Oregon Landscape Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Oregon is one of the few states with a dedicated state landscape contractor licensing board, separate from the general Construction Contractors Board (CCB). The Oregon Landscape Contractors Board (LCB) licenses landscape contracting businesses and individual landscape construction professionals (LCPs) under ORS Chapter 671. ANY person performing landscape construction work for compensation must be an LCP, and the business must hold an LCB Landscape Contracting Business (LCB-LCB) license. Requirements include four years of experience or equivalent education, the LCB exam, a $20,000 surety bond, and proof of liability insurance. Any commercial pesticide application additionally requires an Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) Commercial Pesticide Applicator license under ORS 634.

Governing Authority

Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) administers and enforces this credential under the authority of Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 701; OAR Chapter 812 (CCB administrative rules). The CCB licenses all construction contractors in Oregon, sets pre-license training and exam standards, holds bond and insurance filings, and adjudicates contractor disputes through its Dispute Resolution Services program.

Official portal: https://www.oregon.gov/ccb/
Address: 201 High Street SE, Suite 600, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: (503) 378-4621

Eligibility Requirements

An applicant qualifies only after meeting the age floor of 18 and producing a valid Social Security Number. No residency requirement.

Good moral character

LCB reviews fitness, including prior license discipline.

Background investigation

Required disclosure on the LCB application.

Experience & Education Matrix

Plan to substantiate Four years (8,000 hours) of full-time landscape construction experience under a licensed LCP, OR a combination of accredited horticulture coursework plus reduced experience. with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

LCB experience verification signed by past licensed LCP supervisors
W-2s, project lists, and academic transcripts

Education substitution

Oregon State University horticulture program substitutes for portions of the experience requirement.

Examination Structure

PSI Services LLC (under contract to LCB) runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

LCB Landscape Construction Professional exam — installation, irrigation, hardscape, plant ID, business law — 130 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $60 PSI exam fee per attempt.

Retake policy: Failed exam may be retaken every 14 days; new $60 fee.

Insurance & Financial Security

A contractor license surety bond of $20,000, on the CCB's prescribed form, is a precondition to issuance.

General liability

LCB requires minimum $500,000 commercial general liability for the licensed business.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory under ORS 656 for any employer with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

Not required for LCB.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Examination	$60
Initial license	$350
Renewal (every 2 years)	$350

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Oregon Landscape Contracting Business (LCB) + Landscape Construction Professional (LCP) every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $350. LCB-LCB and LCP licenses renew every two years. Bond and insurance must remain current.

Continuing education: LCB requires 16 CEU hours per two-year cycle.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

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

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

No formal reciprocity. The LCB exam and bond are required of all applicants regardless of out-of-state credentials.

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

Document four years of qualifying landscape construction experience. Verified by past licensed LCPs on LCB forms.
Submit LCB application as a Landscape Construction Professional (LCP). Individual certification.
Pass the PSI LCB exam at 70%. Plant ID, installation, irrigation, hardscape, Oregon business law.
Register Oregon business entity as a Landscape Contracting Business (LCB-LCB). Separate business license.
Post $20,000 surety bond. Required by ORS 671.690.
Secure $500,000 CGL liability insurance. Required by LCB.
Obtain ODA Commercial Pesticide Applicator license (if spraying). Core + Ornamental and Turf required.
Enroll workers compensation. Mandatory for any W-2 employee.

Common Filing Mistakes

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Oregon Landscaping application.

Confusing LCB and CCB

Landscapers who register with the CCB instead of the LCB are still unlicensed; ORS 671 makes the LCB-LCB the mandatory credential.

Operating without LCP certification

ORS 671.520 requires every individual performing landscape construction work to be an LCP; civil penalties apply.

Bond lapse

LCB suspends licenses immediately when the $20,000 bond lapses.

Spraying without ODA license

Civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation under ORS 634.900.

Skipping ODA reportable use records

Oregon requires commercial applicators to maintain detailed pesticide use records; missing records trigger ODA enforcement.

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.

Oregon LCB Exam Reference Bibliography — PSI / LCB. Official open-book references for the LCB exam.
Oregon Pesticide Applicator Core Manual — Oregon State University Extension. Required for ODA Commercial Applicator.
Ornamental and Turf Pest Management — OSU Extension. Required category for landscape applicators.

Pre-Submission Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with CCB:

☐ Four years documented landscape construction experience
☐ LCB Landscape Construction Professional (LCP) individual certification
☐ PSI LCB exam pass at 70%+
☐ LCB Landscape Contracting Business (LCB-LCB) license
☐ $20,000 surety bond
☐ $500,000 CGL liability insurance
☐ Workers compensation coverage
☐ ODA Commercial Pesticide Applicator (if spraying)

Other Oregon Trade Licenses

If the Landscaping license is not the right fit, the following published Oregon trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the LCB really separate from the CCB?

Yes. The Oregon Landscape Contractors Board (LCB) is a completely separate agency from the Construction Contractors Board (CCB). Landscapers do NOT need a CCB license — they need an LCB license under ORS 671.

What is the difference between LCP and LCB-LCB?

LCP (Landscape Construction Professional) is the individual certification. LCB-LCB (Landscape Contracting Business) is the business license. You need both: the individual must be an LCP, and the business must hold the LCB-LCB.

What does the LCB cover?

Landscape installation, irrigation, drainage, retaining walls, decks under 30 inches, planting, sod, mulch, and incidental hardscape. Larger structural work may require a CCB license additionally.

Is the bond really $20,000?

Yes. ORS 671.690 sets the LCB bond at $20,000. This is separate from any CCB bond.

How often does the LCB license renew?

Every two years on the anniversary date. Renewal requires CEU hours and current bond/insurance.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-18 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-16