Nevada licenses landscape work as Classification C-10. See what the license covers, the hardscape limits, the qualifier and experience rule, exams, financial statement, bond range and board fees.
Nevada does not give landscapers a free pass. Planting, irrigation, hardscape and drainage work for pay falls under the State Contractors Board, and the license for it is a specialty called Classification C-10. The license belongs to the company, but the Board tests and vets one person, the qualifier, and that person has to be tied to the business for as long as the license is active.
This guide covers only the C-10 landscape specialty. For the overall licensing system in the state, start with the Nevada contractor license page.
At a glance Regulator: the Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB), under NRS and NAC Chapter 624. Classification: C-10, landscape contracting (NAC 624.280). Qualifier experience: at least four full years as a journeyman, supervising employee or contractor, within the 15 years before you file. Exams: the Business and Law exam plus the C-10 trade exam, both given by PSI. Bond: set by the Board at approval, anywhere from $1,000 to $500,000.
What a C-10 license lets you do
NAC 624.280 describes the specialty. A C-10 licensee may grade and prepare plots of land for architectural horticulture, plant and maintain gardens, lawns, shrubs, vines, bushes and trees, and build drainage and landscape irrigation systems. The license also covers xeriscape installations with rock, sand and gravel, hydroseeding, erosion control, and nonengineered decorative ponds, trellises and arbors.
Hardscape is allowed only in limited amounts, and only alongside the landscape work above. The rule lets a C-10 holder add the following.
| Hardscape item | Limit in NAC 624.280 |
|---|---|
| Nonload-bearing brick or stone walkways | Up to 200 square feet |
| Brick or stone patio areas | Up to 400 square feet |
| Landscape retaining walls | Up to 3 feet high |
| Landscape lighting | Up to 24 volts |
Anything past those limits belongs to another classification, such as a masonry or electrical specialty, or to a general building license. A landscaper who pours a large patio or runs line voltage lighting on a C-10 license is working outside the scope of the license. Nevada law makes a bid or contract void when the licensee exceeds the scope of the license or its monetary limit, so scope is a real business risk and not just paperwork.
The qualifier is the heart of the application
Nevada licenses a company, then checks the person who stands behind it. The Board's requirements page says each qualifier must be a bona fide member or employee of the company. That wording matters. A company cannot name an outside consultant on the application and call it done.
Two roles can exist on a single application. The trade qualifier proves landscape experience. The management qualifier sits the Business and Law exam. One person can fill both roles, and many small landscape companies do exactly that with the owner. A company with no one who meets the experience rule has to hire or bring on a person who does, which is where a full-time qualifying agent placed as a W-2 employee comes in. See what a qualifying agent is and how the role differs from an owner qualifier.
Experience: the four year rule
The Board requires at least four full years of experience as a journeyman, supervising employee or contractor in the classification, within the 15 years before the application is filed. Proof is normally four Certification of Work Experience forms per trade qualifier. A master's certification from a government agency or transferable military experience and training can also serve as proof.
Accredited training can count for up to three years of experience when it is documented in writing. A qualifier who has been a qualified employee in the same classification on another Nevada license within the last five years does not need new certificates.
Exams
The qualifier must pass the Business and Law exam and the trade exam for the requested classification, unless the Board waives them. PSI administers the exams. The Board's page does not publish a passing score or a fee, so check PSI's current candidate information for both. For scheduling steps across the three testing vendors, see the exam scheduling guide.
| Exam rule | What the Board says |
|---|---|
| Attempts | Three attempts to pass each exam |
| Wait after a failed attempt | Two weeks before a retest |
| If all three attempts fail | The application becomes void |
| Reapplying | New application and fee after 30 days |
Financial statement and monetary limit
Every Nevada application needs a financial statement and a bank verification, whatever the size of the license limit you ask for. The monetary limit is the largest contract the licensee may take on at a single site or subdivision for one client, and the Board sets it after weighing experience, knowledge and financial responsibility. The type of statement scales with the limit you request.
| Monetary limit requested | Statement the Board accepts |
|---|---|
| $25,000 or less | CPA prepared statement, Board form, or software balance sheet with an affidavit |
| Over $25,000 to under $500,000 | Compiled statement (within 6 months) or reviewed or audited (within 1 year) |
| $500,000 to under $1,000,000 | Compiled with full disclosures (within 6 months) or reviewed or audited (within 1 year) |
| $1,000,000 or more | Reviewed or audited statement (within 1 year) |
A low limit is cheap to qualify for, but it caps the jobs you can sign. Commercial landscape bids can outgrow a starter limit fast, and raising the limit later means another financial review.
Bond and board fees
The Board sets the bond amount at approval, from $1,000 to $500,000. The bond must come from a surety authorized in Nevada with a rating of A or better, or be posted as a cash bond by cashier's check payable to the State Contractors Board. Bonds are continuous, and a surety can cancel with 60 days' notice, so a lapse can put the license at risk. Bond premiums depend on your credit and the amount the Board sets.
NAC 624.130 lists the following board fees. Fees are set by the board or testing vendor and can change. Verify the current amount with the provider before you pay.
| Item | Fee in NAC 624.130 |
|---|---|
| To issue or renew a license | $600 |
| To consider an application for a classification you do not yet hold | $300 |
| To change the qualified person or other principal on a license | $250 |
| Late filing of an application to renew an active license | $150 |
Steps to get a C-10 license
- Confirm the work you plan to sell fits NAC 624.280, and note any hardscape that passes the size limits.
- Name the qualifier, who must be an owner, member or employee, and gather four Certification of Work Experience forms.
- Prepare the financial statement for the monetary limit you want, plus the bank verification.
- Submit the application to the Board with the fees.
- Pass the Business and Law exam and the C-10 trade exam through PSI.
- Post the bond the Board sets, show workers' compensation coverage or an exemption, and receive the license.
Changing the qualifier later
Qualifiers leave. When the person named on the license quits, retires or is let go, the company has to replace that person, and the Board charges a change fee for it. The new qualifier faces the same experience and exam checks. Companies that wait until the day a qualifier leaves tend to lose bidding time. Planning a second qualified person, or a documented succession plan, keeps a license active through staff changes. Our guide on contingency planning for qualifiers walks through the options.
Other Nevada trade licenses that touch landscape jobs
Landscape projects often pull in other trades. Irrigation timers and lighting circuits can cross into electrical work, and plumbing connections for water features are plumbing. If you also work in those fields, see the Nevada pages for electricians, plumbers and HVAC. If you are expanding from another state, the Oregon landscape structure is quite different, as laid out in our Oregon landscape license guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Nevada landscaper need a license? Landscape contracting for pay is a licensed specialty under Chapter 624. Confirm your exact work with the Board's classification help before you bid, since scope limits are enforced.
Who can be the qualifier on a C-10 license? A bona fide member or employee of the company who has the four years of qualifying experience and passes the required exams. The owner can serve, or the company can place a full-time W-2 qualifier.
How much does a qualifier cost? It depends on the trade, the state, the monetary limit, the number of licenses involved and how much supervision the license needs. Pricing is quoted privately, so see our consultation options or how to hire a qualifying agent.
How much is the bond? The Board decides at approval, from $1,000 to $500,000, based on your application.
Next steps
Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, the founders of The Licensing Company, built the company around one fact: a license is only as strong as the qualified person behind it. If your Nevada landscape business has the crews and the contracts but no one who meets the experience rule, a W-2 qualifying agent can fill that role for your company. Hire a qualifying agent or compare plans on the consultation page. You can also browse every state on the states page.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, licensing guidance, or an offer of services. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. For specific compliance questions, contact The Licensing Company for a confidential consultation.