What does a landscaper license check show?
A landscaper license check shows the license number, status (Active, Suspended, Expired, Revoked), classification (C-27 Landscaping in California, LCO/LCT Pest Control if applying chemicals, Landscape Architect license for design), bond amount, workers compensation coverage, irrigation contractor endorsement, and any open complaints. Many states do not license landscaping at all. Groundcheck (earthmove.io/trust) handles both cases.
A landscaper license check is one of the most variable trade lookups, because landscaping spans four distinct credentialing tracks and most states only license a subset.
The four tracks:
1. Landscape contractor license: required for landscape construction (hardscaping, retaining walls, drainage, irrigation install) above state thresholds. California C-27 Landscaping (CSLB), Arizona C-21 Landscaping (ROC), Florida Certified Landscape Contractor (DBPR), Oregon CCB landscape construction endorsement. Texas does not have a state landscape contractor license.
2. Irrigation contractor license: a separate credential in many states. Texas Licensed Irrigator (TCEQ), Florida Irrigation Contractor (DBPR), California falls under C-27. Required for any system tying into the municipal water supply, because cross-connection contamination is a public-health concern.
3. Pesticide/herbicide applicator license: any application of restricted-use pesticides or commercial application of even general-use herbicides requires a state Department of Agriculture license. Texas Commercial Applicator (TDA), California Qualified Applicator License (DPR), Florida Limited Lawn and Ornamental (DACS). A landscaper spraying weed-and-feed commercially without this license is illegal in every state.
4. Landscape architect license: required for design work above state thresholds in 49 states (Illinois being the historical exception). This is a separately regulated profession, similar to architecture or engineering. A landscape architect typically holds a CLARB-administered LARE credential.
What the lookup returns when a license exists: license number, status, classification, qualifying party, bond (typically $15,000), workers compensation, general liability, and disciplinary history. Irrigation endorsement and pesticide applicator status are separately verifiable.
The most common landscaper red flags traceable through the license record: irrigation work performed without an irrigation license (illegal cross-connection risk, water department fines), pesticide application without an applicator license (EPA and state Department of Agriculture exposure), and design work above the state threshold performed without a landscape architect.
What the lookup does NOT show: plant survival rate (the sod-dies-in-30-days problem), specific pricing reasonableness, soil-prep adequacy, retaining-wall structural design quality (a retaining wall over the state threshold — typically 4 feet — requires engineered design and is often quietly skipped), or the difference between a real landscaper and a mow-and-blow operator.
Groundcheck (earthmove.io/trust) consolidates the landscape contractor license, irrigation license, applicator license, Secretary of State entity registration, court filings, OSHA citations, and BBB complaints. For state-specific landscape licensing thresholds and irrigation requirements, see earthmove.io/trust/license/landscaper/[state].
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