- The business needs a certified operator who has passed the exams for each category.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. Licenses run October 1 to September 30.
Do you need a state license in Alabama?
Alabama licenses landscaping work at the state level through the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Pesticide Management Section. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Alabama license types for landscaping work
Alabama splits the work into 4 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Setting of Landscape Plants (SLP) | Planting landscape plants |
| Landscape Design (LD) | Landscape design |
| Tree Surgery (TS) | Tree work |
| Ornamental and Turf Pest Control (OTPS) | Pest control on ornamentals and lawns |
Steps to get licensed in Alabama
- Pass the exams for your categories, such as Setting of Landscape Plants or Landscape Design.
- Get certified through the department.
- Apply for the Horticulture Professional Services License and pay $175.
- Renew every year before September 30.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The business needs a certified operator who has passed the exams for each category.
The license to apply for. Horticulture Professional Services License.
Alabama landscaping exams
Trade exam. Exams for each category, given by computer through Metro Institute.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Alabama
The board lists one fee for this license. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Horticulture Professional Services License, yearly | $175 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Licenses run October 1 to September 30.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a landscaper near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Pesticide Management Section and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how landscaping companies run on Koira.