Landscaper Licensing in Oregon

Oregon Landscaper License Verification

To operate legally in Oregon, landscapers must secure two distinct licenses through the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board (LCB): an individual Landscape Construction Professional (LCP) license and a Landscape Contracting Business (LCB) license. The LCP license is for the individual who demonstrates competency by passing required examinations and is responsible for supervising all landscaping work performed by the business's unlicensed employees. To qualify for the LCP exam, applicants typically need two years of verifiable landscape-related experience within the last ten years, or a relevant degree or education. Once the individual LCP license is obtained, the Landscape Contracting Business license is required for the entity that contracts for landscaping work. This business license mandates the employment of a licensed LCP to oversee all landscape activities.

Work requiring these licenses includes, but is not limited to, the planning and installation of new plantings, irrigation system installation and repair (especially with compressed air), artificial turf and sod installation, and the construction or repair of arbors, decks, patios, driveways, fences, retaining walls, walkways, landscape edging, ornamental water features, and drainage systems. Additionally, tree work such as removal, pruning, stump grinding, and limb guying falls under regulated activities. Importantly, general landscape maintenance such as mowing, edging, some pruning, and refreshing existing lawns or planting annuals in existing beds does not require an LCB license. A "modified license" is also available for limited landscape contracting activities, typically up to $5,000, requiring one year of experience and specific exam sections.

Insurance and Bonding Mandates

As of January 1, 2026, all landscape contracting businesses in Oregon are required to maintain a surety bond of $20,000, irrespective of the project size. A limited exception exists for probationary license holders, who are required to file a $15,000 bond. This surety bond serves as a financial guarantee, ensuring that licensees fulfill their payment obligations and execute work properly in accordance with Oregon Revised Statutes. Businesses must obtain liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $500,000, and the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board must be listed as a certificate holder. Furthermore, if a landscape contracting business employs staff, it is mandatory to secure workers' compensation insurance to cover its employees.

Permitting and Local Regulations

While an LCB license authorizes a business to perform landscape contracting statewide, it is crucial for landscapers to be aware of and comply with additional permits and local business license requirements that may be imposed by individual city and county governments. Specific types of work often necessitate permits, including the installation of backflow assemblies for irrigation systems or water features, construction of retaining walls, driveways, decks, fences, walkways, arbors, landscape edging, patios, low voltage wiring for irrigation or landscape lighting, plantings on structures, and drainage systems for landscaping work. For any landscaping work performed on existing structures, businesses must verify that the structure has been properly engineered and that municipal approval, typically in the form of a permit, has been obtained.

Official Oregon Resources

For detailed information, application forms, and current regulations, the official resource is the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board (LCB):

LCB Official Website: https://www.oregon.gov/lcb

LCB Contact Information: Phone: (503) 967-6291 or Email: [email protected]

Verify a License: https://www.oregon.gov/lcb/Pages/Verify-License.aspx

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