Landscape licensing differs in every state. Compare Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Louisiana and Texas: who issues the license, who must be named, and the fees we verified.
Landscape licensing in the United States is not one system. Some states fold it into the main contractor license, some give it to an agriculture or environmental agency, and some license the person and the company separately. A crew that works in more than one state can be legal in one and unlicensed in the next.
This guide compares five states we have researched in detail: Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Louisiana and Texas. Each one has its own full guide, linked below. The comparison shows the pattern that matters for a growing company: wherever a license exists, a named person has to carry it. For the overall rules in any state, start on the state pages or the contractor license hub.
At a glance Five states, five different regulators: a contractors board, a registrar, a landscape board, an agriculture department and an environmental commission. Texas licenses irrigation through the TCEQ, with a $111 application fee and a 70 percent minimum on each exam section. Louisiana licenses landscape horticulturists and irrigation contractors through the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, with a $150 exam fee and a $125 license fee. Nevada requires four years of experience within the 15 years before filing for a C-10 qualifier. Oregon requires every licensed landscape business to have at least one licensed Landscape Construction Professional.
Five states side by side
| State | Who issues the license | Who must be named | One verified figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Registrar of Contractors (C-21, R-21, CR-21) | A regularly employed qualifying party | Exams passed by at least 70 percent |
| Nevada | State Contractors Board (C-10) | A qualifier who is a bona fide member or employee | Four years of experience within 15 years |
| Oregon | Landscape Contractors Board | A licensed Landscape Construction Professional | On the payroll every hour work is performed |
| Louisiana | Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry, plus the contractors board | The licensed horticulturist or irrigation contractor | $150 exam fee, $125 license fee |
| Texas | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality | A licensed irrigator for irrigation work | $111 application fee, three-year term |
Fees are set by the board or testing vendor and can change. Verify the current amount with the provider before you pay.
Arizona: hardscape and irrigation are one class
Arizona does not sell a plain landscaping license for hardscape work. The Registrar of Contractors groups hardscape and irrigation into the C-21, R-21 and CR-21 classes. The Registrar says the qualifying party must be a regularly employed person with the necessary experience, knowledge and skills, and must pass the required exams by at least 70 percent. The full breakdown is in our Arizona hardscaping and irrigation guide, and company-wide rules are on the Arizona contractor license page.
Nevada: the C-10 specialty
Nevada licenses landscape work as classification C-10. The Board states that each qualifier must be a bona fide member or employee of the company and actively engaged in the contracting business. The qualifier needs four full years of journeyman, supervising or contractor work in the classification within the 15 years before filing, and must pass the Business and Law exam and the trade exam, given by PSI. Candidates get three attempts per exam. Read the Nevada C-10 landscape guide and the Nevada qualifier rules.
Oregon: two licenses that depend on each other
Oregon splits the license in two. The Landscape Contractors Board licenses the individual and the business. Every licensed landscape contracting business must have at least one licensed Landscape Construction Professional, and when that professional supervises unlicensed employees, the Board says they must be on the payroll every hour landscaping work is performed. The Oregon landscape guide covers the details, and the Oregon contractor license page covers the rest of the state.
Louisiana: agriculture first, contractors board second
In Louisiana the Department of Agriculture and Forestry licenses the person. Its page lists a $150 exam fee, a 70 percent passing score and a $125 license fee for both the landscape horticulturist and the landscape irrigation contractor, and all licenses expire January 31 each year. The contractors board classification for landscaping, grading and beautification requires Department of Agriculture licensure. See the Louisiana landscape and irrigation guide and the Louisiana contractor license page.
Texas: irrigation is the licensed work
Texas has no general landscape contractor license, but irrigation work needs a TCEQ license. TCEQ lists a $111 application fee for the Landscape Irrigator license, a minimum score of 70 percent in each exam section, a three-year license term and 24 hours of continuing education. Our Texas landscape irrigator guide explains the irrigator-in-charge rule for business owners, and the Texas contractor license page covers the rest.
What the five states have in common
Three patterns repeat across these states, even though the agencies differ.
- The license follows a person. Arizona names a qualifying party, Nevada a qualifier, Oregon a Landscape Construction Professional, Louisiana a licensed horticulturist and Texas a licensed irrigator.
- The person has to be tied to the business. Employee, member or on the payroll: the wording differs, but an outside name on paper is not enough in any of them.
- Hardscape sits at the edge. Patios, walls and lighting often fall into a different class than planting, so scope matters before you bid.
How to choose a class before you bid
The most expensive landscape mistake is bidding work that sits in a different class than the license you hold. Use the same three questions in every state.
- What is the scope? List the planting, irrigation, drainage, walls, patios and lighting in the bid, and match each item to the class that covers it.
- Who supervises? Name the licensed person who will be responsible for each phase and confirm the board accepts that person for the job type.
- Is there a size limit? Some classifications cap hardscape or lighting work, and a job over the cap belongs to another trade or a general license.
Write the answers into your bid file. A regulator that audits a complaint will ask for them, and so will your surety and insurer.
Expanding into a second state
Companies that outgrow their home market often start with irrigation, because it is licensed on its own in states such as Texas and Louisiana. The first step is to read the new state's guide and confirm which agency accepts your application. The second is to decide who will be the named person. If the answer is not someone already on payroll, plan the hire before you sign contracts, because applications and exams take weeks and the license is required before you start the work. Our contractor qualifier owner versus employee guide explains the options.
If your company has no one who qualifies
A landscaping company that wants to add irrigation or hardscape in a new state often has an owner who does not meet the experience or exam rule there. The fix is a qualifier who works for the company as a full-time W-2 employee. A qualifying agent qualifies your company; the license stays with the company and the qualifier carries the responsibility. Read what a qualifying agent is, the difference between an owner qualifier and an employee qualifier, and then hire a qualifying agent or compare options on the consultation packages page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to mow lawns? Usually not. In Louisiana, for example, mowing, edging and hand weeding need no state landscape license, according to the LSU AgCenter. Rules differ by state and by city, so check locally.
Which state has the strictest landscape license? There is no single ranking. Oregon licenses both the person and the business, while Texas focuses on irrigation. Compare the scope of work you sell with each state's classes.
What does a landscape license cost? Government fees vary by state and by license class; the table above lists the verified fees we found. Pricing for a qualifier depends on the state, the license class and the company, so it is quoted privately. Start on the consultation packages page.
Does hardscape work need the same license as planting? Not always. Arizona puts hardscape in its C-21 family of classes, Nevada caps hardscape inside the C-10 specialty, and Oregon treats patios and retaining walls as landscape work. Confirm the class before you price a patio or wall.
Can one qualifier cover two states? Each state licenses separately and sets its own rule on who may qualify. Plan on a separate qualifier for each license unless the state's rule says otherwise.
Sources
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors
- Nevada State Contractors Board
- Oregon Landscape Contractors Board
- Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
- Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Boards update their rules, so confirm current requirements with each regulator.
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.