Nevada C-10 Landscape Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) licenses landscape contractors statewide under the C-10 Landscape Contractor classification under NRS Chapter 624. Any landscape installation, irrigation, hardscape, or maintenance work valued over $1,000 (including labor and materials) requires a C-10 license. NSCB requires four years of qualifying experience, the PSI Business and Law exam plus the C-10 trade exam, a monetary-limit-based contractor bond, and proof of liability insurance and workers compensation. Any commercial pesticide application additionally requires a Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification from the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) under NRS Chapter 555. The Southern Nevada Water Authority enforces strict turf-replacement and WaterSense irrigation rules in the Las Vegas Valley.

The Licensing Authority

Authority over this credential rests with Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB), which issues and polices it under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 624; Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) Chapter 624. NSCB licenses all contractors performing work in Nevada under NRS 624, sets monetary limits tied to financial capacity, administers trade and business-and-law examinations through PSI, investigates complaints, and conducts disciplinary proceedings statewide.

Official portal: https://www.nvcontractorsboard.com/
Address: 2310 Corporate Circle, Suite 200, Henderson, NV 89074 (Southern office); 5390 Kietzke Lane, Suite 102, Reno, NV 89511 (Northern office)
Phone: (702) 486-1100 (Southern); (775) 688-1141 (Northern)

Baseline Eligibility

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 18 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No Nevada residency requirement.

Good moral character

NSCB reviews fitness, including prior license discipline, unsatisfied judgments, and felony convictions.

Background investigation

Required fingerprint background check on all applicants.

Experience and Education Requirements

At least Four years of full-time, journey-level or supervisory C-10 landscape contracting experience within the past 10 years. has to be evidenced and confirmed. Retain payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records, since the board may audit the experience claimed.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

NSCB experience certification signed by past employers under penalty of perjury
W-2s, 1099s, and project lists covering the four-year qualifying period

Education substitution

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

The Licensing Examination

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to NSCB), breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

Nevada Business and Law exam — 75 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%
C-10 Landscape Contractor trade exam — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $95 PSI fee per exam.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken every 21 days; new $95 fee.

Financial Security and Insurance

The applicant must secure and file a $15,000 surety bond before the NSCB will release the license.

General liability

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

Workers' compensation

Mandatory under NRS Chapter 616 for any employer with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

NSCB requires a financial statement showing the licensee meets the monetary limit applied for. Bond amount scales with monetary limit ($1,000–$500,000+).

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$300
Examination	$190
Initial license	$600
Renewal (every 2 years)	$600

License Renewal

The Nevada C-10 Landscape Contractor (NSCB) must be renewed every 2 years. The fee to renew is presently $600. C-10 license renews every two years on the licensee's anniversary date.

Continuing education: No CE for C-10 contractor renewal. NDA pesticide certification requires CEUs separately.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Nevada grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
California	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CSLB–NSCB reciprocity for active five-year C-27 licensees.
Arizona	Trade exam waived	Bilateral ROC–NSCB reciprocity for active four-year C-21 / CR-21 licensees.
Utah	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–NSCB reciprocity for active S330 Landscape Contractors.

Business and Law exam is never waived; only the C-10 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.

The Licensing Roadmap

Document four years of qualifying C-10 experience. Verified by past employers on NSCB experience forms.
Submit NSCB application with $300 fee. File with experience documentation and fingerprint cards.
Pass the PSI Business and Law exam at 70%. Nevada contracting law and business management.
Pass the C-10 trade exam at 70%. Landscape installation, irrigation, drainage, planting, and hardscape.
Submit financial statement and obtain monetary-limit-based bond. Bond ranges from $1,000 to $500,000+ depending on monetary limit.
Obtain workers compensation and liability insurance. Mandatory under Nevada law.
Obtain NDA Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification (if spraying). Required for any commercial pesticide application.
Comply with SNWA WaterSmart rules (Las Vegas Valley). Turf-replacement caps and EPA WaterSense controllers required.

Common Application Pitfalls

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

Operating without the C-10 over $1,000

NRS §624.700 makes unlicensed contracting a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 per violation; contracts are unenforceable.

Exceeding monetary limit

Performing work in excess of the NSCB-approved monetary limit is a separate violation, even with a valid C-10.

Spraying without NDA certification

Civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation under NRS §555.460.

SNWA turf-cap violations

Las Vegas Valley enforces strict turf-area caps; non-compliant installs trigger water connection denial.

Backflow violations on irrigation

Nevada plumbing code requires annual backflow testing on every potable irrigation tie-in.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Ahead of submission to NSCB, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ Four years documented C-10 landscape experience
☐ NSCB application + fingerprint background check
☐ PSI Business and Law exam pass at 70%+
☐ PSI C-10 trade exam pass at 70%+
☐ Financial statement supporting monetary limit
☐ Monetary-limit-based contractor bond
☐ Workers compensation + liability insurance
☐ NDA Commercial Pesticide Applicator (if spraying)
☐ SNWA Water Smart compliance (Las Vegas Valley)

Preparation Resources

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.

Nevada C-10 Landscape Contractor Reference Bibliography — PSI Services / NSCB. Official open-book references for the C-10 trade exam.
Nevada Business and Law Reference Manual — PSI Services / NSCB. Required for the Business and Law exam.
SNWA Water Smart Landscape Specification — Southern Nevada Water Authority. Required for Las Vegas Valley installs.

Other Nevada Trade Licenses

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

Answers to Common Questions

When is the C-10 required?

For any landscape contracting work valued over $1,000 (labor + materials). Below that threshold, no NSCB license is required.

How is the bond calculated?

NSCB sets a monetary limit based on the licensee's financial statement. The bond amount scales with the monetary limit, ranging from $1,000 (for limits of $50,000 or less) to $500,000+ (for unlimited monetary limit).

Do I need a separate irrigation contractor license?

No. The C-10 explicitly includes landscape irrigation systems. However, any cross-connection / backflow assembly must comply with Nevada plumbing code.

What are the SNWA turf rules?

Southern Nevada Water Authority caps new turf area in residential and commercial installs in the Las Vegas Valley, requires EPA WaterSense-labeled smart controllers, and offers $3-per-square-foot rebates for turf removal.

How often does the C-10 renew?

Every two years on the licensee's anniversary date.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-07 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-05