Connecticut Landscaping Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Connecticut does not issue a landscape-specific trade license, but any landscape work performed on residential property valued at $200 or more requires registration as a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) with the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) under Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 400 (§20-419 et seq.). Any commercial application of pesticides or herbicides requires a Commercial Pesticide Supervisor or Operator certification from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Pesticide Management Program under CGS §22a-66 et seq. Tree pruning and removal beyond incidental landscape maintenance requires a separate DEEP Arborist License.

Regulatory Body Profile

Authority over this credential rests with Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection — Occupational and Professional Licensing Division (DCP), which issues and polices it under Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-330 et seq. (Occupational Licensing: electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling trades); Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-418 et seq. (Home Improvement Act); Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-417a et seq. (New Home Construction Contractors Act). The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection registers home improvement and new home construction contractors, licenses individual electrical, plumbing and heating/cooling tradespeople, administers the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund, and conducts disciplinary proceedings for all contractor trades statewide.

Official portal: https://portal.ct.gov/DCP
Address: 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 901, Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: (860) 713-6135

The Eligibility Audit

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No residency requirement.

Good moral character

DCP screens applicants for prior consumer protection violations and unsatisfied judgments.

Background investigation

DCP requires criminal history disclosure on the HIC application.

Experience and Education Standards

The sources cited here stop short of naming a year requirement; the operative standard is No experience requirement for HIC registration. DEEP Commercial Supervisor requires passing the Core (General Standards) exam plus the appropriate category exam (3a Ornamental, 3b Turf)..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

DCP HIC registration application
DEEP Pesticide Supervisor application with Core + category exam pass slips

Education substitution

University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension training counts toward DEEP CEUs.

The Exam Syllabus

DEEP Pesticide Management Program (paper exam at DEEP Hartford office) administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

DEEP Core (General Standards) exam — 100 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%
DEEP Category 3a Ornamental and/or 3b Turf — 50 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: DEEP $375 Commercial Supervisor certification fee plus $50 per category exam.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken after 30 days; new $50 fee.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.

General liability

Minimum $20,000 commercial general liability for HIC registration. Most clients require $1,000,000 / $2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory under CGS §31-275 et seq. for any employer with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

HIC pays into the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund ($100 contribution annually).

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$220
Examination	$100
Initial license	$220
Renewal (every year)	$220

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Connecticut Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) + DEEP Commercial Pesticide Supervisor runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $220. DCP HIC registration renews annually on November 30. DEEP Pesticide Supervisor certification follows a five-year cycle.

Continuing education: DCP HIC: no CE. DEEP Supervisor: 18 contact hours every five years.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Connecticut does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

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

Connecticut HIC registration is not reciprocal with any other state. DEEP grants pesticide reciprocity on a case-by-case basis to applicants holding equivalent active certification in NY, NJ, MA, RI, or VT.

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

The Application Roadmap

Register Connecticut business entity and EIN. File with the Secretary of State.
Secure $20,000+ commercial general liability insurance. Required for HIC registration.
Submit DCP HIC application with $220 registration fee. Includes $100 Guaranty Fund contribution.
Pass the DEEP Core exam at 70%. Required baseline for any commercial supervisor.
Pass DEEP Category 3a (Ornamental) and/or 3b (Turf). Landscape pesticide categories.
Apply for DEEP Commercial Pesticide Supervisor certification. Submit $375 fee with pass slips.
Obtain DEEP Arborist License (if pruning trees). Required separately for any tree work beyond incidental landscape maintenance.
Enroll workers compensation coverage. Required for any W-2 employee.

Where Applications Stall

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Connecticut Landscaping application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Operating without HIC registration

CGS §20-427 makes unregistered home improvement work an unfair trade practice; contracts are unenforceable and triple damages apply.

Spraying without DEEP certification

Civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation under CGS §22a-66l.

Pruning trees without arborist license

CGS §23-61a makes unlicensed arboriculture a Class C misdemeanor; DEEP enforces aggressively.

Using a non-conforming contract

CGS §20-429 sets specific contract content rules; missing the rescission notice voids the contract entirely.

Letting the Guaranty Fund contribution lapse

Failure to pay the $100 annual contribution invalidates HIC registration.

Pre-Application Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to DCP:

☐ Connecticut business entity registration and EIN
☐ $20,000+ commercial general liability insurance
☐ DCP HIC registration with $220 fee + Guaranty Fund contribution
☐ DEEP Core exam pass certificate
☐ DEEP Category 3a / 3b pesticide exam pass
☐ DEEP Commercial Pesticide Supervisor certification
☐ DEEP Arborist License (if pruning trees)
☐ Workers compensation coverage (any employee)

Recommended Study Materials

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

Connecticut Pesticide Applicator Core Manual — UConn Cooperative Extension System. Required reference for the DEEP Core exam.
Ornamental and Turf Pest Management — UConn Extension. Category 3a/3b study guide.
CT Home Improvement Act Overview — CT DCP. Plain-language guide to the HIC registration process.

Other Connecticut Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these Connecticut licensing guides:

Common Questions

Do I need an HIC for residential landscape work?

Yes. Any home improvement work on residential property valued at $200 or more requires DCP HIC registration under CGS §20-420.

What is the Guaranty Fund?

A consumer protection fund that pays out up to $25,000 per claim for losses caused by registered HICs. Each HIC pays $100 annually into the fund.

Do I need an arborist license?

Yes, if tree work goes beyond incidental landscape maintenance. DEEP Arborist Licenses cover pruning, removal, and treatment of trees over a certain size and require passing the DEEP Arborist examination.

Is irrigation regulated separately?

No state irrigation contractor license, but cross-connection / backflow assemblies must be tested annually by a certified tester per the Connecticut plumbing code.

How often does the DEEP Supervisor certification renew?

Every five years; recertification requires 18 contact hours including Core and category CEUs OR re-examination.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-26 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-24