimum with the license (details in the state blocks).
The Thresholds That Trigger It
For landscapers, the insurance question is usually a threshold question, because the requirement rides on the license:
- Any installation: Oregon (planting trees, walkways, edging), Mississippi (any landscaping services), Washington (installation work), New Jersey and Maryland (any residential home improvement).
- $1,000: California, Arizona, Nevada (or any permit), Virginia (construction, excavation or grading).
- $1,500: Hawaii.
- $2,000: Idaho, Arkansas (residential).
- $3,000 / $7,000: Utah (insurance affirmation, then license).
- $5,000 a year: Pennsylvania (annual volume, not per job).
- $10,000: Vermont (residential contracts), Alaska (handyman tier ends).
- $25,000: Tennessee.
- $30,000 per site per year: North Carolina.
Permits override most of these: in California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii a job that needs a building permit (retaining walls over a certain height, structures, electrical for lighting) needs the license at any price.
Workers’ Comp for Seasonal Crews
Landscaping’s workers’ comp problem is seasonality and classification. Most states require coverage from the first employee, and the exceptions (Alabama and Mississippi at five, Florida and South Carolina at four, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, Arkansas, New Mexico and Michigan at three) often collapse to one employee for construction-type work, which is how landscape installation is usually classed. Texas lets private employers opt out, though builders and HOAs require it anyway.
Classification matters more than in most trades. Mowing crews, hardscape crews and tree crews carry very different rates (tree work can run several times the landscaping rate), so split payroll by class code and keep the records to prove it. Misclassifying a hardscape crew as “lawn maintenance” is the most common audit finding in the industry. For climbing and aerial work, see our tree service insurance guide.
The Coverage a Landscape Company Needs
- General liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate is the vendor-application standard. Confirm it covers completed operations (a wall that fails two years later) and doesn’t exclude tree work or work at height if you do any.
- Commercial auto: Trucks, trailers and the mowers on them. Hired and non-owned auto for employees who drive their own vehicles between sites.
- Inland marine (equipment): Mowers, skid steers, mini excavators and hand tools aren’t covered by GL or auto when stolen from a trailer or a job site. Equipment theft is the landscaper’s most frequent claim.
- Workers’ comp: See above, with payroll split by class code.
- Pollution liability: Fertilizer and pesticide applications, fuel spills and herbicide drift can trigger the pollution exclusion in a standard GL policy.
- Snow and ice: If you plow in winter, make sure the GL policy doesn’t exclude snow and ice management; many landscaping policies do, and slip-and-fall claims are the reason.
- Umbrella: Municipal and commercial contracts often require $2,000,000 to $5,000,000.
Recent Changes
If you only read one section: Oregon’s landscape bond rose to $20,000 in January 2026, Utah’s handyman limit is $7,000 with an insurance affirmation from $3,000, California’s small-job exemption now dies with your first employee, and Washington’s bond more than doubled.
Oregon: LCB bond to $20,000 (January 1, 2026)
Landscape contracting businesses now post a $20,000 bond ($15,000 for probationary licenses). The $500,000 liability requirement didn’t change.
Utah: $7,000 exemption, $3,000 affirmation (2024)
HB 483 raised Utah’s no-license limit to just under $7,000 and requires an insurance affirmation to DOPL for jobs over $3,000. DOPL’s liability minimum was reportedly raised to $1,000,000 / $2,000,000 in 2026; confirm before renewing an S330 license.
California: $1,000 exemption with conditions (2025)
AB 2622 doubled the small-job exemption to $1,000 but limited it to jobs with no permit and no employees. A landscaper with one helper needs the C-27 for any installation job. SB 1455 pushed universal workers’ comp for CSLB licensees to January 1, 2028.
Washington: bonds to $15,000 / $30,000 (2024)
The specialty contractor bond went from $6,000 to $15,000 on July 1, 2024, phased in at renewal.
State-by-State Breakdown
Every state and DC: whether landscape work is licensed, the insurance or bond attached, the threshold, and the workers’ comp rule. Red chips in the jump bar are states with a state-set insurance or bond requirement; amber chips license landscape work without one.
Jump to your state
Alabama Permit, No Insurance Rule
Issuing Agency: Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (Professional Services)
What you need: Businesses that set or replace landscape plants hold a Setting of Landscape Plants (SLP) permit: a certified operator passes a 50-question exam ($75 in person, $125 by computer) and the business pays $175 a year, plus a $20 Nursery Dealer Certificate if you supply plants. The permit sets no insurance or bond requirement.
Workers’ comp: Required at five or more employees.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Alaska Registration: Bond + Insurance
Issuing Agency: Alaska Division of Corporations, Business & Professional Licensing
What you need: Landscaping construction (hardscape, grading, retaining walls, irrigation) falls under contractor registration as a specialty contractor: a $10,000 bond and statutory liability minimums of $20,000 property damage and $50,000 / $100,000 bodily injury. The handyman tier (jobs up to $10,000) carries a $5,000 bond.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Arizona ROC C-21 / R-21 ($1,000+)
Issuing Agency: Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)
What you need: Landscaping and irrigation contracting of $1,000 or more (or any permit work) requires the ROC’s C-21 (commercial), R-21 (residential) or CR-21 (dual) license. The ROC requires a license bond set by annual volume (from $4,250 for residential specialty) and Recovery Fund participation for residential work, but no liability insurance minimum. Maintenance-only mowing crews don’t need it.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Arkansas License Over $2,000, No Insurance Rule
Issuing Agency: Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board
What you need: Residential landscaping projects over $2,000 need a home improvement license under specialty No. 23 (Landscaping, Irrigation, Lawn Sprinkler Systems, Streams); commercial work needs a license at $50,000. The board licenses on experience and references, not an insurance minimum.
Workers’ comp: Required at three or more employees.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
California C-27 License + $25K Bond
Issuing Agency: Contractors State License Board (C-27 Landscaping)
What you need: Landscape installation of $1,000 or more in labor and materials (or any permit work, or any job with employees) requires a C-27 Landscaping license, which carries a $25,000 contractor bond. The CSLB sets no liability minimum except for LLC licensees ($1,000,000 and up). Maintenance gardeners who don’t install can stay unlicensed but need a Maintenance Gardener Pest Control Business license ($5,000 / $10,000 bodily injury and $5,000 property damage coverage) to apply pesticides.
Workers’ comp: Required with employees now, and for every CSLB licensee from January 1, 2028.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Colorado No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Local: Denver and other front-range cities license landscape contractors who pull permits and require insurance certificates.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Connecticut HIC: $20K GL
Issuing Agency: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)
What you need: Connecticut’s home improvement definition names landscaping, so residential landscape installation requires Home Improvement Contractor registration ($220 a year) with at least $20,000 in general liability insurance. Mowing and maintenance don’t count as home improvement.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Delaware No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Business license: $75 a year plus gross receipts tax; out-of-state contractors bond 6% of contracts over $20,000.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
District of Columbia No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
HIC: Residential landscape improvement contracts of $300 or more fall under DC’s Home Improvement Contractor license ($25,000 bond plus liability insurance).
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Florida No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Local: Counties issue business tax receipts, and some license landscape or irrigation contractors with insurance requirements. The state’s fertilizer certification applies to anyone applying fertilizer commercially.
Workers’ comp: Required at four or more employees for non-construction work; landscape construction counts as construction, so one employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Georgia No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Workers’ comp: Required at three or more employees.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Hawaii C-27 License + Insurance
Issuing Agency: Hawaii Contractors License Board
What you need: Landscaping work over $1,500 (or any permit work) requires the C-27 Landscaping specialty license, and Hawaii contractors maintain liability insurance of $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence bodily injury and $50,000 property damage, proven at renewal (HAR 16-77-55).
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Idaho Registration: $300K Over $2,000
Issuing Agency: Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
What you need: Landscape construction projects over $2,000 need contractor registration with $300,000 in general liability insurance.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Illinois No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Local: Chicago and suburbs require business licenses and often insurance certificates for parkway and right-of-way work.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Indiana No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Iowa No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Registration: Landscape contractors earning $2,000 or more a year register with the state ($50); out-of-state contractors file a $25,000 bond.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Kansas No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Workers’ comp: Required once payroll exceeds $20,000 a year.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Kentucky No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Louisiana Licenses, No Published Minimum
Issuing Agency: Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (Horticulture Commission) and LSLBC
What you need: Louisiana licenses landscape horticulturists, landscape irrigation contractors and arborists through the Horticulture Commission (exams), and larger jobs fall under LSLBC licensing (home improvement registration from $7,500, which requires proof of liability insurance; commercial license at $50,000). Neither publishes a flat dollar minimum.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Maine No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Maryland MHIC: $50K GL
Issuing Agency: Maryland Home Improvement Commission
What you need: Maryland’s home improvement law covers improvements to land next to a home, including landscaping, so residential landscape installation requires an MHIC license: two years of experience, an exam, and $50,000 in general liability insurance. Mowing and maintenance don’t.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Massachusetts No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
HIC: Landscaping on its own isn’t home improvement in Massachusetts, but hardscape, fences and structures attached to the home can be, which triggers HIC registration and the Guaranty Fund.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Michigan No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Workers’ comp: Required at three or more employees (or one at 35+ hours a week for 13 weeks).
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Minnesota MnDOT Only
Issuing Agency: Minnesota Department of Transportation (Landscape Specialist)
What you need: No state landscaping license; MnDOT certifies landscape specialists for right-of-way work, and tree care companies register with the Department of Agriculture’s Tree Care Registry. Neither sets an insurance minimum. Multi-skill residential work can trigger the residential remodeler license.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Mississippi License + $1,000 Bond
Issuing Agency: Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (Bureau of Plant Industry)
What you need: Anyone performing landscaping services or setting and replacing plants holds a Landscape Horticulturist license: an exam, no license fee, and a surety bond of at least $1,000. Mowing, fertilizing and irrigation installation are exempt, but a lawn-care company can’t use “landscape” in its name without the license.
Workers’ comp: Required at five or more employees.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Missouri No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Workers’ comp: Required at five or more employees for non-construction work; one for construction.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Montana No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Registration: Landscape construction companies with employees register as contractors ($70) and carry workers’ comp.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Nebraska No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Registration: Contractors register with the Department of Labor ($40 a year) and keep a workers’ comp certificate on file if they have employees.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Nevada NSCB C-10 ($1,000+)
Issuing Agency: Nevada State Contractors Board
What you need: Landscape contracting of $1,000 or more (or any permit work) requires the C-10 Landscape Contracting license, with a bond the board sets from $1,000 to $500,000 based on your monetary limit, plus proof of industrial insurance for employees. No liability minimum.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
New Hampshire No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
New Jersey HIC: $500K GL
Issuing Agency: New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
What you need: Planting, sod, lawn establishment and hardscape on residential property count as home improvement, so landscape companies register as Home Improvement Contractors ($110, then $90 a year) with at least $500,000 per occurrence in commercial general liability. Irrigation work needs separate state certification.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
New Mexico CID License + $10K Bond
Issuing Agency: New Mexico Construction Industries Division
What you need: Landscape construction (hardscape, walls, irrigation tied to plumbing) is licensed by CID under its general or specialty classifications, with a $10,000 bond for every licensee. Planting and maintenance alone aren’t licensed.
Workers’ comp: Required at three or more employees (one for construction).
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
New York No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Local: NYC and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties license home improvement contractors, and landscape installation often falls under those licenses with their insurance minimums (Nassau: $250,000 / $500,000 bodily injury and $100,000 property damage).
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
North Carolina License $30K+ with $10K Bond
Issuing Agency: North Carolina Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board
What you need: A landscape contractor license once the contract price at a job site reaches $30,000 in any 12-month period (G.S. 89D). Licensees maintain a $10,000 surety bond or letter of credit; the board sets no liability insurance minimum. Mowing, edging, turf management and debris removal are exempt regardless of price.
Workers’ comp: Required at three or more employees.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
North Dakota No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Contractor rule: Jobs over $4,000 need a state contractor license, which requires proof of liability insurance.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Ohio No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Local: Many Ohio cities require contractor registration with a bond for right-of-way and permitted work.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Oklahoma No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Oregon LCB: $500K + $20K Bond
Issuing Agency: Oregon Landscape Contractors Board
What you need: Planting trees and shrubs, installing irrigation, building walkways or edging, and other landscape installation requires a landscape contracting business license with $500,000 in liability insurance (LCB as certificate holder), a $20,000 bond ($15,000 probationary) since January 1, 2026, and a licensed Landscape Construction Professional doing the work. Mowing, edging, weeding, light pruning and programming controllers don’t need it.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Pennsylvania HICPA: $50K / $50K
Issuing Agency: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
What you need: HICPA names landscaping as home improvement, so companies doing $5,000 or more a year of residential landscape work register ($50 for two years) and carry $50,000 in bodily injury and $50,000 in property damage coverage.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Rhode Island Registration: $500K
Issuing Agency: Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board
What you need: Landscape construction on residential property falls under contractor registration: $500,000 in liability insurance, a 5-hour course and a $150 fee.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
South Carolina No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Contractor rule: Hardscape and structural landscape work over $5,000 on homes falls under residential specialty registration (bond required), and commercial work over $10,000 under the Contractor’s Licensing Board.
Workers’ comp: Required at four or more employees.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
South Dakota No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Workers’ comp: Not mandatory under state law, but builders and municipalities require it.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Tennessee License $25K+, No GL Rule
Issuing Agency: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
What you need: Landscaping projects of $25,000 or more need a state contractor license with the HRA-E.2 Landscaping specialty, qualified on financial statements and exams rather than an insurance minimum. In the nine home improvement counties, residential jobs over $3,000 need the home improvement license with proof of liability insurance.
Workers’ comp: Required at five or more employees for non-construction work; one for construction.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Texas No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Irrigation: Installing or repairing irrigation systems needs a TCEQ Licensed Irrigator or Technician, which carries no state insurance requirement but cities often add one.
Workers’ comp: Optional for private employers, but builders, HOAs and commercial clients require it.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Utah S330 License $7K+; Affirmation $3K+
Issuing Agency: Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL)
What you need: Landscape construction of $7,000 or more needs the S330 Landscaping and Lawn Sprinkler Installation license with DOPL’s liability minimum ($100,000 / $300,000 by rule, reportedly rising to $1,000,000 / $2,000,000 in 2026; confirm with DOPL). Jobs between $3,000 and $7,000 require a one-time affirmation that you carry liability insurance and workers’ comp.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Vermont Registration at $10K: $1M / $2M
Issuing Agency: Vermont Office of Professional Regulation
What you need: Residential landscape contracts of $10,000 or more fall under contractor registration with $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate in liability insurance.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Virginia License Over $1,000, No GL Rule
Issuing Agency: Virginia DPOR, Board for Contractors
What you need: Landscape work involving construction, excavation or grading over $1,000 needs a DPOR contractor license (Class C up to $30,000 per job). DPOR sets no liability minimum; Class A and B licenses require net worth or a $50,000 bond. Planting and maintenance alone aren’t licensed.
Workers’ comp: Required at three or more employees.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Washington L&I Registration: $15K Bond + Insurance
Issuing Agency: Washington Department of Labor & Industries
What you need: Landscape installation (hardscape, irrigation, planting beds, retaining walls) is contractor work, so companies register with L&I as specialty contractors: a $15,000 bond and $200,000 public liability plus $50,000 property damage (or $250,000 combined). Mowing-only crews don’t register.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
West Virginia No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Exclusion: West Virginia’s contractor licensing law expressly excludes landscaping services, so even large landscape jobs don’t need the state contractor license unless they include other construction work.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Wisconsin No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Workers’ comp: Required at three or more employees.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Wyoming No State Minimum
State minimum: None. There’s no state landscaping license, so no insurance or bond requirement comes with one. Property managers, HOAs, builders and municipalities set the number, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the usual ask.
Workers’ comp: Required from the first employee.
Add-ons that carry insurance: Pesticide and fertilizer application needs a state applicator license (and usually proof of liability insurance), and irrigation work may fall under separate licensing.
Checked November 2026 against the agencies, statutes and rules linked in each block. Louisiana requires proof of insurance for home improvement registration without a published minimum, and Utah’s 2026 insurance change is reported by an insurance broker but not confirmed with DOPL. Local requirements change often.
Running a Landscaping Business
- Licensing first: Landscaping license requirements by state covers the licenses these insurance rules attach to.
- Chemicals and sprinklers: Lawn care pesticide license by state and irrigation license requirements by state.
- Trees: Tree service insurance requirements by state for the climbing side.
- Comp costs: Workers’ comp rate changes by state.
- Route density is the margin. Maintenance routes live or die on drive time between stops, and getting paid at the curb beats monthly invoicing.
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FAQ
Does a landscaping business need insurance by law?
For mowing and maintenance, no state sets a minimum. For landscape installation, 18 states attach an insurance minimum or bond to the license or registration you need: Vermont $1,000,000 / $2,000,000 (contracts of $10,000+), Oregon $500,000 plus a $20,000 bond, New Jersey and Rhode Island $500,000, Idaho $300,000, Washington $200,000 / $50,000 plus a $15,000 bond, Hawaii $100,000 / $300,000 / $50,000, Utah $100,000 / $300,000, Maryland $50,000, Pennsylvania $50,000 / $50,000, Connecticut $20,000, and bonds in California ($25,000), North Carolina and New Mexico ($10,000), Arizona, Nevada, Alaska and Mississippi ($1,000). Customers require $1,000,000 regardless.
How much liability insurance should a landscaper carry?
$1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate is what builders, HOAs, property managers and municipalities require on vendor applications, and it usually costs little more than a smaller policy. Make sure it includes completed operations and doesn’t exclude tree work, work at height or snow and ice if you do them.
Do I need a license or insurance to mow lawns?
No state licenses mowing, edging, weeding or seasonal cleanups, so no state insurance minimum applies. You still need a business registration, local business licenses, workers’ comp once you hire, and a pesticide applicator license if you spray or spread anything with a herbicide in it.
When does landscaping become licensed contracting?
When you install rather than maintain: planting trees, building walls or patios, trenching irrigation, grading. The trigger is any installation in Oregon, Mississippi and Washington, $1,000 in California, Arizona and Nevada, $1,500 in Hawaii, $2,000 in Idaho, $7,000 in Utah, $10,000 in Vermont, $25,000 in Tennessee and $30,000 per site in North Carolina. A building permit triggers it at any price in several states.
Do landscapers need workers’ comp?
Once you hire, yes, in most states from the first employee. Alabama and Mississippi start at five, Florida and South Carolina at four, and Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, Arkansas, New Mexico and Michigan at three, though several of those drop to one employee for construction-type work like hardscape. Texas lets private employers opt out. Split payroll by class code, because hardscape and tree crews carry much higher rates than mowing crews.
Does landscaping insurance cover snow plowing?
Often not. Many landscaping general liability policies exclude snow and ice management because of slip-and-fall claims. If you plow in winter, get the exclusion removed or buy a separate snow policy before the first storm.
Bottom Line
If you only mow, no state sets an insurance minimum for you, but your customers do. If you install, 18 states attach a bond or liability floor to the license you’ll need, and the threshold can be as low as the first planting job (Oregon, Mississippi, Washington) or as high as $30,000 (North Carolina).
Either way, the policy that keeps a landscape company alive is the same: $1,000,000 in general liability written for the work you actually do (including snow, trees and height if you do them), commercial auto for the trucks and trailers, equipment coverage for what’s on them, and workers’ comp with payroll split honestly by class.
