Landscape & Irrigation Contractor
Landscaping isn't one trade for licensing purposes — it's three scopes handled by three different agencies. Irrigation is the tightly regulated one, and it's regulated by environmental agencies rather than contractor boards because the state is protecting the water supply from backflow contamination. Pesticide application is a separate Department of Agriculture credential. General landscaping is often unlicensed at the state level entirely, with cities imposing their own registration and drought-stage watering rules.
Where can I take my landscape & irrigation contractor license?
Pick the state you're licensed in. You'll get the states that will consider that license — which is not the same as a free transfer.
FAQ
What does Texas actually require to install sprinkler systems?
A Licensed Irrigator credential from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality — and the scope rule is broader than people expect, because you can't legally consult on an irrigation system without one, let alone install it. Getting there means either three years of documented experience or a 40-hour TCEQ-approved course, then a six-hour exam that TCEQ warns not every testing center can accommodate. Two requirements that surprise almost everyone: you must physically carry a circular seal at least an inch and a half across showing your license number, and every work vehicle needs that number in contrasting block letters at least two inches high on both sides. There's no irrigator reciprocity — though the separate pesticide license does reciprocate case by case with Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
Landscape & Irrigation Contractor rules in every state
Researched 2026-07-21 to 2026-07-24One entry per state, in alphabetical order. Each one covers who licenses the trade there, what it takes to qualify, and whether that state accepts a license earned somewhere else.
- Reciprocity — accepts some out-of-state licenses
- No reciprocity — licensed here, but no out-of-state license is accepted
- Nothing to reciprocate — no state license exists here
- Not established — we could not verify this state's position — treat it as an open question, not a no
- secondarydrawn from consistent secondary sources, not confirmed on the agency's own page
Alabama
State licenseHow Alabama treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: ADAI Pesticide Management reciprocity program; underlying credential governed by Code of Ala. 1975 Title 2 Ch. 27 and Ala. Admin. Code r. 80-1-13-.08.
Alabama has a reciprocity provision for out-of-state landscape & irrigation contractors, but whether it reaches your credential depends on the terms. See what is actually required below.
Where it applies: None for the ADAI Horticulture Professional Services License - it applies to any business that engages in or solicits for the covered categories, at any dollar value. Separately, landscape construction bid at $50,000 or more falls to the ALBGC general contractor license under Code of Ala. Title 34 Ch. 8.
What's actually required: Alabama's Horticulture Professional Services License goes to a business, not to you personally. It covers Landscape Design, Tree Surgery, Setting of Landscape Plants, and Ornamental & Turf Pest Control, and it depends on having a certified operator who has passed the Commercial Pesticide Applicator exam in the matching category. An out-of-state operator'S credential can stand in for the Alabama examination step. The Alabama business licence itself still has to be obtained, and no reciprocity provision was found for that part. Treat the state list with care: the only enumeration located — Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee — is published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System rather than by the Department of Agriculture and Industries itself. It is indicative, not authoritative. Confirm on (334) 240-7240. Irrigation is not covered at all: irrigation installation is not one of the four horticulture categories, so irrigation-only work is unregulated at state level below the $50,000 general contractor threshold. Fee: $45 per category for the Commercial Pesticide Applicator permit, and $175 annually for the Horticulture Professional Services License.
Alabama judges an incoming credential against its own requirements rather than a named list of states. See the terms below.
- https://agi.alabama.gov/pesticidemanagement/programs/professional-services/ (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
- https://agi.alabama.gov/pesticidemanagement/programs/commercial-applicators/ (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
- https://agi.alabama.gov/pesticidemanagement/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/02/80-10-9-professional-services-rules.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
Alaska
No individual license — contractor/business license onlyThis license attaches to the business that contracts directly with the customer, not to individual workers on the crew.
How Alaska treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: AS 08.18 (Construction Contractors); 12 AAC 21 Article 2, specifically 12 AAC 21.370 (Landscaping contractor).
Alaska does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Where it applies: None. AS 08.18 requires contractor registration regardless of project value. The commonly cited $10,000 figure is not an exemption floor - it is the CEILING on the Handyman designation.
Why, and what applies instead: Alaska names 'landscaping contractor' as a specialty trade at 12 AAC 21.370 — grading, filling and levelling, hauling fill and topsoil, water drainage systems and ponds, hydro-seeding, and installing grass, shrubbery and trees, expressly excluding preparing land for building construction. No reciprocity exists, and the reason is structural rather than restrictive. Specialty contractor registration carries no examination and no experience requirement. It is gated purely on a $10,000 surety bond, general liability insurance to the AS 08.18.101 limits, a business licence and entity registration. There is nothing for an out-of-state credential to substitute for — you register on identical terms to a first-time applicant. Two adjacent credentials do carry exams, with no waiver route found for out-of-state holders: the Residential Contractor Endorsement, and the Mechanical Contractor registration required for water and sewer lines within five feet of a building, which can catch irrigation tie-ins.
- https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ConstructionContractors.aspx (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
- https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/professionallicensing/constructioncontractors/constructioncontractorsfaqs.aspx (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
- https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/5/pub/con4818.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
Arizona
No individual license — contractor/business license onlyThis license attaches to the business that contracts directly with the customer, not to individual workers on the crew.
How Arizona treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: A.A.C. R4-9-106 and R4-9-119; az ROC Out-of-State Waiver Request Form RC-L-200G; A.R.S. Title 32 Ch. 10.
Arizona has a reciprocity provision for out-of-state landscape & irrigation contractors, but whether it reaches your credential depends on the terms. See what is actually required below.
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $1,000 including labor and materials. Verified against A.R.S. 32-1121 text on azleg.gov (L19, Ch. 140, sec. 1). Note HB 2092 (56th Leg, 2R) proposed raising handyman exemptions to $2,500; the statute as published still reads $1,000, so $2,500 has not taken effect.
What's actually required: Arizona's Out-of-State Waiver Request Form (RC-L-200G) is described by the Registrar as a request to be excused from the trade exam only. The Statutes and Rules Exam has its own separate waiver form, and that one is for in-state applicants — so as an out-of-state applicant you sit the Statutes and Rules Exam regardless. Everything else still applies: the full application, four years of documented experience for your qualifying party, fingerprints and a background check for that person and all officers, Corporation Commission registration, and a volume-based bond. Note the classification was renamed. C-21, R-21 and CR-21 used to be 'Landscaping and Irrigation Systems' and are now 'Hardscaping and Irrigation Systems'; existing licences were reclassified. The scope covers irrigation systems, non-loadbearing concrete, uncovered patios, decorative garden walls to six feet, retaining walls to three feet, low voltage landscape lighting, and water features not attached to pools. Two things are commonly claimed and neither could be confirmed: that Arizona holds reciprocal relationships with California, Nevada and Utah, and that a five-of-the-last-seven-years active licence condition applies. Both come from practitioner sources, not from a Registrar page — the official form returned a bot-detection block. Confirm with ROC Licensing on 602-542-1525. The NASCLA national exam is accepted only for KB-1/KB-2 building and C-11/R-11/CR-11 electrical work, not for the -21 classifications.
Arizona judges an incoming credential against its own requirements rather than a named list of states. See the terms below.
- https://roc.az.gov/license-classifications (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
- https://roc.az.gov/applying-for-a-license (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
- https://roc.az.gov/licensing-forms (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
- https://roc.az.gov/out-state-waiver-request-form-rc-l-200g (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
Arkansas
No individual license — contractor/business license onlyThis license attaches to the business that contracts directly with the customer, not to individual workers on the crew.
How Arkansas treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Ark. Code Ann. § 17-25-101 et seq.; Residential Contractors Law § 17-25-501 et seq. Possible general pathway: Automatic Occupational Licensure, Ark. Code Ann. § 17-7-104..
Arkansas's position could not be established from an official source. This is not a "no" — it is an open question, and it should not be read as a refusal.
Where it applies: Reported as $50,000 or more for commercial work and over $2,000 for residential, including labour and materials — but these figures come from secondary compilations and were not confirmed against the licensing board or the Arkansas Code.
What was checked: Arkansas's position could not be established, and the gaps are worth knowing before you plan around it. What is established: the Contractors Licensing Board sits inside the Department of Labor and Licensing, was created in 1939, operates a Residential Committee created in 1999, and sets standards covering construction experience, business skills and financial stability. What is not: whether 'Landscaping' exists as a named specialty classification at all, or whether landscape work is simply captured once a project crosses the general threshold; whether the Board recognises any out-of-state contractor licence, on what terms, and whether that would waive an exam or merely confer eligibility; and the dollar thresholds themselves, which appear in secondary compilations but were not read from a Board page or the statute. The Board'S landing page was reachable but its Laws & Rules, Forms and Apply pages were not. One lead worth following: the Department publishes a department-wide 'Automatic Occupational Licensure' document under § 17-7-104. If that section reaches this Board it could supply a statutory recognition route independent of any board rule — but whether it applies here is not confirmed and should not be assumed. Arkansas does publish reciprocity for other trades, including journeyman electricians and elevator mechanics. Those are different boards and do not carry over. Call the Board on (501) 372-4661 before relying on any answer here.
- https://labor.arkansas.gov/licensing/arkansas-contractors-licensing-board/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-28)
- https://labor.arkansas.gov/licensing/arkansas-contractors-licensing-board/laws-rules/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-28)
- https://labor.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Out_Of_State_Licensure.pdf (secondary, accessed 2026-07-28)
California
No individual license — contractor/business license onlyThis license attaches to the business that contracts directly with the customer, not to individual workers on the crew.
How California treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Bus. & Prof. Code § 7065.4; CSLB Reciprocity Program - Reciprocity Requirements and Reciprocal Classifications List.
California has a reciprocity provision for out-of-state landscape & irrigation contractors, but whether it reaches your credential depends on the terms. See what is actually required below.
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $1,000 including labor, materials and all other items, per Bus. & Prof. Code 7048. CORRECTED: the researcher recorded $500, which is the superseded figure - AB 2622 raised the minor-work exemption from $500 to $1,000. CSLB published an implementation bulletin for the change. The exemption also does not apply where the work is part of a larger project, where contracts are split to evade the threshold, where the person advertises as a contractor, or where they employ workers.
What's actually required: California waives the trade exam for the C-27 Landscaping classification, but from two states only. The Board's Reciprocal Classifications List maps to C-27 from exactly three source codes: Arizona A-21, Arizona K-21 and Nevada C-10 Landscaping. The exclusion is the part that catches people. California also has reciprocity with Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina, but for those three the mapping is General Building (B) only and does not reach C-27. The April 2025 NASCLA expansion is likewise General Building only and gives a landscape contractor nothing. One quirk in the paperwork: California'S Arizona table still uses the old classification name, since Arizona has renamed these 'Hardscaping and Irrigation Systems', so the two states' tables no longer match on their face. Conditions: the classification must appear on that state'S Reciprocal Classifications List; you need an active licence in good standing in the reciprocal state for the previous five years; the 'Request for Verification of License' form must be completed by the other state's agency; and you file the standard Application for Original Contractor'S License. What is not waived: the Law and Business examination is still mandatory, and the Board expressly keeps the right to require the trade exam even where reciprocity is granted — so the waiver is discretionary. Four years of journey-level experience, a licence bond, fingerprints, and workers' compensation if you employ anyone all still apply. Separately from reciprocity, C-27 has its own education route: a four-year degree in horticulture, landscape horticulture or landscape architecture substitutes for up to three of the four years. Irrigation falls within C-27 scope.
- https://www.cslb.ca.gov/contractors/applicants/reciprocity/reciprocal_classifications_list.aspx (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
- https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Contractors/Applicants/Reciprocity/Reciprocity_Requirements.aspx (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
- https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Resources/IndustryBulletins/2025/Reciprocity%20Bulletin.FINAL.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
- https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Contractors/Maintain_License/Add_Classification/Qualifying_For_Waivers.aspx (official, accessed 2026-07-28)
Colorado
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Colorado treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: None found for landscaping/irrigation specifically; CRS Title 12 Art. 155 (State Plumbing Board) governs the potable-water-connection portion of irrigation work.
There is no Colorado state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Colorado issues no statewide landscape or irrigation contractor credential at all. Routine landscape installation, sod, planting, hardscape and irrigation are unregulated at state level and fall to local registration, which varies by jurisdiction — Denver, for example, requires its own landscape contractor registration and explicitly does not accept licences from any other jurisdiction. One part of the work is different. Where an irrigation system ties into a potable water line, that connection must be performed by, or under, a state-licensed plumber. Several secondary sources state that Colorado 'does not currently have reciprocal agreements for plumbing licenses with other states', but that could not be confirmed on an official state page — treat it as unconfirmed rather than settled. For the landscape and irrigation trade itself there is no state credential to reciprocate in the first place.
- https://dpo.colorado.gov/Electrical (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/licensed-landscape-contractor-colorado (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/colorado/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Connecticut
State licenseHow Connecticut treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Connecticut General Statutes §20-420 (Home Improvement Act); DCP Home Improvement registration.
There is no Connecticut state licence for this trade to reciprocate. A contractor licence applies above $200 (residential; CGS §20-420, Home Improvement Act).
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $200 (residential; CGS §20-420, Home Improvement Act)
What applies instead: Connecticut has no landscape- or irrigation-specific trade license. Any landscaping work on residential property valued at $200 or more requires HIC registration with DCP; this is a registration (insurance + fee), not an examination-based credential, so there is nothing for an out-of-state credential to substitute for. DCP's own guidance states it 'Does not recognize out-of-state home improvement registrations as equivalent to Connecticut registration' — out-of-state contractors must register independently in Connecticut regardless of home-state status. No state irrigation contractor license exists; backflow-prevention assemblies on irrigation tie-ins must be tested annually by a certified tester under the state plumbing code.
- https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/trade-practices-division/home-improvement-for-consumers (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/license-services-division/all-license-applications/home-improvement-applications (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://connecticutcontractorauthority.com/connecticut-contractor-reciprocity-out-of-state/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Delaware
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Delaware treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: 30 Del. C. §2301 (Division of Revenue Business License); Delaware Home Improvement Protection Act (residential construction-type work only).
There is no Delaware state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Delaware has no state-level landscape contractor trade license and no state irrigation-contractor license. Every landscaping business, regardless of origin state, registers with the Division of Revenue for a gross-receipts-tax business license — a tax registration, not a competency credential, so reciprocity does not apply. Landscape work that crosses into construction (patios, retaining walls, drainage, irrigation piping) may trigger Home Improvement Protection Act registration through the DOJ Consumer Protection Unit, which likewise is not exam-based. Non-resident contractors specifically must post a surety bond. No official source was found describing any out-of-state credit for either registration. Fee: $75 typical Division of Revenue landscaper classification fee plus 0.3983% gross receipts tax (rate as reported; not independently confirmed on an official host).
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/licensed-landscape-contractor-delaware (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/delaware/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Florida
State licenseHow Florida treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Rule 61G4-15.035, F.A.C. (scope of Certified Irrigation Specialty Contractor); Fla. Stat. Ch. 489; DBPR Form CILB 32 (Application for Certification by Reciprocity).
Florida does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: Florida's formal, exam-waiving reciprocity agreements (via Form CILB 32) are expressly limited to the Certified General Contractor, Certified Building Contractor, and Certified Residential Contractor license types reciprocating from Louisiana, Mississippi, and North Carolina — the Irrigation Specialty Contractor classification is not among the reciprocal classifications listed on that form. An out-of-state irrigation credential holder can still apply for Florida licensure under the general 'Endorsement' provisions of Ch. 489 if their out-of-state license 'Lines up' with the Florida classification, but this is discretionary case-by-case review, not an automatic exam waiver, and no NASCLA-equivalent exam exists for irrigation that Florida accepts in lieu of its own two exams (Business & Finance, Technical). In practice an out-of-state irrigation contractor must sit Florida'S own exams. A separate, local-only 'Registered Irrigation Contractor' route exists via county competency cards but confers no statewide reciprocity either.
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/pro/cilb/documents/CILB5AC_Certified_Contractor_Individual_Irrigation.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/pro/cilb/documents/CILB32_Reciprocity.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://fhba.com/florida-construction-education/licensure-requirements/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://fisstate.org/Article-May-2025-Understanding-Local-and-State-Irrigation-Licenses-In-Florida (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Georgia
State licenseHow Georgia treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Georgia Secretary of State, Board of Low Voltage Contractors FAQ; O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 14.
Georgia does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: Georgia does not require a general landscaping license, but irrigation installers must hold a Low Voltage Electrician's License from the Secretary of State. The Board'S own FAQ states verbatim: 'Georgia currently has no active reciprocity agreements with other states. Reciprocity with North Carolina was paused effective November 26, 2024.' A reciprocity application form exists, but it is currently non-functional for every state, including North Carolina, whose prior agreement is suspended. Applicants who obtained their out-of-state license by grandfathering, endorsement, or conversion (rather than by exam) are also categorically ineligible even if an agreement existed. Incoming irrigation installers must therefore sit Georgia's exam regardless of origin state.
- https://sos.ga.gov/page/board-low-voltage-contractors-faq (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/46%20Low%20Voltage%20-%20Reciprocity_0.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://urbanagcouncil.com/licensing-requirements-for-landscape-professionals/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Hawaii
State licenseHow Hawaii treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Hawaii CLB Contractor FAQ (cca.Hawaii.gov).
Hawaii does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $1,500 (labor + materials, HRS ch. 444)
Why, and what applies instead: Hawaii's own Contractor FAQ states plainly: 'Does Hawaii have reciprocity agreements with other states? No. All applicants must meet the same licensing and examination requirements.' This applies uniformly across every CLB classification, including C-27 Landscaping and C-37b Irrigation - an out-of-state landscape or irrigation contractor must independently pass Hawaii'S trade and business/law exams and document 4 years of experience within the preceding 10 years, regardless of home-state credentials.
- https://cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Contractor_FAQ-18.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://a1contractorservices.com/hawaii-contractors-license/hawaii-contractors-license-classifications/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Idaho
State licenseHow Idaho treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Idaho Contractors Board (registration only, no exam); DOPL Limited Electrical Installer application (Irrigation Sprinkler category).
There is no Idaho state licence for this trade to reciprocate. A contractor licence applies above $2,000 (contractor registration, labor + materials).
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $2,000 (contractor registration, labor + materials)
What applies instead: General landscape/irrigation contractor registration in Idaho is not exam-based - the Idaho Contractors Board is a registration board, not a licensing board, so there is no exam or competency threshold for an out-of-state credential to waive; multiple sources confirm Idaho does not offer reciprocity for general contractor registration. Separately, DOPL's Limited Electrical Installer application does include an 'Irrigation Sprinkler' license category with a 'Reciprocal' application-type checkbox, but DOPL'S own published reciprocal-states list enumerates reciprocity only for full Journeyman/Master electrician licenses (Colorado, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico) - it does not name any state for the Irrigation Sprinkler specialty specifically, so whether that reciprocal checkbox is presently usable for any state could not be confirmed.
- https://dopl.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Limited-Electrical-Installer-Application_Fillable.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://dopl.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bcre-reciprocal-info.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Illinois
State licenseHow Illinois treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: 225 ILCS 320 (Illinois Plumbing License Law); IDPH Plumbing Program.
Illinois does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: General landscape work has no Illinois state license. Irrigation, however, is regulated: an 'Irrigation Contractor' under the Plumbing License Law must register annually with IDPH and must employ or contract with an IDPH-licensed plumber for connection/inspection work; at least one employee must complete a 16-hour certification course. Sources are unanimous that Illinois does not have reciprocity agreements with other states for licensure under this law - the only cross-jurisdiction arrangement is a City of Chicago/state reciprocity for plumbers within Illinois itself, which does not reach other states. An out-of-state irrigation contractor must register in Illinois on the same terms as anyone else. Fee: $25 nonrefundable registration fee per lawn sprinkler system; general plumbing licensure fees run $175 in-state / $225 for out-of-state or Chicago applicants.
- https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/plumbing.html (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://dph.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idph/files/forms/irrigation-contractor-registration-application-042616.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Indiana
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Indiana treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: None found; local city/county contractor registration applies in some jurisdictions (e.g., Indianapolis for grading/hardscape).
There is no Indiana state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Indiana issues no state-level landscape or irrigation contractor credential at all. General landscaping, mulching, planting and hardscape are entirely unregulated at the state level; some municipalities require local contractor registration for larger installs. Irrigation itself is not separately licensed - only the backflow-prevention assembly on any potable-water tie-in must be tested annually by an IPLA-certified backflow tester, and commercial fertilizer/pesticide application requires OISC Commercial Applicator certification. Because there is no state trade credential for landscape/irrigation contracting itself, reciprocity does not apply.
- https://startbusinessbystate.com/indiana/landscaping/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/indiana/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://getduranta.com/landscaping-business-licenses/indiana (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Iowa
State licenseHow Iowa treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Iowa Code ch. 91C (Contractor Registration); DIAL Special Electrician license (irrigation system wiring).
There is no Iowa state licence for this trade to reciprocate. A contractor licence applies above $2,000 (annual, contractor registration).
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $2,000 (annual, contractor registration)
What applies instead: Iowa's general contractor registration is pure administrative compliance - no exam, no experience, no skill verification - required of anyone earning $2,000+/year from construction work, including landscape/irrigation installation. Because there is no competency exam, reciprocity as a concept does not apply, though non-resident contractors must post a $25,000 surety bond (or IDOT pre-qualification letter) and obtain an Iowa unemployment insurance account - a real practical barrier even without an exam. Separately, DIAL'S Electrical Examining Board licenses a 'Special Electrician' category authorized to wire irrigation systems (limited to 220V/20A, per Iowa Admin. Code r. 661-502.2); DIAL's official reciprocity list (12 named states) is confirmed to cover Journeyman/Master electricians but does not specify whether it extends to the Special Electrician sub-license. Fee: $50/year contractor registration fee.
- https://dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/contractors (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/electrical-licensing/electrical-licensing-faqs (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Kansas
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Kansas treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: None at state level; local specialty contractor licenses vary by city.
There is no Kansas state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Kansas has no statewide landscape or irrigation contractor license - general landscaping, grading, hardscaping and irrigation installation are unregulated by the state itself. Individual cities (e.g., Salina) issue their own local Specialty Contractor licenses covering 'Lawn/Landscape Irrigation' as a distinct category, but these are municipal credentials with municipal-only reciprocity considerations, not a state program. Kansas does license Commercial Pesticide Applicators through the Department of Agriculture for chemical application, a separate credential from irrigation/landscape installation.
- https://www.salina-ks.gov/contractor-licensing (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/licensed-landscape-contractor-kansas (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Kentucky
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Kentucky treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: None found for landscape/irrigation specifically.
There is no Kentucky state licence for this trade to reciprocate. A contractor licence applies above $1,000 (residential construction-component work, via HBC Residential Contractor license).
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $1,000 (residential construction-component work, via HBC Residential Contractor license)
What applies instead: Kentucky has no dedicated landscape or irrigation contractor license. Basic planting, mowing and maintenance are unregulated at the state level. Landscape work that crosses into structural construction (retaining walls, drainage, grading affecting structures) on residential property over $1,000 may require Kentucky's Residential Contractor license from DHBC - a general credential, not landscape-specific - and no source found describes reciprocity for that license type distinctly from Kentucky'S electrical/plumbing/HVAC reciprocity programs. Irrigation tie-ins to potable water require backflow testing by a Kentucky Plumbing Board-certified tester.
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/licensed-landscape-contractor-kentucky (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/kentucky/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Louisiana
State licenseHow Louisiana treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: LDAF nurseries/landscaping program (ldaf.la.gov).
Louisiana's position could not be established from an official source. This is not a "no" — it is an open question, and it should not be read as a refusal.
What was checked: Louisiana licenses landscape irrigation work through LDAF, not LSLBC: a Landscape Irrigation Contractor must pass a state exam, obtain a Water Supply Protection Specialist endorsement from the State Plumbing Board before connecting to any water supply, carry $25,000/$50,000 liability insurance, and attend a continuing-education seminar every three years. General landscaping (design, planting) requires a separate Landscape Horticulturist license from LDAF. No official LDAF source addresses reciprocity for either credential, and this is a distinct agency from the LSLBC, whose own reciprocity agreements (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia) apply to LSLBC-administered building/specialty classifications and do not appear to reach LDAF's horticulture/irrigation licenses. Fee: $125/year (Landscape Irrigation Contractor license).
- https://www.ldaf.la.gov/plants/nurseries-landscaping (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.irrigation.org/ia/Advocacy/Louisiana.aspx (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://lslbc.gov/reciprocity/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Maine
State licenseHow Maine treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: 10 M.R.S. Ch. 219-A (Home Construction Contracts Act).
There is no Maine state licence for this trade to reciprocate. A contractor licence applies above $3,000 (residential, Home Construction Contracts Act).
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $3,000 (residential, Home Construction Contracts Act)
What applies instead: Maine has no landscape- or irrigation-specific trade license. General landscape maintenance is unregulated. Where landscape work involves construction (patios, retaining walls, drainage, irrigation piping) on residential property valued at $3,000 or more, the contractor must register under the Home Construction Contracts Act - a registration, not an exam-based credential - and this registration requirement explicitly extends to out-of-state contractors performing such work in Maine (e.g., a New Hampshire or Massachusetts contractor must separately register). Because it is a registration rather than a licensing exam, there is nothing to reciprocate.
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/licensed-landscape-contractor-maine (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/maine/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Maryland
State licenseHow Maryland treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: MHIC Licensing FAQ (labor.Maryland.gov).
Maryland does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $500 (residential home improvement contract, one of the lowest thresholds nationally)
Why, and what applies instead: Maryland regulates residential landscape construction work - including hardscape, retaining walls, drainage and irrigation - as 'home improvement' under the MHIC, which covers any such contract of $500 or more. MHIC's own FAQ states outright: 'The Maryland Home Improvement Commission does not offer reciprocity with any other states because each licensee must demonstrate knowledge of Maryland laws and regulations.' Every out-of-state contractor, regardless of home-state licensure, must independently pass the Maryland MHIC exam. There is no separate state irrigation-contractor license; potable-water backflow assemblies on irrigation tie-ins require Maryland-code-compliant testing. Fee: $281.25 application fee (effective Aug. 1, 2024) plus $100 Guaranty Fund assessment.
- https://labor.maryland.gov/license/mhic/mhicfaqlic.shtml (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/maryland/landscaping-license-requirements/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Massachusetts
State licenseHow Massachusetts treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: MGL c. 142A (HIC registration).
There is no Massachusetts state licence for this trade to reciprocate. A contractor licence applies above $1,000 (residential, HIC registration).
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $1,000 (residential, HIC registration)
What applies instead: Massachusetts has no landscape- or irrigation-specific license - there is no MA equivalent of California's C-27 or North Carolina'S landscape contractor license. Construction-component landscape work (patios, retaining walls, irrigation trenching) on an existing owner-occupied 1-4 unit residence over $1,000 requires HIC registration through OCABR, which has no exam - a registration, not a licensing test - and sources confirm 'Massachusetts does not offer reciprocal licensing agreements for contractors in other states' and 'No reciprocity, no NASCLA.' Because HIC has no exam, reciprocity is not a relevant concept for it; any out-of-state contractor must independently register. Fee: $150 registration fee + Guaranty Fund contribution.
- https://mass.gov/info-details/home-improvement-contractor-registration-and-renewal (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://getlicensemap.com/states/general-contractor/massachusetts (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://generalcontractorlicensecenter.com/reciprocal-contractor-licensing-in-massachusetts/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Michigan
State licenseHow Michigan treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes, Residential Builder FAQ.
Michigan does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $600 (labor + materials, residential construction/alteration)
Why, and what applies instead: Michigan has no landscape- or irrigation-specific state license. Irrigation connecting to potable water is treated as plumbing (requiring a licensed plumber); landscape-lighting connections to a main panel require a licensed electrician. Construction-type landscape/hardscape work on residential property over $600 requires either a Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license from LARA. LARA's own official FAQ states plainly: 'Michigan does not hold reciprocal agreements with any other State. The individual would need to meet all Michigan requirements for licensure.' This applies regardless of how long the applicant has held an out-of-state credential.
- https://www.michigan.gov/lara/-/media/Project/Websites/lara/bcc-media/Licensing/Residential-Builders/Builders-FAQ.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/licensed-landscape-contractor-michigan (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Minnesota
State licenseHow Minnesota treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: DLI Exam Guide (dli.mn.gov); Minn. Stat. 326B.821.
Minnesota does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $15,000/year (gross annual receipts from construction-related landscape services)
Why, and what applies instead: Minnesota has no landscape- or irrigation-specific state license (mowing, planting and maintenance are unregulated). Where landscape work crosses into construction and the contractor earns more than $15,000/year from such services, a Residential Building Contractor or Remodeler license from DLI is required - exam-based, with a $1,000+ surety bond. DLI's own official exam guide states plainly: 'The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry does not have reciprocal agreements with other states for Residential Building Contractors, Residential Remodelers, Residential Roofers, and Manufactured Home Installers licenses. If an individual has received certification from another state, they must still apply for certification in Minnesota and take the examination.' Fee: $180 base license fee plus Contractor Recovery Fund assessment ($320-$420 depending on gross receipts).
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/exam_guide.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/residential-contractors/residential-contractor-licensing (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Mississippi
State licenseHow Mississippi treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: MSBOC Reciprocity Instructions and Form (msboc.us).
Mississippi has a reciprocity provision for out-of-state landscape & irrigation contractors, but whether it reaches your credential depends on the terms. See what is actually required below.
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $50,000 commercial (MSBOC) / no set threshold for the MDAC Landscape Contractor license
What's actually required: For commercial projects at or above $50,000, MSBOC recognizes 'Irrigation Systems' and 'Landscaping, Grading and Beautification' (which must also satisfy the Bureau of Plant Industry) as licensable classifications, and MSBOC's official reciprocity mechanism waives only the trade examination - $50 per waived exam - for applicants holding a comparable out-of-state credential; the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam is always required. Separately and independently, Mississippi issues its own MDAC Landscape Contractor license (state exam, $100/year) for landscape work below the MSBOC commercial threshold, and a source states plainly 'Mississippi does not reciprocate the Landscape Contractor license.' So the answer depends entirely on which credential governs the project: the same tradesman reciprocates on a $60,000 commercial job and does not on a $20,000 one. Fee: $50 per waived trade exam (MSBOC); $100/year (MDAC Landscape Contractor license, non-reciprocal).
Mississippi judges an incoming credential against its own requirements rather than a named list of states. See the terms below.
- https://www.msboc.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Reciprocity-Instructions-and-Form-updated-10-2024.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.msboc.us/classifications/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/mississippi/landscaping-license-requirements/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Missouri
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Missouri treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: None at state level.
There is no Missouri state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Missouri has no state-level general contractor, landscape or irrigation contractor license of any kind - 'general contractors are not required to have a license in the state of Missouri.' Cities such as St. Louis and Kansas City impose their own local business/contractor registrations. Backflow devices on irrigation tie-ins must be installed by or under a licensed plumber per Missouri's plumbing code, but there is no state landscape/irrigation credential itself to reciprocate.
- https://www.servicetitan.com/licensing/contractor/missouri (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/licensed-landscape-contractor-missouri (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Montana
State licenseHow Montana treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Montana DLI Contractor Registration (converted per 2025 HB239).
There is no Montana state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Montana has no dedicated landscape or irrigation contractor licence and no landscape contractors board. Construction-type landscape work — grading, retaining walls, irrigation installation — requires registration with the state contractor programme, which applies at any dollar amount with no minimum threshold. It is a pure registration rather than an exam-based credential, so there is nothing for reciprocity to act on. Note the terminology changed recently: HB 239 converted that registration into a formal 'Contractors License' effective 1 January 2026, with existing registrations converted automatically. The conversion did not add an examination requirement, so the answer is unchanged.
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/licensed-landscape-contractor-montana (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://local.yahoo.com/plumbing/article/montana-plumbing-licensing-and-regulation-140000070.html (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Nebraska
State licenseHow Nebraska treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: NDOL Contractor Registration Act.
There is no Nebraska state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Nebraska has no landscape- or irrigation-specific credential and no general contractor license at all - 'you can legally mow lawns, install irrigation systems, plant trees, and build retaining walls in Nebraska without obtaining a state-issued contractor credential.' NDOL requires only an annual $25 registration, with no exam, for contractors with employees. Because there is no exam, reciprocity as a concept does not apply; Nebraska's only real reciprocity program is for State Electrical Board journeyman licenses, unrelated to landscape/irrigation work itself. Fee: $25/year (NDOL contractor registration).
- https://startbusinessbystate.com/nebraska/landscaping/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.servicetitan.com/licensing/contractor/nebraska (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Nevada
State licenseHow Nevada treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: NSCB reciprocity program; CSLB Reciprocal Classifications List (cslb.ca.gov).
Nevada has a reciprocity provision for out-of-state landscape & irrigation contractors, but whether it reaches your credential depends on the terms. See what is actually required below.
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $1,000 (labor + materials, or any permitted work)
What's actually required: Nevada's C-10 Landscape Contracting license covers grading, planting, drainage/irrigation systems, xeriscaping and limited hardscape (patios up to 400 sq ft, retaining walls up to 3 ft). Nevada maintains real, trade-exam-waiving reciprocity with California and Arizona, and per some sources Utah - confirmed via California'S own official CSLB reciprocal-classifications table, which maps Nevada's C-10 Landscaping directly to California'S C-27 Landscaping. The Nevada Law and Business exam is still required regardless of reciprocity; the classification mapping for California licensees is reviewed for equivalency rather than automatic. Note this is the same C-27 classification where the site previously carried a live error, claiming California reciprocity from five states when CSLB's list reaches C-27 from only two.
- https://www.cslb.ca.gov/contractors/applicants/reciprocity/reciprocal_classifications_list.aspx (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/nevada/NAC-624-280 (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.examprep.org/contractors-license/seminars/nevada/nevada-landscape-contractor-c-10/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
New Hampshire
State licenseHow New Hampshire treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: nh oplc; RSA 319 (Electricians); RSA 329 (Plumbers).
New Hampshire's position could not be established from an official source. This is not a "no" — it is an open question, and it should not be read as a refusal.
What was checked: New Hampshire has no landscape- or irrigation-contractor license and no general contractor license at all - there is no NH Landscape Contractors Board, and construction-type landscape work is purely a matter of local permitting. Irrigation systems with plumbing or electrical connections require a separately licensed NH plumber or electrician. The Electricians and Plumbers Boards do maintain 'substantially similar' reciprocity/endorsement provisions under OPLC, with named New England-state agreements, but no source specifically addresses whether or how this reaches irrigation-related plumbing/electrical work as opposed to general trade licensure.
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/licensed-landscape-contractor-new-hampshire (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicensinginc.com/national-contractor-licensing/new-hampshire-contractor-license-requirements-application-help-contractor-licensing-inc/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
New Jersey
State licenseHow New Jersey treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: N.J.S.A. 45:5AA (Landscape Irrigation Contractor Certification Act of 1991); N.J.A.C. 5:62.
New Jersey's position could not be established from an official source. This is not a "no" — it is an open question, and it should not be read as a refusal.
What was checked: New Jersey specifically and uniquely licenses landscape irrigation work: a person must be certified by the Board of Landscape Irrigation Contractors (3 years/1,100 hours experience within the past 15 years, passing the national Irrigation Association's Certified Irrigation Contractor exam) before a business can obtain the required Landscape Irrigation Contractor business permit - an ordinary Home Improvement Contractor license explicitly does not substitute for this. Licensed plumbing contractors are exempt from the individual certification but still need the business permit. The Board'S own official FAQ page does not mention any out-of-state reciprocity or waiver for holders of an equivalent out-of-state credential, or for the national CIC exam passed elsewhere - an out-of-state applicant appears to go through the identical CIC-exam and experience-documentation process as anyone else, but this was not explicitly confirmed as either a yes or a no in the source reviewed. Fee: $300 initial certification fee; $45 application fee; renewed every 2 years ($300).
- https://www.nj.gov/dca/codes/advisory/Landscp_Irr_Cont.shtml (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
New Mexico
State licenseHow New Mexico treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: NMSA 1978, Chapter 60, Article 13 (Construction Industries Licensing Act); CID reciprocity programme.
New Mexico's position could not be established from an official source. This is not a "no" — it is an open question, and it should not be read as a refusal.
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $7,200 (labor + materials, per secondary compilation); sources conflict on CID thresholds generally
What was checked: New Mexico licenses landscape/irrigation installation under GS-3 (planting, irrigation, drainage, hardscape). Sources directly conflict: one compilation states 'only the GS-3 trade exam is reciprocal' with Business & Law never waived, while another states plainly 'New Mexico does not currently have formal reciprocity agreements for landscaper licenses.' CID's general policy is that it offers limited reciprocity for select classifications where another state'S standards are equivalent - confirmed at general-contractor level (GB-98) with Arizona, Nevada and Utah - but whether this extends to GS-3 could not be resolved. Correctly left unverified rather than picking a side. Fee: $30 application + $300 classification fee.
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/new-mexico/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.contractorlicenses.org/new-mexico/landscaper/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/new-mexico/general-contractor-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
New York
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How New York treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: None at state level.
There is no New York state licence for this trade to reciprocate. A contractor licence applies above $200 (NYC dcwp HIC, residential, not landscape-specific).
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $200 (NYC dcwp HIC, residential, not landscape-specific)
What applies instead: New York has no statewide landscape or irrigation contractor licence or exam. Landscape contractors who apply pesticides must hold a DEC Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certificate, a separate credential; irrigation work connecting to potable water may require a locally-licensed plumber. NYC and certain counties impose their own local licensing for landscape/irrigation/hardscape work, but there is no state-level credential to reciprocate.
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/licensed-landscape-contractor-new-york (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/new-york/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
North Carolina
State licenseHow North Carolina treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: NCLCLB Reciprocity Rules; NCICLB License by Reciprocity, N.C.G.S. 89G-8; 21 NCAC 28B.
North Carolina has a reciprocity provision for out-of-state landscape & irrigation contractors, but whether it reaches your credential depends on the terms. See what is actually required below.
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $30,000 per consecutive 12-month period (labor + materials + other items)
What's actually required: Both North Carolina landscape boards have genuine, currently active reciprocity pathways - contradicting an older secondary claim that NCLCLB 'does not currently have' reciprocity. NCLCLB's own administrative rule describes a real process: a $100 reciprocity fee, documentation that the applicant holds an active licence/certification/registration as a landscape contractor in another state or country, a corporate surety bond, and personal/professional references - with no North Carolina exam required for qualifying applicants. NCICLB similarly has a formal 'License by Reciprocity' section under which the Board sends a licence-verification request directly to the applicant'S home-state board; per NCICLB's own materials, reciprocity and previous-CIC-licence applicants are the only ones exempted from the North Carolina examination. Both are discretionary and conditioned on the out-of-state credential and standing. Fee: $100 (NCLCLB reciprocity fee); a reciprocity fee also applies at NCICLB, amount not confirmed.
North Carolina judges an incoming credential against its own requirements rather than a named list of states. See the terms below.
- http://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2021%20-%20occupational%20licensing%20boards%20and%20commissions/chapter%2028%20-%20landscape%20contractors/subchapter%20b/subchapter%20b%20rules.html (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://nclclb.com/licensing-2/reciprocity/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.nciclb.org/how-do-i-obtain-a-nc-irrigation-contractors-license/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
North Dakota
State licenseHow North Dakota treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: N.D. Cent. Code 43-07 (SOS Contractor Licence).
There is no North Dakota state licence for this trade to reciprocate. A contractor licence applies above $4,000 (cost, value or price of a project).
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $4,000 (cost, value or price of a project)
What applies instead: North Dakota has no landscape- or irrigation-specific state licence. The SOS Contractor Licence covers any construction work above $4,000 broadly, including landscape/irrigation installation, but is a registration - business filing, insurance, bond - rather than an exam-based credential. 'North Dakota does not offer reciprocal licensing agreements with other states for General Contractors... any out-of-state contractor... must register their business and obtain a license.' Because there is no exam to waive, reciprocity is not applicable; every out-of-state contractor registers on the same basis as an in-state one.
- https://www.sos.nd.gov/business/licensing-registration/contractors (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://generalcontractorlicensecenter.com/reciprocal-general-contractor-licensing-in-north-dakota/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Ohio
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Ohio treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: None at state level for landscape/irrigation.
There is no Ohio state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Ohio has no statewide landscape or irrigation contractor licence - OCILB's five licensable trades do not include landscaping. Irrigation connections to public water require a licensed plumber for backflow compliance. Some municipalities including Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati independently require local landscape contractor registration. Because there is no state landscape/irrigation credential, there is nothing to reciprocate at state level.
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/ohio/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/licensed-landscape-contractor-ohio (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Oklahoma
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Oklahoma treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: None at state level for landscape/irrigation specifically.
There is no Oklahoma state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Oklahoma has no state landscaping licence and does not issue a general contractor licence of any kind - basic landscape work such as mowing, planting and edging requires no state credential. Where irrigation work crosses into trade-specific categories such as plumbing or electrical, CIB's genuine written-agreement-based trade reciprocity could apply, but no source identified a distinct irrigation classification under CIB.
- https://cib.ok.gov/faqs (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://maplescapes.com/landscaping-license-oklahoma/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Oregon
State licenseHow Oregon treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: ORS Chapter 671; Oregon Landscape Contractors Board.
Oregon does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: Oregon uniquely regulates landscape contracting, including irrigation system design and installation, through a dedicated state board entirely separate from the general Construction Contractors Board. 'No formal reciprocity. The LCB exam and bond are required of all applicants regardless of out-of-state credentials.' NASCLA is not accepted for this classification either. Every out-of-state landscape contractor, regardless of years of experience or home-state licensure, must independently pass the Oregon LCB exam at 70% and document 4 years of qualifying experience.
- https://www.oregon.gov/lcb/Documents/LRBGuideEnglish.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors671.html (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- http://contractorlicenserequirements.com/oregon/landscaping-license-requirements/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Pennsylvania
State licenseHow Pennsylvania treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, 73 P.S. 517.1 et seq..
There is no Pennsylvania state licence for this trade to reciprocate. A contractor licence applies above $5,000/year residential home improvement work (HICPA).
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $5,000/year residential home improvement work (HICPA)
What applies instead: Pennsylvania has no landscape- or irrigation-specific state licence and no state general contractor licence at all. Residential hardscape/landscape/irrigation work over $5,000/year requires HIC registration with the Attorney General's Office - a pure registration with no exam, no experience requirement and no trade testing. 'There is no reciprocity to have - Pennsylvania does not issue a trade license, so there is nothing for other states to reciprocate with.' Every out-of-state contractor must independently file pa HIC registration. Fee: $100 HIC registration, biennial, effective March 2026.
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/pennsylvania/general-contractor-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://plna.site-ym.com/general/custom.asp?page=HICregistration (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Rhode Island
State licenseHow Rhode Island treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: CRLB FAQ; 260-RICR-30-15-9 (Licensing of Plumbers, Irrigators and Water System Installers).
Rhode Island does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: Rhode Island regulates construction-type landscape work through contractor registration, and licenses irrigation separately as a distinct Master Irrigator credential under the same framework as plumbers and water-filtration installers. A master plumber is exempt from needing the irrigator licence as well. On the registration side the board's own FAQ is unambiguous: 'To perform contracting work in Rhode Island, you must register with CRLB. There is no reciprocity for a contractor's registration.' No source specifically addressed reciprocity for the Master Irrigator sub-licence. Rhode Island has independently confirmed no reciprocity for electrical work, and the same posture holds for its elevator and low-voltage credentials, so it very likely extends here — but that was not directly confirmed and should not be treated as settled.
- https://crb.ri.gov/contractor-registration/faqs (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/260-30-15-9 (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
South Carolina
State licenseHow South Carolina treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: sc LLR Specialty Contractor programme.
South Carolina does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: South Carolina does not issue a single unified landscaping licence; construction-adjacent landscape work such as retaining walls, grading and drainage may require an LLR Specialty Contractor licence, while general landscape maintenance is unregulated. 'No formal LLR reciprocity' for the Landscaping Specialty Contractor classification - every out-of-state applicant must independently pass the PSI Landscaping trade exam. Separately, South Carolina has its own Landscape Irrigation Contractor Certification Act at Title 40, Chapter 81 - a distinct irrigation-specific credential - but no reciprocity information for that Act was located in the time available, so the irrigation half of this trade is genuinely unresolved for South Carolina. Fee: $80 LLR Specialty Contractor application.
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/south-carolina/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t40c081.php (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
South Dakota
State licenseHow South Dakota treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: SD Admin. Rules 20:53:08 (Underground irrigation licences); SDCL 36-25-14.
South Dakota's position could not be established from an official source. This is not a "no" — it is an open question, and it should not be read as a refusal.
What was checked: South Dakota has no general landscape contractor licence; general landscape and hardscape work is unregulated at state level, with local registration only. Irrigation is different. It requires an underground irrigation licence from the State Plumbing Commission, though anyone already licensed as a plumbing contractor, plumber or apprentice is exempt from needing it separately. Whether that irrigation licence reciprocates could not be confirmed. One secondary compilation lists the state's Department of Labor and Regulation trades generally as offering reciprocity with a distinct reciprocal fee schedule, but nothing confirmed it for the underground irrigation licence specifically. The department'S own reciprocity page is the place to settle it. Fee: $240 for an Irrigation Contractor and $155 for an Irrigation Installer, per a secondary compilation.
- https://regulations.justia.com/states/south-dakota/title-20/article-20-53/chapter-20-53-08/section-20-53-08-02/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://nationalcontractorlicenseagency.com/south-dakota-contractor-license-information (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/licensed-landscape-contractor-south-dakota (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Tennessee
State licenseHow Tennessee treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: TN.gov contractor reciprocity form.
Tennessee has a reciprocity provision for out-of-state landscape & irrigation contractors, but whether it reaches your credential depends on the terms. See what is actually required below.
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $25,000 (labor + materials, general TBLC threshold)
What's actually required: Tennessee has two landscape credentials and they give opposite answers, so start by working out which one you hold. BC-29 Landscaping is one of 33 no-exam subcategories under the general Building Contractor licence. Because no trade exam is needed to get it in the first place, the Board's own guidance notes that 'Reciprocation would not be a benefit' for it — there is nothing to waive. The CMC-D Landscaping specialty is different: it does require its own PSI trade exam, and for that exam the Board has a real, confirmed trade-exam-waiver agreement with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. The reciprocating state must be your home or domiciled state, and the Tennessee Business and Law exam is always required. Fee: $250 for the Board application under the CMC-D classification.
- https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/commerce/documents/regboards/contractors/forms/ContReciprocation1.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/tennessee/landscaping-license-requirements/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Texas
State licenseHow Texas treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: 30 TAC Chapter 344; Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1903.
Texas does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: Texas has no state-level general landscape contractor licence - basic landscaping is unregulated statewide, though Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio impose local registration. Landscape irrigation installation, design or service specifically requires a TCEQ Licensed Irrigator credential: a 40-hour course and PSI exam at 70%. 'No TCEQ irrigator reciprocity.' Every out-of-state irrigator must independently complete Texas's training and exam requirements. Fee: $75 (LI licence application).
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/texas/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.txia.org/content.asp?contentid=172 (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Utah
State licenseHow Utah treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55; DOPL endorsement programme.
Utah has a reciprocity provision for out-of-state landscape & irrigation contractors, but whether it reaches your credential depends on the terms. See what is actually required below.
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $3,000 (labor + materials, general DOPL contractor threshold)
What's actually required: Utah is one of the few states with a dedicated landscape and irrigation classification, S330. It covers planting, sod, hardscape, retaining walls under four feet, drainage and irrigation sprinkler systems — electrical, plumbing and gas work must be subcontracted out separately. The state accepts endorsement applications from out-of-state contractors with at least one year of equivalent licensure, waiving the trade exam while still requiring Utah's Business & Law exam, insurance and bonding. You may encounter an older, broader claim that Utah has no contractor reciprocity at all. The endorsement mechanism is the more current and more specific answer, and what actually decides it is whether your home state used the national PSI exam — which is why Nevada and Arizona applicants generally succeed on this route and California ones generally do not. Fee: $84 per two-year renewal cycle.
Utah judges an incoming credential against its own requirements rather than a named list of states. See the terms below.
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/utah/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicensinginc.com/national-contractor-licensing/utah-contractor-license/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/how-to-check-contractor-license-utah (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Vermont
State licenseHow Vermont treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Vermont residential contractor registration (Act 182) is registration-only.
There is no Vermont state licence for this trade to reciprocate. A contractor licence applies above $10,000 (Vermont residential contractor registration - registration only, not landscape-specific).
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $10,000 (Vermont residential contractor registration - registration only, not landscape-specific)
What applies instead: Landscaping appears explicitly among Vermont's unlicensed trades with no state contractor licence required. Residential construction work of $10,000+ requires registration with the Secretary of State'S Office of Professional Regulation, but this is a pure registration with no exam - 'because Vermont doesn'T offer a general contractor license, the state doesn't permit license reciprocity with other states.' Irrigation connecting to potable water would require a separately-licensed Vermont plumber.
- https://vermontcontractorauthority.com/vermont-contractor-licensing-requirements (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.servicetitan.com/licensing/contractor/vermont (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Virginia
State licenseHow Virginia treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Va. Code 54.1-1103; DPOR exam programme.
Virginia does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Where it applies: Contractor licensing above $1,000 for most trades - but landscape irrigation and water-well contractors must be licensed REGARDLESS of project value, with no floor
Why, and what applies instead: Virginia licenses landscape irrigation as its own classification requiring a dedicated technical exam - 50 questions, 74% to pass - covering design, controls/wiring, excavation, pumps and backflow. Unusually, and worth surfacing prominently: unlike most Virginia trades, landscape irrigation and water-well contracting must be licensed at the appropriate Class A/B/C level REGARDLESS of project value, with no $1,000 floor. On reciprocity: 'Virginia currently does not have reciprocity with any state for this classification.' This is distinct from Virginia's general contractor-level reciprocity with Maryland, North Carolina and West Virginia, which does not reach the landscape-irrigation specialty. The separate Landscape Service specialty also has no confirmed specialty-specific reciprocity.
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter11/section54.1-1103/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.examprep.org/contractors-license/seminars/virginia/virginia-landscaping-irrigation-contractor/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/virginia/landscaping-license-requirements/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Washington
State licenseHow Washington treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: RCW 18.27; L&I Specialty Contractor Registration.
Washington does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: Washington requires anyone performing landscape construction - irrigation, retaining walls, hardscape - for compensation to register as a Specialty Contractor with L&I, requiring bond and insurance. 'L&I specialty registration is not reciprocal.' Every out-of-state landscape contractor must independently register regardless of home-state credentials. Structurally this is the same registration-not-licence finding as the Washington pool/spa and contractor-trade entries: there is no exam to waive. Fee: $125 (renewal, 2-year cycle).
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/washington/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
West Virginia
State licenseHow West Virginia treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: W. Va. Code 21-11-2; WVCLB Specialty licence programme.
West Virginia's position could not be established from an official source. This is not a "no" — it is an open question, and it should not be read as a refusal.
What was checked: West Virginia requires a Landscape Specialty Contractor licence for landscape work involving land preparation or alteration, or the installation of materials such as concrete, brick, gravel or stone, valued at $2,500 or more. Pure maintenance work is exempt. The Contractor Licensing Board does maintain trade-exam-waiver reciprocity for certain classifications — confirmed for Electrical with North Carolina and Ohio — but no source confirmed whether an equivalent agreement reaches the Landscape Specialty classification. This is the same open question that applies to West Virginia's pool and low-voltage classifications: whether specialty classifications inherit the board'S agreements. One enquiry to the Division of Labor settles all three. Fee: $150 a year to renew.
- http://contractorlicenserequirements.com/west-virginia/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.licensetobuild.com/west-virginia/faq/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Wisconsin
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Wisconsin treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: None at state level for landscape/irrigation.
There is no Wisconsin state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: 'Wisconsin does not issue a state-level landscape contractor trade license. Routine landscape installation, planting, sod, mulch, grading, irrigation, and hardscape are unregulated at the state trade level.' DSPS's Dwelling Contractor/Qualifier credential applies only when work involves 1-2 family residential structural construction, which generally excludes landscape scope. Because no state credential exists, there is nothing to reciprocate.
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/wisconsin/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Wyoming
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Wyoming treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: None at state level.
There is no Wyoming state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Wyoming issues no state-level landscape contractor licence. Routine landscape installation, planting, sod, mulch, grading, irrigation and hardscape are unregulated at state trade level, and the only mandatory state credential touching this work is Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification. Every contractor trade except electrical is licensed at city or county level. One caution: at least one source advertises a 'Wyoming Landscape Contractor License' with cross-state reciprocity. Multiple independent sources contradict it, and no such state licence exists.
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/wyoming/landscaping-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://checklicensed.com/blog/licensed-landscape-contractor-wyoming (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)