Hawaii C-27 Landscaping Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Contractors License Board licenses landscape contractors under the C-27 Landscaping Contractor classification under HRS Chapter 444. Hawaii treats landscaping as a specialty contractor trade and requires four years of supervisory experience, the PSI Business and Law exam plus the C-27 trade exam, a tax clearance certificate, workers compensation, and minimum general liability insurance. Any commercial application of pesticides additionally requires a Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) Commercial Applicator certification under HRS Chapter 149A.

Regulatory Body Profile

Licensing for this trade is governed by Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, Contractors License Board (DCCA-PVL), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 444; Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 16 Chapter 77. The Contractors License Board licenses Class A General Engineering, Class B General Building, and Class C Specialty contractors statewide. The DCCA-PVL Board of Electricians and Plumbers separately licenses individual electricians and plumbers.

Official portal: https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/contractor/
Address: King Kalakaua Building, 335 Merchant Street, Room 301, Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-3000

The Eligibility Audit

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No Hawaii residency requirement; out-of-state contractors must designate a Hawaii agent for service of process.

Good moral character

DCCA reviews fitness, including prior license discipline and unsatisfied judgments.

Background investigation

Required disclosure on the contractor application.

Experience and Education Standards

The experience bar is Four years of supervisory landscape contracting experience within the past 10 years (Responsible Managing Employee or owner-operator)., and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

DCCA experience affidavit signed by the RME and verified by past employers
W-2s, 1099s, and project lists covering the four-year qualifying period
Tax clearance certificate from Hawaii Department of Taxation

Education substitution

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

The Exam Syllabus

PSI Services LLC (under contract to DCCA) administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

Hawaii Business and Law Examination — 80 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 75%
C-27 Landscaping Trade Examination — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $75 per exam paid to PSI.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken every 30 days; new $75 fee.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

Before the license is issued, the applicant must file a $5,000 contractor license surety bond in the form prescribed by the DCCA-PVL.

General liability

DCCA requires minimum $100,000/$300,000 bodily injury and $50,000 property damage; most clients require $1,000,000 / $2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory under HRS §386 for any employer with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

Tax clearance certificate from Hawaii Department of Taxation required at application and renewal.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Examination	$150
Initial license	$360
Renewal (every 2 years)	$360

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Hawaii C-27 Landscaping Contractor (DCCA Contractors License Board) runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $360. C-27 license renews every two years on September 30 of even-numbered years.

Continuing education: No CE for C-27 contractor renewal. HDOA pesticide certification requires CEUs separately.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Hawaii 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, Hawaii does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

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

Hawaii does not reciprocate landscape contractor licenses with any other state. HDOA pesticide applicator credentials are not 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.

The Application Roadmap

Document four years of supervisory C-27 experience. Verified by past employers on the DCCA experience affidavit.
Obtain Hawaii business entity registration. File with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Business Registration Division.
Obtain a Hawaii General Excise Tax license. Required by Hawaii Department of Taxation (4% on Oahu, 4.5% with county surcharge).
Obtain a tax clearance certificate. Required by DCCA before contractor license issuance.
Pass the PSI Business and Law exam at 75%. Covers Hawaii contracting law, lien law, and business management.
Pass the C-27 trade exam at 75%. Landscape installation, irrigation, drainage, planting, and hardscape.
Post a $5,000 contractor bond and secure liability/workers comp insurance. Bond filed directly with DCCA.
Obtain HDOA Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification (if applying pesticides). Required separately for any commercial pesticide use.

Pre-Application Checklist

Ahead of submission to DCCA-PVL, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ Four years documented supervisory landscape experience
☐ Hawaii business entity registration
☐ Hawaii General Excise Tax license
☐ Tax clearance certificate
☐ PSI Business and Law exam pass at 75%+
☐ PSI C-27 trade exam pass at 75%+
☐ $5,000 contractor bond
☐ Workers compensation + minimum liability insurance
☐ HDOA Commercial Pesticide Applicator (if applying pesticides)

Where Applications Stall

The following pitfalls summarize the issues most likely to delay, return, or derail a Hawaii Landscaping application based on the published board instructions and source materials cited on this page.

Operating without a C-27

HRS §444-23 makes unlicensed contracting a misdemeanor; contracts are unenforceable and treble damages apply.

Missing tax clearance at renewal

A lapsed tax clearance certificate suspends the contractor license until current.

Spraying without HDOA certification

Civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation under HRS §149A-32.

Importing prohibited plant material

HDOA Plant Quarantine Branch enforces strict invasive species rules; violations carry seizure and criminal penalties.

Not posting GET bond

Hawaii Department of Taxation may require a GET bond from new landscape contractors with weak credit history.

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.

Hawaii C-27 Landscaping Contractor Reference Bibliography — PSI Services / DCCA. Official open-book references for the C-27 trade exam.
Hawaii Business and Law Reference Manual — PSI Services / DCCA. Required for the Business and Law exam.
Hawaii Pesticide Applicator Core Manual — University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Required for HDOA Commercial Applicator certification.

Other Hawaii Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

Does Hawaii require a state landscape contractor license?

Yes. The C-27 Landscaping Contractor classification is mandatory for any landscape installation, irrigation, or hardscape contracting in Hawaii under HRS Chapter 444.

How much experience is required?

Four years of supervisory landscape contracting experience within the past 10 years. Up to two years may be substituted with accredited horticulture coursework.

Is GET different from sales tax?

Yes. Hawaii General Excise Tax (4% statewide + county surcharge) is a privilege tax on the business, not a sales tax. Landscape contractors must register and remit GET.

Do invasive species rules apply to landscaping?

Yes. HDOA enforces strict invasive species rules; certain plants are prohibited or restricted, and inter-island plant movement requires HDOA inspection.

How often does the C-27 license renew?

Every two years on September 30 of even-numbered years. Renewal requires current tax clearance, bond, and insurance.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-30 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-29