Last updated: May 4, 2026

How to Start a Landscaping Business in Mississippi (2026)

Mississippi requires a Landscape Horticulturist License from the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) for anyone who advertises, places bids, or collects fees for landscaping services — including planting, sodding, and ornamental installation. The license itself carries no fee, but it requires a $1,000 surety bond and passing two state exams. This makes Mississippi one of the more actively regulated states for commercial landscaping. If you are also applying pesticides or herbicides, a separate MDAC Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification (Category 3) is required. If you offer tree pruning, removal, or fertilization services, a third license — the MDAC Tree Surgery License — applies. And if you dig for irrigation or tree planting, Mississippi’s MS 811 law requires 3-10 working days advance notice — not 48 hours.

On the tax side, Mississippi treats landscape labor favorably: labor performed as a capital improvement to real property (planting, laying sod, irrigation installation) is generally not taxable. Mowing and trimming services are also not taxed as services. Materials are taxable to the landscaper at the point of purchase from the supplier. The result is a simpler billing structure than states that separately tax landscape service contracts.

Mississippi Landscaping Requirements at a Glance

Requirement	Agency / Source	Cost	Notes
LLC formation	Mississippi Secretary of State (business.sos.ms.gov)	$50 + $3 online fee	Annual report free, due April 15
Federal EIN	IRS.gov	Free	Required before hiring employees
Landscape Horticulturist License	MDAC Bureau of Plant Industry	$0 (no license fee)	Required to advertise, bid, or charge for planting/installation; valid 3 years
Landscape Horticulturist Exam	MDAC BPI	Free (paper) / $55 (computer)	100 questions, 70% pass; 6 months to complete after application approval
Laws, Regulations and Safety Exam	MDAC BPI	Free (paper) / $55 (computer)	50 questions, 70% pass; required alongside Horticulturist Exam
Surety bond (license requirement)	Any licensed surety company	~$100/year premium (on $1,000 bond)	Minimum $1,000; must stay current throughout 3-year license period
General liability insurance	Private carrier	$1,500-$3,000/year typical	Required with license application; $300K-$500K per occurrence standard
Tree Surgery License (if doing tree work)	MDAC BPI	Exam fee + proof of GL insurance	Required for pruning, trimming, removal, or fertilizing trees commercially
Commercial Pesticide Applicator — Cat. 3	MDAC Pesticide Program	Free (paper) / $55/exam (computer)	Required if applying pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides to client property for hire
Pesticide recertification	MDAC BPI	$75 (in-class); online options available	Every 3 years
MS 811 notification (per dig)	MS811.org / Miss. Code § 77-13-1	Free	3-10 working days advance notice; white-flag your dig boundary first
Workers’ compensation	MWCC (mwcc.ms.gov)	Varies (NCCI 0042/0008/0106)	Required at 5+ employees
Local Business Privilege License	City or county clerk	$25-$300 typical	Required in every Mississippi city and county before operating

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

Step 1: Get Your MDAC Landscape Horticulturist License

The Landscape Horticulturist License is the threshold credential for commercial landscaping in Mississippi. It is issued by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) through its Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Division of Regulation of Professional Services. The license is required for any person who advertises, solicits business, places bids, or receives fees for landscaping services — specifically including the setting or replacing of plants. Mowing-only operations that do no planting or installation work do not trigger this requirement.

Who needs it:

• Any business or individual that plants trees, shrubs, flowers, or ornamental plants for customers
• Any operation that installs sod
• Any business that designs or bids on landscape installation projects
• Any business that advertises landscaping services (not just mowing) to the public

License process:

1. Submit a License Exam Application to MDAC BPI; allow time for review and approval
2. After approval, you have 6 months to pass both required exams
3. Pass the Landscape Horticulturist Exam and the Laws, Regulations and Safety Exam (details below)
4. Submit proof of a valid $1,000 surety bond and current general liability insurance
5. License issued; valid for 3 years from date of issuance
6. Renew with the Landscape Horticulturist License Renewal Form plus an updated surety bond

Contact: MDAC Bureau of Plant Industry, P.O. Box 5207, Mississippi State, MS 39762 | mdac.ms.gov — Landscape Horticulturist Licensing

The Two Required Exams

Exam	Questions	Pass Score	Paper Exam Fee	Computer Exam Fee
Mississippi Landscape Horticulturist Exam	100 multiple choice	70%	Free (at BPI office)	$55
Mississippi Laws, Regulations and Safety Exam	50 multiple choice	70%	Free (at BPI office)	$55

Paper exams are available at the MDAC BPI office on weekdays (24-hour advance notice required at no cost), and also at quarterly sessions held on the second Tuesday of January, April, July, and October. Computer-based exams cost $55 each and can be scheduled at approved testing centers through metrosignup.com or by calling 877-533-2900.

Basic requirements: age 18+; must be able to read, write, and speak English. No specific education prerequisite beyond exam competency.

The License Fee: Zero

The Landscape Horticulturist License itself carries no fee. Mississippi is unusual nationally in licensing landscape contractors without charging for the license. The only monetary requirements are the surety bond premium (approximately $100/year) and general liability insurance. This means the out-of-pocket licensing cost for a Mississippi landscape contractor is lower than most states that require licensure.

The Surety Bond Requirement

A minimum $1,000 surety bond is required as a condition of licensure. The bond must remain valid for the full 3-year license period. At $1,000, the annual premium from any surety bond company is typically a flat $100 or less — no credit check required for bonds this small. The bond is available from national surety providers such as suretybonds.com and bondexchange.com, and from most local insurance agents.

Step 2: Form Your Mississippi LLC and Get an EIN

File a Certificate of Formation with the Mississippi Secretary of State online portal for $50 plus a $3 online processing fee. Processing takes approximately 3-5 business days. Mississippi LLCs file a free annual report each April 15 — no renewal fee, which is unusual and keeps overhead low.

Get a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) free at IRS.gov. You need an EIN before opening a business bank account and before hiring any employees.

An LLC is the practical structure for landscaping. Equipment-heavy operations with crews working on customer property create genuine liability exposure. An LLC separates your personal assets from business debts and claims.

If you operate under a trade name different from your LLC’s legal name, file a DBA (Doing Business As) registration with your county for $25, valid for 5 years. A newspaper publication notice is required.

Step 3: MDAC Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification (If You Apply Chemicals)

The Landscape Horticulturist License does not authorize pesticide application. If your business applies any pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides to client property for compensation, you need a separate MDAC Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification.

Relevant category for landscapers:

• Category 3 — Ornamental and Turf Pest Control: The primary category covering lawn turf, ornamental trees and shrubs, flower beds, and ground cover. This is the category for herbicide treatments, lawn fertilization with pesticide products, and ornamental pest control.

Process:

1. Purchase the General Standards (Core) manual and the Category 3 manual from MDAC BPI
2. Pass the General Core exam AND the Category 3 exam
3. Paper exams: free at the BPI office (weekdays, 24-hour advance notice required), or at quarterly sessions the second Tuesday of January, April, July, and October at Mississippi State University in Starkville
4. Computer-based exams: $55 per exam; schedule at metrosignup.com or 877-533-2900
5. Certification issued; recertify every 3 years

Recertification options:

• In-class recertification session: $75 (held quarterly)
• Online recertification (available for select categories)
• Approved recertification events and field days through Mississippi State University Extension

If your business model involves only mowing, edging, and basic trimming with no chemical application, the pesticide certification is not required. But the moment you spray weed control, apply pre-emergent, spread fertilizer that contains pesticide components, or treat ornamentals for insects, the certification is mandatory.

More information: MDAC Pesticide Program | mdac.ms.gov

Step 4: Tree Surgery License (If You Do Tree Work)

Tree work in Mississippi is regulated separately from general landscaping under the MDAC BPI. A Tree Surgery License is required for any business that prunes, trims, fertilizes, or removes trees for compensation. This is a distinct license from the Landscape Horticulturist License — holding one does not cover the other.

Requirements include:

• Passing a dedicated MDAC tree surgery exam
• Submitting proof of current liability insurance (tree work carries significantly higher risk than ground-level landscaping, and insurance minimums reflect that)

Many general landscaping businesses subcontract tree removal to licensed tree surgeons rather than obtaining the additional license. If your business model includes tree services, contact MDAC BPI for current exam schedule and application requirements.

Step 5: Understand Mississippi Sales Tax on Landscaping Services

Mississippi’s sales tax treatment of landscaping is more favorable to operators than many people expect. The key rules:

What Is NOT Taxable

• Landscape labor on real property improvement: When a landscaper plants trees, shrubs, or ornamentals, lays sod, installs irrigation, or performs earth-moving work as a capital improvement to real property, the labor component is not subject to Mississippi sales tax. Mississippi treats the landscaper as a contractor who consumes the materials rather than reselling them — the tax is paid at the supply house, not re-collected from the customer on labor.
• Mowing and trimming services: Basic lawn mowing, edging, and trimming services are not taxable in Mississippi as services.
• Shrub and hedge trimming services: Maintenance services performed on existing vegetation are generally not taxable.

What IS Taxable

• Materials purchased from your supplier: Plants, sod, fertilizer, mulch, irrigation components, and other materials you install are taxable at 7% when you purchase them. You pay tax at the supply house — this is built into your material cost when you bid jobs.
• Cleaning supplies and equipment purchased for your business: Taxable when you buy them.
• Retail plant sales: If you operate a retail nursery or sell plants directly to customers who take them home to plant themselves, those retail sales are taxable at 7%.

Because the tax is absorbed at the supply level rather than charged separately on invoices, many Mississippi landscapers find billing simpler than in states where service contracts are fully taxable. Confirm your specific contract structure with the Mississippi Department of Revenue at dor.ms.gov. Register for a sales tax permit through the DOR TAP portal (free registration).

Step 6: Insurance and Workers’ Compensation

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance is required as a condition of your MDAC Landscape Horticulturist License. Standard coverage for Mississippi landscaping operations:

• $300,000-$1,000,000 per occurrence is the typical range; commercial accounts often require $1M
• Typical annual cost for a small Mississippi landscaping operation: $1,500-$3,000/year
• Factors affecting premium: number of employees, annual revenue, whether you do tree work (higher risk)

Workers’ Compensation

Mississippi workers’ compensation is required once you have 5 or more employees, administered by the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission. Relevant NCCI codes for landscaping:

Work Type	NCCI Code	Description
Landscape gardening and grounds maintenance	0042	Mowing, planting, general landscape maintenance
Garden operation	0008	Nursery and garden center operations
Tree trimming and removal	0106	Arborist and tree surgery work (higher rate due to risk)

Voluntary coverage below the 5-employee threshold is strongly recommended. Landscaping involves equipment operation, heat exposure (Mississippi summer heat index regularly exceeds 110 degrees Fahrenheit in July and August), chemical exposure, and physical labor — all real injury vectors that can generate substantial claims.

Federal OSHA Jurisdiction

Mississippi has no state OSHA plan. Federal OSHA covers all Mississippi workplaces. Key standards for landscaping crews: heat illness prevention, pesticide handler protection, power equipment guarding, and struck-by hazards. OSHA 10 training for crew leads is a strong risk management practice.

Step 7: MS 811 — The 3-10 Working Day Rule

Before any excavation — including irrigation trench digging, tree planting holes, drainage work, or soil regrading — Mississippi law (Miss. Code § 77-13-1 et seq.) requires you to notify MS 811.

Mississippi’s notice window is 3-10 working days — this is not a 48-hour requirement and not a 2-working-day requirement. This is a common error made by out-of-state operators accustomed to states with shorter windows.

The correct MS 811 process:

1. Mark your planned excavation boundary with white paint or white flags before calling 811
2. Call 811 or submit a ticket at ms811.org — the service is free
3. Wait the required 3-10 working days for all utilities to mark their lines
4. Locate markings are valid for 20 calendar days from the mark-by-time
5. If an emergency excavation is required (genuine emergency only), call 811 immediately and notify all relevant utilities before digging

Violations: Failure to comply with Miss. Code § 77-13-1 et seq. can result in civil penalties. Underground utility strikes — gas lines, electrical conduit, water mains, telecommunications fiber — create both legal liability and genuine safety risks. Build the 3-10 working day lead time into every project schedule that includes any digging.

When scheduling irrigation installation jobs for customers, communicate the MS 811 lead time upfront. A 10-working-day maximum window (two full calendar weeks) should be built into your project start date commitments.

Step 8: Local Business Privilege License

Every Mississippi city and county requires a Business Privilege License before you conduct business within their jurisdiction. There is no statewide standard — each municipality sets its own fee and application requirements. Contact your local city or county clerk. Fees for small service businesses typically range from $25 to $300 per year.

Mississippi Landscaping Market Overview

Mississippi’s landscaping market has distinct regional demand centers that shape where operators should focus:

Gulf Coast — Casino Resort Grounds and Post-Storm Restoration

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is the single largest commercial landscaping market in the state, driven by the casino resort corridor. Major institutional accounts include:

• Beau Rivage Resort and Casino (Biloxi): MGM Resorts flagship Gulf Coast property; large resort grounds and casino exterior landscaping represent a significant ongoing contract
• Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (Biloxi): 479-room hotel with extensive grounds fronting the beach
• IP Casino Resort Spa (Biloxi): 1,088 rooms on the water; year-round grounds maintenance contract
• Golden Nugget (Biloxi): Waterfront resort grounds

Casino resort grounds management contracts are competitive but long-term. They typically require licensed, bonded, and insured contractors with certified pesticide applicators on staff, commercial equipment, and the capacity for year-round service. These are not startup accounts — they are targets for established operations looking to land anchor commercial contracts.

Post-storm restoration work is also a reliable seasonal demand driver on the Gulf Coast. Hurricanes and tropical storms regularly impact the Mississippi coast (Hurricane Katrina 2005, Isaac 2012, Nate 2017, and several near-misses since). Storm-damaged landscapes — uprooted trees, salt-spray damage to ornamentals, erosion, flooding — create demand for both emergency cleanup and full landscape restoration. The Tree Surgery License becomes important for this work.

Year-round operations are viable on the Gulf Coast. Mississippi’s mild Gulf Coast winters allow nearly continuous landscaping activity, though summer heat and humidity (heat index above 100 degrees Fahrenheit June through September) require heat illness protocols for crews.

Jackson Suburbs — Residential Growth Corridors

The Jackson metropolitan area’s growth corridors represent Mississippi’s largest residential landscaping market:

• Madison County (Madison, Ridgeland, Flora): One of the fastest-growing counties in Mississippi; affluent residential subdivisions represent premium residential landscaping demand
• Rankin County (Brandon, Flowood, Pearl, Richland): Strong suburban residential growth east of Jackson
• Ridgeland commercial corridor: Office parks and commercial developments along County Line Road generate commercial grounds contracts

Tupelo and Lee County — Corporate and Institutional

Tupelo’s industrial base — anchored by the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi plant in Blue Springs (Lee County) — generates institutional grounds maintenance demand. Toyota’s manufacturing campus represents the kind of large-footprint corporate account where certified, licensed landscapers have a competitive advantage over unlicensed lawn maintenance operators.

Oxford and Lafayette County — University Market

The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) campus in Oxford drives demand for both university facilities grounds contracts and the associated residential market of faculty, staff, and student housing. Oxford has experienced significant commercial and residential growth driven by Ole Miss expansion.

Delta Region — Agricultural and Commercial

The Mississippi Delta offers a distinct market: agricultural irrigation system maintenance, commercial catfish farm grounds and water management, and the flat open landscape of the Delta’s commercial corridors. Delta work often involves large acreage at lower per-hour rates than suburban residential, requiring volume and efficient routing.

Startup Cost Breakdown: Mississippi Landscaping Business

Item	Estimated Cost	Notes
Mississippi LLC formation	$53	$50 + $3 online fee; annual report free
Federal EIN	Free	IRS.gov
Landscape Horticulturist License	$0 (license fee)	No fee for the license itself
Landscape Horticulturist Exam (x2, computer-based)	$110 total	$55 each; free if taken on paper at BPI office
Surety bond ($1,000 bond)	~$100/year	Flat rate; required for license
General liability insurance	$1,500-$3,000/year	Required for license; $300K+ per occurrence standard
Commercial Pesticide Applicator — Cat. 3 (if spraying)	$0-$110	Free on paper; up to $55/exam computer-based (Core + Cat. 3)
Tree Surgery License (if doing tree work)	Exam + insurance	Contact MDAC BPI for current schedule
Local Business Privilege License	$25-$300/year	Varies by city/county
Commercial zero-turn mower	$5,000-$15,000	New vs. used; 48″-72″ deck for commercial efficiency
Trailer (open equipment trailer)	$2,000-$5,000	For hauling mowers and equipment
Hand tools and power equipment (trimmers, blowers, edgers)	$1,500-$4,000	Commercial-grade equipment
Pesticide sprayer (if applying chemicals)	$300-$1,500	Backpack or skid sprayer
Truck or vehicle (if not already owned)	$15,000-$40,000	Used 3/4-ton or 1-ton is the common entry point
Commercial auto insurance	$1,500-$3,000/year	Personal auto policies exclude commercial vehicle use
Estimated Year 1 total (licensed, insured, basic equipment)	$7,000-$25,000	Excluding truck purchase; wide range based on new vs. used equipment

Related Mississippi Business Guides

• How to Start a Cleaning Service in Mississippi
• How to Start a Food Truck in Mississippi
• How to Start a Daycare in Mississippi
• How to Start an HVAC Business in Mississippi
• How to Start a Hair Salon in Mississippi
• How to Start a Private Investigation Business in Mississippi

← Back to all Mississippi business guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to start a landscaping business in Mississippi?

It depends on your services. Mowing and basic maintenance only: no state license required — just a local Business Privilege License. Planting, sodding, ornamental installation, or advertising landscaping services: you need an MDAC Landscape Horticulturist License (no license fee, but two exams and a $1,000 surety bond required). Pesticide or herbicide application to client property: separate MDAC Category 3 Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification required. Tree pruning, trimming, or removal: separate MDAC Tree Surgery License required. Most full-service landscape operations need the Horticulturist License plus the pesticide certification.

How much does the Mississippi Landscape Horticulturist License cost?

The license itself costs nothing — MDAC charges no fee for the Landscape Horticulturist License. Out-of-pocket costs: two exams (free if taken on paper at the BPI office; $55 each if computer-based), a $1,000 surety bond (approximately $100 flat-rate annual premium from any surety company), and proof of general liability insurance. Contact MDAC Bureau of Plant Industry at mdac.ms.gov.

What is the MS 811 notice requirement for landscaping excavation?

Mississippi law (Miss. Code § 77-13-1 et seq.) requires 3-10 working days advance notice before any excavation — including irrigation trenching, tree planting, and drainage work. Mark your planned dig area with white paint or white flags before calling 811. Locate markings are valid for 20 calendar days. This is not a 48-hour rule — Mississippi’s window is significantly longer and must be built into project scheduling. Emergency excavations require immediate 811 notification. Submit tickets at ms811.org or call 811.

Is landscaping labor taxable in Mississippi?

Landscape labor performed as a real property improvement (planting, sodding, irrigation installation) is generally not taxable in Mississippi. Mississippi treats the landscaper as the consumer of the materials — you pay 7% sales tax when you buy plants, sod, and irrigation parts from your supplier. The labor you invoice to the customer is not re-taxed. Basic mowing and trimming services are also not taxed. Retail plant sales (plants sold to customers who take them home) are taxable at 7%. Confirm your specific contract structure with the Mississippi Department of Revenue.

Do landscapers need workers’ compensation in Mississippi?

Workers’ compensation is required once you have 5 or more employees, overseen by the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission at mwcc.ms.gov. Applicable NCCI codes: 0042 (landscape gardening), 0008 (garden work), 0106 (tree work and removal). Voluntary coverage below 5 employees is strongly recommended. Mississippi summers regularly produce heat index readings above 110 degrees Fahrenheit — heat illness claims are a genuine risk for unprotected outdoor crews.

Do I need a separate license for tree work in Mississippi?

Yes. Mississippi requires an MDAC Tree Surgery License from the Bureau of Plant Industry for any business that prunes, trims, fertilizes, or removes trees for compensation. This is a distinct license from the Landscape Horticulturist License. A separate exam and proof of liability insurance are required. Many general landscaping businesses subcontract tree removal to avoid the additional licensing burden and the higher insurance premiums associated with tree surgery operations.

Do I need a pesticide license to apply herbicides to a customer’s lawn?

Yes. Any Mississippi landscaping business that applies pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides to client property for compensation must hold MDAC Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification in Category 3 (Ornamental and Turf). Both the General Core exam and the Category 3 exam are required. Paper exams are free at the BPI office; computer-based exams are $55 each. Certification must be renewed every 3 years. Contact MDAC at mdac.ms.gov.

What are the biggest landscaping markets in Mississippi?

The Gulf Coast is the largest commercial landscaping market, anchored by casino resort grounds maintenance contracts (Beau Rivage, Hard Rock, IP Casino, Golden Nugget) and post-hurricane landscape restoration demand. Jackson suburbs (Madison County, Rankin County, Ridgeland, Brandon) represent the largest residential market. Tupelo offers institutional grounds contracts through the Toyota manufacturing campus and surrounding industrial base. Oxford (Ole Miss) drives university and high-density residential demand. The Delta region offers large-acreage agricultural and commercial accounts.