Mississippi Landscaping License Requirements

Mississippi uses more than one credential depending on the landscape scope. MDAC’s Bureau of Plant Industry requires a Landscape Horticulturist License for persons engaged in landscaping services and the setting or replacement of plants; it says a person may not advertise, solicit, bid, contract, or receive a fee for that work without a license. Lawn maintenance alone is treated differently, and MDAC says irrigation installation and lawn maintenance are not within that Landscape Horticulturist license requirement. For commercial contracts over $50,000, MSBOC’s general commercial-license rule applies and its test-required Landscaping, Grading and Beautification specialty covers landscaping, hardscaping, planting, groundcover, mowing/trimming, grading, ornamental pools, walls, fences, walks, and related scope—but expressly excludes irrigation. Pesticide work for a fee and irrigation can trigger separate credentials, and local permits or business rules may also apply.

Regulatory Body

Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Bureau of Plant Industry; Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MDAC BPI / MSBOC) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under Miss. Code Ann. §§ 69-19-1 through 69-19-11; Miss. Code Ann. Title 31, Chapter 3.. MDAC BPI licenses Landscape Horticulturists for landscaping services and plant setting/replacement. MSBOC classifies qualifying commercial Landscaping, Grading and Beautification work and separate irrigation work.

Official portal: https://www.mdac.ms.gov/bureaus-departments/bpi/regulation-of-professional-services/landscape-horticulturist-licensing/
Address: BPI Professional Services Licensing, P.O. Box 5207, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: (662) 325-8488

Eligibility Requirements

This guide does not establish a minimum applicant age; confirm any age requirement with the issuing authority. Check the current application for identification and tax-number requirements. Use MDAC’s current Landscape Horticulturist examination/licensing forms and MSBOC’s commercial application where applicable. This audit does not assert a blanket Mississippi-residency condition.

Good moral character

MDAC and MSBOC review their own current application information. Complete the selected authority’s forms accurately, including required business, qualifying-party, and licensing-history information.

Background investigation

The reviewed Landscape Horticulturist page and MSBOC classification materials do not establish one universal fingerprint requirement for every landscaping scope.

Experience and Education

The sources cited here stop short of naming a year requirement; the operative standard is MDAC requires the applicant to qualify for and pass its Landscape Horticulturist examinations; the reviewed MDAC page does not publish a universal number of experience years. MSBOC commercial qualification is separate and uses its qualifying-party and classification process for commercial work over $50,000..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

MDAC Landscape Horticulturist exam and issuance forms
Surety-bond documentation or applicable nonbonded-license statement for MDAC issuance
MSBOC commercial qualifying-party, project, reference, financial, insurance, entity, and tax records when commercial work exceeds $50,000

Exam Requirements

Testing provider or authority: MDAC BPI for Landscape Horticulturist licensing; PSI after MSBOC application approval for the commercial Landscaping, Grading and Beautification classification.. The following examination requirements cover the pathways described in this guide; follow each part's classification, waiver, and local-scope conditions. Unpublished format details do not remove an examination requirement:

MDAC Landscape Horticulturist examinations — question count: confirm with the authority, timing: confirm with the authority, passing score: confirm in the current candidate bulletin
Mississippi Law and Business Management examination for MSBOC commercial applicants — question count: confirm with the authority, timing: confirm with the authority, passing score: confirm in the current candidate bulletin
Landscaping, Grading and Beautification trade examination for the MSBOC test-required commercial classification — question count: confirm with the authority, timing: confirm with the authority, passing score: confirm in the current candidate bulletin

Examination fee: MDAC says there is no cost for a Landscape Horticulturist License. Confirm any current examination, ID-card, bond, pesticide, and MSBOC commercial/PSI charges with the issuing authority.

Retake policy: MDAC directs failed Landscape Horticulturist examinees to submit its Exam Retake Application. For commercial work, follow MSBOC and PSI instructions after MSBOC authorizes testing.

Insurance and Bonds

Before the license is issued, the applicant must file a $1,000 contractor license surety bond in the form prescribed by the MDAC BPI / MSBOC.

General liability

MDAC’s Landscape Horticulturist page requires a $1,000 minimum surety bond for issuance, while its current bond instructions describe a nonbonded license option when the licensee provides the required statement. Do not substitute a generic commercial general-liability amount for this MDAC bond requirement. MSBOC commercial applicants have separate general-liability and financial requirements.

Workers' compensation

The Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission says employers with five employees regularly employed generally must provide coverage, subject to statutory exceptions. MSBOC requests evidence when commercial applicant coverage is required.

Additional financial requirements

A commercial Landscaping, Grading and Beautification applicant follows MSBOC’s commercial financial rule: a CPA-reviewed statement from the preceding 12 months and at least $20,000 net worth for a specialty classification. MDAC Landscape Horticulturist licensing does not use that as its baseline.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application	No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance
Initial license	No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance
Renewal (every 3 years)	No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance

To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for Mississippi landscaping.

Renewal and Continuing Education

The Mississippi Landscape Horticulturist + Commercial Landscaping Requirements runs on a 3 years renewal cycle. No separate statewide renewal fee is listed in the cited sources. MDAC says the Landscape Horticulturist License expires three years from issuance and requires renewal with updated bond documentation. MSBOC commercial certificates renew annually.

Continuing education: The reviewed MDAC Landscape Horticulturist page does not state a continuing-education hour requirement. Commercial pesticide certification and MSBOC commercial licensure have separate renewal processes; use their current agency instructions.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity

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

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

Do not assume Landscape Horticulturist reciprocity. MDAC’s pesticide program distinguishes commercial certification from a professional-services license, and MSBOC reciprocity is limited to eligible trade-exam waivers. Verify any current route-specific option directly with the agency.

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

Landscaping Licensing in Neighboring States

Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare Mississippi's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:

Alabama Landscaping License Requirements — Alabama Horticulture Professional Services License (When Applicable)
Arkansas Landscaping License Requirements — Arkansas Landscaping: Scope-Based Contractor Licensing + Pesticide Credentials
Louisiana Landscaping License Requirements — Louisiana Landscape Horticulturist License — LDAF Horticulture Commission
Tennessee Landscaping License Requirements — Tennessee Landscaping Contractor Requirements — TBLC Threshold + TDA Pesticide Charter

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Map each part of the job. Separate landscaping/plant setting from lawn maintenance, irrigation, pesticide work, and construction elements such as walls, walks, pools, grading, or electrical/mechanical work.
Obtain MDAC Landscape Horticulturist licensing when plants are involved. MDAC requires the credential for landscaping services and setting or replacement of plants. Follow its exam application, examinations, license issuance, bond/nonbonded option, ID-card, vehicle-marking, and recordkeeping process.
Determine whether MSBOC commercial licensing applies. Commercial contractors and subcontractors performing work over $50,000 need an MSBOC commercial license. Use the test-required Landscaping, Grading and Beautification classification for its stated non-irrigation scope.
Handle irrigation separately. Both the MDAC Landscape Horticulturist page and MSBOC landscaping classification exclude irrigation. MSBOC lists Irrigation Systems as a separate test-required classification; confirm all applicable water, electrical, and local requirements.
Use the correct pesticide credential for the business model. MDAC says commercial certification permits restricted-use pesticide activity but does not authorize applying pesticides for a fee. For pesticide services for hire, use the applicable professional-services licensing route.
Obtain local project approvals. Check the project city or county for business licensing, permits, grading/drainage, right-of-way, utility, irrigation, building, zoning, and inspection requirements.
Maintain records and renew on time. MDAC Landscape Horticulturist licenses expire three years from issuance; update the bond or nonbonded documentation before expiration, keep required work records, and follow MSBOC’s annual renewal process when a commercial certificate is held.

Application Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to MDAC BPI / MSBOC:

Determine whether the scope includes plant setting, lawn maintenance only, irrigation, pesticide work, or commercial construction
MDAC Landscape Horticulturist exam/issuance forms and required surety bond or applicable nonbonded statement
ID cards for persons soliciting business and current vehicle/equipment markings and work records
MSBOC commercial Landscaping, Grading and Beautification classification for covered commercial work over $50,000
Separate Irrigation Systems or other specialty credential when the scope requires it
Professional-services pesticide credential for pesticide work performed for a fee
Workers’ compensation evidence when applicable
City/county business, permit, zoning, grading/drainage, utility, and inspection approvals

Common Filing Mistakes

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

Calling plant-setting work “lawn maintenance”

MDAC separately regulates landscaping services and plant setting/replacement. Do not rely on the lawn-maintenance exception for the broader licensed scope.

Skipping MSBOC on qualifying commercial construction

Commercial work over $50,000 follows the MSBOC commercial framework, which is separate from MDAC Landscape Horticulturist licensing.

Installing irrigation under the landscaping scope

MSBOC’s Landscaping, Grading and Beautification classification expressly excludes irrigation, which has its own test-required classification.

Using a commercial applicator card for paid pesticide work

MDAC says commercial certification does not authorize pesticide application for a fee; use the professional-services licensing route when providing pesticide services to customers.

Missing MDAC operational requirements

MDAC requires current licensing/bond information, ID cards for people soliciting work, marked vehicles/equipment, and work records. Keep these separate from project permits and MSBOC records.

Study and Reference Materials

These materials are drawn from the regulator's own citations and the references applicants commonly use to prepare. CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

MDAC Landscape Horticulturist Exam Study Guide — Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Use MDAC’s current study guide and exam instructions.
MSBOC classifications and PSI Candidate Information Bulletin — MSBOC / PSI. Defines the commercial Landscaping, Grading and Beautification and Irrigation Systems scopes and testing process.
MDAC pesticide program materials — Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Use the correct commercial certification or professional-services route for pesticide scope.
Project jurisdiction requirements — City, county, utility, and authority having jurisdiction. Confirm local permits, zoning, drainage, irrigation, and inspection requirements.

Other Mississippi Trade Licenses

For a different Mississippi credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mississippi require a landscaping license?

MDAC requires a Landscape Horticulturist License for persons engaged in landscaping services and setting or replacement of plants. Its page says this applies before advertising, soliciting, bidding, contracting, or receiving a fee for that work.

Is lawn mowing alone covered by that MDAC license?

MDAC says irrigation installation and lawn maintenance, including grass mowing and fertilizing, do not require the Landscape Horticulturist License. A business cannot use “landscape” or “landscaping” in its name for lawn maintenance alone because MDAC treats that as advertising landscaping/plant setting.

When does MSBOC apply to landscaping?

MSBOC says commercial contractors and subcontractors performing work over $50,000 need a commercial license. Its Landscaping, Grading and Beautification classification is test-required and covers the stated commercial landscaping/hardscaping/planting/grading scope, excluding irrigation.

Can a commercial applicator certification let me spray for customers?

Not by itself. MDAC says commercial certification permits restricted-use pesticide activity but does not allow an individual to apply pesticides for a fee. A professional-services license is the route for pesticide services for hire.

How often does the Landscape Horticulturist License renew?

MDAC says it expires three years after issuance. Renewal requires the current renewal form and updated surety-bond documentation; verify the nonbonded option and current forms with MDAC.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-09-04 · Next scheduled review 2026-12-03

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Corrections and presentation updates

2026-09-30: Corrected examination detection when format details are unpublished and updated the summary layout and requirements score. Source-check dates are unchanged.
2026-09-08: Shared template updated to distinguish unspecified eligibility requirements, retain cost qualifications, and use consistent headings. Source-check dates are unchanged by presentation updates.
2026-09-21: Local-only guides now use a compliance-focused structure and terminology instead of implying a statewide license application. Source-check dates are unchanged by this presentation update.