Utah S330 Landscaping Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Utah is one of the few states that directly licenses landscape contractors at the trade level. The Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) issues the S330 Landscaping and Irrigation Sprinkling Contractor license under Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55. The S330 scope covers landscape installation, planting, sod, mulch, hardscape, retaining walls under 4 feet, drainage, and landscape irrigation sprinkler systems. Applicants must complete a 25-hour pre-license course from an approved provider, pass the DOPL Business and Law and S330 trade examinations, and satisfy the Qualifier bond pool contribution. Any commercial pesticide application additionally requires a Commercial Applicator license from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) Plant Industry Division under Utah Code Title 4 Chapter 14.

Governing Authority

This license is issued and enforced by Utah Division of Professional Licensing — Contractors Board (DOPL) pursuant to Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 (Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act); Utah Admin. Code R156-55a. The Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) Contractors Board licenses general contractors, electricians, plumbers, and mechanical contractors statewide, adopts the International Building Code by reference, and conducts disciplinary proceedings under Title 58 Chapter 55.

Official portal: https://dopl.utah.gov/contractor/
Address: 160 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: (801) 530-6628

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No Utah residency requirement.

Good moral character

DOPL conducts a fitness review including prior license discipline and unpaid judgments.

Background investigation

Required criminal history disclosure on the DOPL application.

Experience & Education Matrix

The applicant must document and verify at least Two years (4,000 hours) of paid experience in the S330 scope within the last ten years as a journeyman, supervisor, or owner-builder.. Keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records to support the claim, as the board can request proof for any period within its lookback window.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

DOPL Experience Verification form signed under penalty of perjury by a past licensed supervisor
W-2s, 1099s, or pay records covering the qualifying period
25-hour DOPL pre-license course completion certificate

Education substitution

Accredited horticulture or landscape construction coursework at the associate level substitutes for up to one year of experience.

Examination Structure

Examinations are administered by Prometric (under contract to DOPL). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

Utah Contractor Business and Law exam — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%
S330 Landscaping and Irrigation Sprinkling trade exam — 80 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $75 Prometric fee per exam.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken every 30 days with a new $75 fee. Application remains valid one year.

Insurance & Financial Security

The cited materials impose no contractor license bond for this credential. Bear in mind that specific contracts, permits, or public works can still require their own bonds.

General liability

DOPL requires minimum $100,000 per occurrence / $300,000 aggregate commercial general liability.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory under Utah Code §34A-2 for any employer with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

S330 applicants must contribute to the Qualifier bond pool (typically $6,000) administered by the Utah Contractors Guaranty Fund, OR post an individual $50,000 surety bond.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$230
Examination	$150
Initial license	$230
Renewal (every 2 years)	$84

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Utah S330 Landscaping and Irrigation Sprinkling Contractor (DOPL) + UDAF Commercial Pesticide Applicator every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $84. S330 licenses renew every two years on November 30. UDAF Commercial Applicator follows a separate annual cycle.

Continuing education: 6 hours of DOPL-approved continuing education per two-year cycle (3 core + 3 professional).

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

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

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
California	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–CSLB reciprocity for active five-year C-27 landscapers.
Arizona	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–AZ ROC reciprocity for active five-year landscape contractors.
Nevada	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–NSCB reciprocity for active five-year landscape contractors.

Business and Law exam is never waived; only the S330 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.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Document two years (4,000 hours) of qualifying S330 experience. Verified by a past licensed supervisor on DOPL forms.
Complete the 25-hour DOPL pre-license course. Required from an approved provider before filing the application.
Pass the Business and Law exam at 70%. Utah contracting law and business management.
Pass the S330 Landscaping and Irrigation Sprinkling trade exam at 70%. Landscape installation, irrigation hydraulics, plant ID, hardscape.
Submit DOPL application with $230 fee. Include experience verification, course certificate, and exam scores.
Satisfy Qualifier bond pool or post $50,000 individual bond. Contribution to the Contractors Guaranty Fund.
Secure $100,000/$300,000 commercial general liability insurance. Required by DOPL.
Obtain UDAF Commercial Pesticide Applicator license (if spraying). Core + Category 3 Ornamental and Turf exam through UDAF.

Common Filing Mistakes

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

Operating without the S330 license

Utah Code §58-55-501 makes unlicensed contracting a Class A misdemeanor with fines up to $2,500 per violation plus void contracts and unenforceable mechanics liens.

Skipping the 25-hour pre-license course

DOPL rejects applications without the course certificate; the course must be completed before the exam is scheduled.

Spraying without UDAF certification

Civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation under Utah Code §4-14-108; UDAF investigates complaints aggressively in Salt Lake and Utah counties.

Qualifier lapse

The Qualifier is personally accountable for compliance; if the Qualifier separates from the business the license is suspended until a replacement is approved.

Secondary water system violations

Many Utah cities distribute untreated secondary irrigation water with strict metering rules; improper connections trigger utility enforcement separate from DOPL.

Study and Reference Materials

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

Utah Contractor Business and Law Reference Manual — DOPL / Prometric. Required reference for the Business and Law exam.
S330 Landscaping and Irrigation Sprinkling Candidate Information Bulletin — Prometric / DOPL. Official content outline and reference list for the S330 trade exam.
Utah Pesticide Applicator Core Manual — Utah State University Extension. Required for the UDAF Core exam.

Pre-Submission Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with DOPL:

☐ Two years (4,000 hours) documented S330 experience
☐ 25-hour DOPL pre-license course completion
☐ Utah Business and Law exam pass at 70%+
☐ S330 Landscaping and Irrigation Sprinkling trade exam pass at 70%+
☐ DOPL application with $230 fee
☐ Qualifier bond pool contribution OR $50,000 individual bond
☐ $100,000/$300,000 commercial general liability insurance
☐ UDAF Core + Category 3 exam and Commercial Applicator license (if spraying)
☐ Workers compensation coverage

Other Utah Trade Licenses

Should the Landscaping path not apply, these other Utah trade guides from CLR may help:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Utah S330 really required for landscape installation?

Yes. Utah Code §58-55-501 makes any landscaping or sprinkler installation work for compensation without the S330 license unlawful. Unlike most states, Utah regulates landscape contractors directly at the trade level.

What does the S330 scope cover?

Landscape installation, planting, sod, mulch, grading under 4 feet, drainage, landscape irrigation sprinkler systems, low retaining walls under 4 feet, and incidental hardscape. Larger structural work requires a B100 General Building license.

What is the Qualifier bond pool?

A shared Contractors Guaranty Fund that Utah contractors contribute to in lieu of individual surety bonds. The S330 contribution is typically around $6,000 (paid as an assessment). Alternatively, applicants may post an individual $50,000 surety bond.

Do I need UDAF for lawn herbicide work?

Yes. Any commercial application of pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides requires a UDAF Commercial Applicator license under Utah Code §4-14-103. The landscape category is Category 3 (Ornamental and Turf).

How often does the S330 license renew?

Every two years on November 30. Renewal requires 6 hours of DOPL-approved continuing education.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-07 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-05