How to Start a Landscaping Business in Arkansas (2026)

Last updated: October 3, 2026

Arkansas is one of the minority of states that requires a landscape contractor license for installation and commercial maintenance work beyond basic mowing. The license comes from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, State Plant Board (Plant Industries Division) at 501-225-1598. You also need a separate commercial pesticide applicator license from the same department if you apply any pesticides — including herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides — in the course of landscape work. Basic mowing and cleanup-only businesses may operate without the landscape contractor license, but any business that installs plants, does hardscape, installs irrigation, or applies pesticide products needs one or both licenses.

The most consequential tax fact for Arkansas landscapers: landscaping installation services are taxable under 26 CAR 30-504. Sodding, seeding, planting, irrigation system installation, and landscape construction are all subject to the full Arkansas sales tax rate (6.5% state plus local). In Fayetteville that means 9.75% combined; in Bentonville 9.5%. The exemptions are narrow: site preparation, grading, leveling, tree trimming, tree removal, and clearing are not taxable. But most revenue-generating landscape installation work falls on the taxable side. Register through ATAP before your first taxable service.

Landscaping Requirements in Arkansas at a Glance

Requirement	Agency / Detail	Cost	Notes
Landscape Contractor License	AR Dept of Agriculture, State Plant Board	Level I $150 / Level II $300 / Level III $450 annually	Nursery landscape contractor (heel-yard size); license year Nov 1–Oct 31. Mowing-only does not need this license
Liability Insurance	Commercial insurer	$800-$2,500/year	Recommended; required by most commercial clients
Commercial Pesticide Operator License	AR Dept of Agriculture Plant Industries Division	$35 per applicator category (plus $100 firm + $20/equipment)	Classification 4 (Ornamental Tree and Turf) is primary for landscapers
Pesticide Classification 4 Exam	AR Dept of Agriculture	Per ADA / UA Extension exam schedule	In-person exams typically first Tuesday of the month; online option available
Pesticide Firm License	AR Dept of Agriculture	$100 firm + $20 per equipment unit	Required for businesses employing licensed applicators
Pesticide CE Recertification	AR Dept of Agriculture / UA Extension	~$50/person for annual meetings	6 hours per 3-year recertification cycle
Sales Tax Registration (ATAP)	AR DFA	$50 registration fee	Landscaping installation services taxable under 26 CAR 30-504
LLC Formation	AR Secretary of State BCS	$45 online	3-5 business days
Workers Comp (NCCI class 0042)	Private insurer	Varies by payroll	Required at 3+ employees; landscape gardening class
AR 811 Utility Notification	ar811.org / call 811	Free	2 full working days advance notice required under Ark. Code 14-271-112; ticket valid 20 working days

How to Start a Landscaping Business in Arkansas (Step by Step)

Step 1: Determine What Licenses Your Services Require

Arkansas has two separate licensing regimes that apply to landscaping depending on what you do:

Service	License Required	Agency
Basic mowing, edging, leaf removal, cleanup only	None (state-level); local business license only	City/county clerk
Plant installation, sodding, seeding	Landscape Contractor License	AR Plant Board
Irrigation system installation	Landscape Contractor License	AR Plant Board
Landscape construction (hardscape, retaining walls, etc.)	Landscape Contractor License	AR Plant Board
Commercial lawn maintenance (beyond basic mowing)	Landscape Contractor License	AR Plant Board
Applying herbicides, fungicides, insecticides	Commercial Pesticide Applicator License	AR Dept of Agriculture
Applying pesticides as part of landscape maintenance	Both licenses typically required	AR Plant Board + AR Dept of Agriculture

A business that only mows grass and hauls debris does not need the landscape contractor license. But add plant installation, seeding, or any chemical application and you need the appropriate license before doing that work. Operating without a required license exposes you to enforcement action from the AR Plant Board, and clients (particularly commercial property managers) increasingly require license verification before awarding contracts.

Step 2: Obtain the Landscape Contractor License

Apply through the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, State Plant Board, Plant Industries Division at 501-225-1598. Requirements:

• Who needs it: Firms whose primary plant business is installing ornamental/horticultural plants or selling nursery stock through planting for compensation (2 CAR § 50-305 / Form 505 A)
• Annual fees (license + inspection): Level I $150 (0–5,000 sq ft heel yard), Level II $300 (5,001–15,000 sq ft), Level III $450 (over 15,000 sq ft)
• License year: November 1 – October 31; renew August 15 – October 31
• Mowing-only: Does not require the Plant Board landscape contractor license
• Larger construction jobs: Commercial construction totaling $50,000+ may also need an Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board license (separate from the Plant Board nursery license)

Prepare for the Trade Exam using the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service resources and the NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals) study materials. The Arkansas Plant Board exam covers Arkansas-specific plant species and regional pest management, so supplement national study materials with Arkansas-specific plant identification resources.

Step 3: Obtain the Commercial Pesticide Applicator License

Any business that applies pesticides — including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, or any registered pesticide product — must hold a Commercial Pesticide Operator License from the AR Department of Agriculture Plant Industries Division (same phone: 501-225-1598).

Relevant Classifications for Landscapers

Classification	Coverage	Fee (First Category)
Classification 4	Ornamental Tree and Turf Pest Control — the primary category for landscape and lawn care operators	$35 individual applicator category
Classification 5	Weed Control — lawn care and non-crop land management	$35 additional category
Classification 6	Golf Course Pest Control	$35 additional category

• License fees (official ADA): $100 firm + $20 per piece of application equipment + $35 per individual applicator category
• Exam: Required for certification; schedule and any exam-administration charges are set by ADA / UA Extension (not a $100-per-category Plant Board fee)
• Exam schedule: Classification 4 and 5 exams are given the second Monday of February, April, June, August, October, and December (six times per year)
• Firm license fee: $100 plus $20 for each piece of application equipment
• Renewal: December 31 annually (individual operator license)
• Recertification: Every 3 years; 6 hours of approved CE including 2 hours applicator safety, 1 hour IPM, 1 hour equipment maintenance, 1 hour environmental concerns, 1 hour laws and regulations

The UA Cooperative Extension Service (uaex.uada.edu) offers in-person recertification opportunities at the annual Arkansas Turfgrass Association and Arkansas Green Industry Association meetings in January, and at the State Extension Office in Little Rock in May/June. Arkansas does not offer pesticide license reciprocity with other states — out-of-state applicators must complete the full Arkansas exam process.

Step 4: Register for Sales Tax

Register for Arkansas sales tax through ATAP (atap.arkansas.gov) before performing any taxable landscape work. The $50 registration fee is non-refundable. Under 26 CAR 30-504, the following landscape services are taxable at the full combined rate (6.5% state + local):

• Sodding, seeding, and overseeding
• Plant installation (shrubs, trees, perennials, annuals)
• Landscape irrigation system installation
• Landscape timbers, edging, planters, and hardscape installation

The following services are NOT taxable in Arkansas:

• Site preparation, grading, and leveling
• Tree trimming and pruning
• Tree removal
• Clearing brush and debris

Materials you purchase (plants, sod, fertilizer, seed) are purchased tax-exempt as “sale for resale” from your suppliers — you provide your supplier a resale certificate. The total invoice to the customer on taxable services is then subject to the combined sales tax rate. Keep clean records of which services are taxable and which are not, especially on mixed-service invoices.

Step 5: Form Your Business Entity

File your LLC with the Arkansas Secretary of State online for $45. LLCs pay a flat $150 Annual Franchise Tax due May 1. Register with the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services through ATAP for UI tax if you hire employees (2.1% new employer rate on the first $7,000 per employee). Report new hires within 20 days.

Workers Compensation

Required at 3 or more employees. Landscaping is classified under NCCI code 0042 (landscape gardening and drivers). The 0042 rate is moderate — it reflects outdoor physical work with some equipment hazard but without the severity of construction trades. Subcontractors must carry workers comp from their first employee. If you use subcontractors who do not carry their own workers comp, your carrier may require you to cover them under your policy and will charge accordingly.

Step 6: Call AR 811 Before Any Excavation

Under Ark. Code §14-271-112, any excavation, trenching, or digging requires you to notify Arkansas 811 (ar811.org or call 811) at least 2 full working days (excluding weekends and holidays) before work begins. The 811 notification is free. Your ticket is valid for 20 working days from the date of notification — work must begin within 10 working days. If your project extends beyond 20 working days, contact AR 811 to renew the ticket before expiration.

Irrigation system installation is the most common landscaping trigger for 811 notification. Digging trenches for irrigation lines without calling 811 first risks hitting underground utilities, which can result in civil liability for repair costs regardless of fault. The call takes 5 minutes; the utility damage claim can cost tens of thousands.

AR 811 emergency line: 1-800-482-8998. New locate requests are not accepted on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.

Arkansas Landscaping Market: Where the Demand Is

Northwest Arkansas is the fastest-growing residential market in the state and one of the most active in the South. The professional households drawn to Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville by Walmart, Tyson, J.B. Hunt, and the University of Arkansas ecosystem are exactly the demographic that spends on professional landscaping — new construction requires installation, and established neighborhoods require maintenance. NW Arkansas new construction has averaged thousands of units per year since 2020, creating a sustained installation market. Commercial landscaping for office parks, retail centers, and the Walmart supplier campus in the Bentonville area adds to the commercial maintenance market.

Little Rock metro (Pulaski, Saline, Benton counties) has the largest established residential base in the state. The Chenal Valley subdivision, west Little Rock development corridors, and Conway/Maumelle residential communities create steady maintenance demand. Healthcare campus landscaping — UAMS, Baptist Health, CHI St. Vincent — represents a meaningful commercial maintenance market that values reliability over price alone.

Hot Springs (Garland County) and the lake communities in central Arkansas (Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Ouachita, Lake Hamilton) create a distinctive vacation property market. Many lake property owners hire local landscapers for seasonal cleanup and maintenance of properties they visit on weekends or seasonally. This can be highly lucrative but is weather-sensitive — late springs and early falls reduce the working season.

Cost to Start a Landscaping Business in Arkansas

Expense	Low Estimate	High Estimate
Landscape contractor license (Level I–III annual)	$150	$450
Liability/PD insurance (annual)	$800	$2,500
Pesticide applicator license (Classification 4)	$150 (first year)	$250 (first year, two categories)
Pesticide exam fee (Classification 4)	$100	$200 (two categories)
Pesticide firm license	$100	$250
LLC formation	$45	$50
Annual Franchise Tax (first year)	$150	$150
ATAP sales tax registration	$50	$50
Equipment (mower, trailer, basic tools)	$3,000 (used)	$30,000+ (new commercial)
Total first-year startup (excluding equipment)	~$1,600	~$3,800

Related Arkansas Business Guides

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Arkansas require a landscape contractor license?

Yes, for most work beyond basic mowing. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture State Plant Board issues a landscape contractor license required for plant installation, landscape construction, irrigation installation, and commercial lawn maintenance beyond basic mowing. Official Plant Board fees are Level I $150 / Level II $300 / Level III $450 annually by heel-yard size (license year Nov 1–Oct 31). Basic mowing-only businesses do not need the state landscape contractor license.

Are landscaping services taxable in Arkansas?

Yes — most landscaping installation services are taxable in Arkansas under 26 CAR 30-504. Taxable services include sodding, seeding, plant installation, irrigation system installation, and landscape construction. Non-taxable services include site preparation, grading, leveling, tree trimming, tree removal, and brush clearing. Register for sales tax through ATAP before performing any taxable work. The combined rate in NW Arkansas is 9.5-9.75%.

What pesticide license do landscapers need in Arkansas?

If you apply any pesticides commercially (including herbicides and fungicides), you need a Commercial Pesticide Operator License from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Classification 4 (Ornamental Tree and Turf Pest Control) is the primary category for landscapers. First classification costs $150; the exam is $100. Exams are given six times per year (2nd Monday of Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec). Recertification is required every 3 years (6 hours of CE).

How far in advance do I need to call AR 811 before digging?

At least 2 full working days (excluding weekends and holidays) before any excavation, trenching, or digging under Ark. Code 14-271-112. Call 811 or visit ar811.org. The notification is free. Your ticket is valid for 20 working days. Irrigation installation and trenching for landscape features most commonly trigger this requirement.

Do I need a pesticide license to apply fertilizer in Arkansas?

Standard fertilizer application to lawns and plants does not require a pesticide applicator license in Arkansas, because fertilizers are not classified as pesticides. However, if you apply combination products (fertilizer plus herbicide, such as “weed and feed” products) commercially, those products are regulated as pesticides and require the appropriate commercial pesticide applicator license. Confirm the regulatory status of any product you apply with the AR Dept of Agriculture at 501-225-1598.

Is there a state landscape contractor license in Arkansas for just mowing?

No. Basic mowing, edging, and cleanup businesses do not need the state landscape contractor license from the AR Plant Board. A local business license from your city or county is typically sufficient for mowing-only services. The landscape contractor license requirement kicks in when you add plant installation, irrigation, hardscape, or commercial lawn maintenance beyond basic mowing.

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