Arkansas Landscaping Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Arkansas does not license landscape contractors as a separate trade. Two state credentials commonly apply to landscape businesses: any commercial application of pesticides or herbicides requires a Commercial Pesticide Applicator license from the Arkansas State Plant Board (ASPB) under Arkansas Code Title 2 Chapter 16, and any commercial construction project of $50,000 or more (or any residential project of $2,000 or more) requires a Commercial or Residential Builder license from the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB) under Arkansas Code Title 17 Chapter 25.

Governing Authority

This license is issued and enforced by Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB) pursuant to Arkansas Code Title 17 Chapter 25 (Contractors) and Title 17 Chapter 38 (Residential Building); ACLB Rules and Regulations. The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB) licenses Commercial Contractors, Residential Builders, and Residential Remodelers statewide, sets financial responsibility standards, administers PSI examinations, and conducts disciplinary proceedings. ACLB enforces the $50,000 single-project threshold above which contracting work requires a state license.

Official portal: https://aclb.arkansas.gov/
Address: 4100 Richards Road, North Little Rock, AR 72117
Phone: (501) 372-4661

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). No residency requirement.

Good moral character

ASPB reviews applicants for prior pesticide violations.

Background investigation

ACLB requires criminal history disclosure.

Experience & Education Matrix

There is no published year count for this credential in the cited sources. What actually controls eligibility is No experience requirement for landscape installation. Commercial Pesticide Applicator requires passing the ASPB Core (General Standards) exam plus the Ornamental and Turf (Category 3) category exam..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

ASPB Commercial Pesticide Applicator application
ACLB experience affidavit (only for the contractor route at $50,000+)

Education substitution

University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension training counts toward CEUs.

Examination Structure

Arkansas State Plant Board (paper exam at ASPB regional offices) runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

ASPB Core (General Standards) exam — 60 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%
ASPB Category 3 — Ornamental and Turf — 50 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $60 Commercial Applicator license fee plus $25 per category exam.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken after 14 days.

Insurance & Financial Security

This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.

General liability

ASPB requires Commercial Pesticide Applicators to maintain $100,000/$100,000/$100,000 liability coverage. Most clients require $1,000,000 aggregate.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory under Arkansas Code Title 11 Chapter 9 for any employer with three or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

Not required for landscape operators; ACLB Commercial Builder applications require an audited or reviewed financial statement.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$60
Examination	$50
Initial license	$60
Renewal (every year)	$60

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Arkansas Landscaping — No Trade License (ASPB Pesticide Applicator + ACLB Contractor over $50,000) every year. Renewal currently costs $60. ASPB Commercial Pesticide Applicator licenses expire December 31 each year.

Continuing education: Three CEU hours per category per year approved by ASPB.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

Arkansas does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

ASPB pesticide applicator credentials may be granted reciprocally to applicants holding equivalent certification in Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, or Oklahoma on a case-by-case basis.

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

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Register Arkansas business entity and EIN. File with the Arkansas Secretary of State.
Confirm scope and licensing trigger. Projects ≥ $50,000 commercial or ≥ $2,000 residential trigger an ACLB Commercial or Residential Builder license.
Secure $100,000/$100,000 liability insurance. Required by ASPB for any commercial applicator.
Pass the ASPB Core exam at 70%. Required baseline for any commercial applicator.
Pass ASPB Category 3 — Ornamental and Turf. Landscape pesticide category.
Apply for ASPB Commercial Pesticide Applicator license. Submit application, pass certificates, and $60 fee.
Register for local municipal business license. Most Arkansas municipalities require their own business license.
Enroll workers compensation coverage. Required for employers with three or more employees.

Study and Reference Materials

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.

Arkansas Pesticide Applicator Core Manual — University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service (MP144). Required reference for the ASPB Core exam.
Ornamental and Turf Pest Management — University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension. Category 3 study guide.
Arkansas Pesticide Use and Application Act (Title 2 Ch 16) — State of Arkansas. Statutory reference for Core exam regulatory portion.

Common Filing Mistakes

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Arkansas Landscaping filing.

Spraying without ASPB certification

Civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation under §2-16-415.

Missing the $2,000 residential threshold

Most landscape installers do not realize that any residential improvement of $2,000+ triggers an ACLB Residential Builder license; unlicensed work voids contractual lien rights.

Backflow violations on irrigation

Arkansas Department of Health enforces ASSE backflow standards on every irrigation cross-connection.

Missing CEU recertification

Three category-CEUs annually; failure forces re-examination.

Not collecting Arkansas sales tax on landscape services

Arkansas DFA Rule GR-9 makes landscape installation services taxable; unregistered contractors face audits and back taxes.

Pre-Submission Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with ACLB:

☐ Arkansas business entity registration and EIN
☐ Local municipal business license
☐ $100,000/$100,000/$100,000 liability insurance
☐ ASPB Core exam pass certificate
☐ ASPB Category 3 (Ornamental and Turf) exam pass certificate
☐ ASPB Commercial Pesticide Applicator license
☐ ACLB Residential or Commercial Builder license (if over threshold)
☐ Workers compensation insurance (3+ employees)

Other Arkansas Trade Licenses

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Arkansas license landscape contractors?

No. There is no state landscape trade license. Pesticide application requires ASPB certification, and contractor licensure is triggered only at the $50,000 commercial / $2,000 residential thresholds.

What is the residential threshold?

Any residential improvement of $2,000 or more requires an ACLB Residential Builder license under Arkansas Code §17-25-503; this catches most landscape installs that include hardscape or substantial planting.

Is irrigation regulated separately?

No. Arkansas does not separately license irrigation installers, but cross-connection / backflow assembly testing must be performed by an Arkansas Department of Health certified backflow tester.

How often does the pesticide license renew?

Annually on December 31. Recertification requires three CEU hours per category each renewal cycle approved by ASPB.

Does Arkansas have license reciprocity for pesticides?

Yes. ASPB grants reciprocal certification on a case-by-case basis to applicants holding equivalent active certification in Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, or Oklahoma.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-14 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-12