Arizona C-21 / CR-21 Landscaping Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) licenses landscape contractors under ARS Title 32 Chapter 10. Two classifications cover landscape work: commercial CR-21 (Landscaping and Irrigation Systems) and residential C-21 (Landscaping and Irrigation Systems). Both require four years of qualifying experience, pass of the PSI Statutes and Rules (SRE) exam plus the C-21 trade exam, a license bond ranging from $4,250 to $15,000 based on volume, and proof that any pesticide application is performed by an Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) Office of Pest Management Qualified Applicator.

Regulatory Oversight

This license is issued and enforced by Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC) pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes Title 32 Chapter 10; Arizona Administrative Code Title 4 Chapter 9. AZ ROC licenses residential, commercial, and dual contractors statewide, administers the Residential Contractors Recovery Fund, and conducts complaint investigations and disciplinary proceedings.

Official portal: https://roc.az.gov/
Address: 1700 W Washington St Suite 105, Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (877) 692-9762

Who May Apply

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No Arizona residency requirement.

Good moral character

ROC reviews fitness, including prior license suspensions and outstanding judgments related to construction.

Background investigation

Required disclosure on the application; ROC may run a criminal history check.

Required Experience and Education

Eligibility requires Four years of practical journey-level experience in C-21 / CR-21 landscape and irrigation work, of which at least two years must be supervisory., documented and independently verifiable. Payroll, tax, project, and supervisor records are the usual proof the board will accept.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

ROC Statement of Experience signed by the Qualifying Party and verified by past employers under penalty of perjury
W-2s, 1099s, or pay stubs covering the four-year qualifying period

Education substitution

Up to two years credit allowed for accredited horticulture, landscape architecture, or ornamental horticulture coursework.

Examination Requirements

The licensing examination is delivered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to ROC). All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

Statutes and Rules (SRE) — open book — 60 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%
C-21 / CR-21 Landscaping Trade Examination — open book — 80 questions, 210 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $77 PSI fee per exam.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken after a 24-hour waiting period; new $77 fee.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The AZ ROC requires a $9,000 contractor license surety bond to be on file before the license will issue.

General liability

Arizona ROC does not impose a state-level GL minimum, but commercial clients commonly require $1,000,000 / $2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory under ARS Title 23 Chapter 6 for any employer with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

License bond schedule is volume-based: $4,250 (under $150K), $9,000 ($150K–$500K), or $15,000 (over $500K) for residential CR-21.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$200
Examination	$154
Initial license	$380
Renewal (every 2 years)	$360

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Arizona ROC C-21 / CR-21 Landscaping Contractor comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $360. ROC license renews every two years. The Qualifying Party must remain employed by the licensed entity at all times.

Continuing education: No CE required for ROC contractor renewal. AZDA requires 6 CEUs per category every 12 months for the OPM-QA.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Arizona Landscaping License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Arizona for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
California	Trade exam waived	Bilateral ROC–CSLB reciprocity for active five-year C-27 holders.
Nevada	Trade exam waived	Bilateral ROC–NSCB reciprocity for active four-year landscape contractors.
Utah	Trade exam waived	Bilateral ROC–DOPL reciprocity for S330 Landscape Contractors.

Statutes and Rules exam is never waived; only the trade exam is reciprocal.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Landscaping license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Application Process, Step by Step

Document four years of qualifying landscape experience. Verified by past employers on the ROC Statement of Experience form.
Choose CR-21 (residential) or C-21 (commercial). CR-21 covers single-family residential up to four units; C-21 covers commercial.
Submit ROC application with $580 issue fee. Application fee $200 + license fee $380.
Pass the SRE exam at 70%. Open-book Statutes and Rules exam.
Pass the C-21 / CR-21 trade exam at 70%. Open-book trade exam covering installation, irrigation, drainage, and arboriculture basics.
Post the volume-based license bond. $4,250–$15,000 depending on projected gross volume.
Obtain AZDA Qualified Applicator certification (if applying pesticides). Office of Pest Management category B6 (Turf and Ornamental).
Enroll workers compensation. Mandatory for any W-2 employee.

Document Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with AZ ROC:

☐ Four years documented landscape experience
☐ ROC Statement of Experience verified by past employers
☐ PSI SRE exam pass at 70%+
☐ PSI C-21 / CR-21 trade exam pass at 70%+
☐ License bond ($4,250–$15,000 by volume)
☐ AZDA OPM Qualified Applicator (if applying pesticides)
☐ Workers compensation coverage (any employee)

Recommended References

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

C-21 / CR-21 Landscaping Reference Bibliography — Arizona ROC. Official open-book reference list for the trade exam.
Arizona Contractors Manual (Statutes and Rules) — Arizona ROC. SRE study guide.
AZDA Office of Pest Management Category B6 Manual — University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. Required for the OPM-QA certification.

Frequent Application Errors

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Arizona Landscaping application.

Operating without the bond on file

ROC suspends licenses immediately when a bond lapses; suspended licensees forfeit the right to enforce contracts under ARS §32-1153.

Skipping AZDA OPM certification

Civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation under ARS Title 3 Chapter 20.

Confusing CR-21 with C-21 scope

CR-21 cannot bid commercial property; doing so triggers an unlicensed contracting complaint.

Backflow violations on irrigation tie-ins

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality requires a tested reduced-pressure backflow assembly for any irrigation cross-connection.

Qualifying Party walking away

When the Qualifying Party leaves, the license is suspended after 60 days unless a replacement QP is named and qualified.

Other Arizona Trade Licenses

Should the Landscaping path not apply, these other Arizona trade guides from CLR may help:

Questions Applicants Ask

What is the difference between C-21 and CR-21?

C-21 is the commercial classification; CR-21 is the residential equivalent for projects on single-family residential property up to four units. Most owner-operators take CR-21 first.

Do I need a separate irrigation contractor license?

No. Both C-21 and CR-21 explicitly include landscape irrigation systems within scope.

Does the C-21 cover pesticide application?

No. Any commercial pesticide use requires an AZDA Office of Pest Management Qualified Applicator (OPM-QA) certification in category B6 (Turf and Ornamental).

How much is the license bond?

Volume-based: $4,250 for under $150,000 gross; $9,000 for $150,000–$500,000; $15,000 for over $500,000. C-21 commercial bonds run higher.

Can I apply with experience from another state?

Yes. Out-of-state experience counts if it can be verified on the Statement of Experience form by past employers.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-27 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-25