- No dollar floor. Irrigation installation and lawn maintenance such as mowing and fertilizing do not need the license.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- A surety bond of at least $1,000.
- Every 3 years, with an updated surety bond.
Do you need a state license in Mississippi?
Mississippi licenses landscaping work at the state level through the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Bureau of Plant Industry. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
No dollar floor. Irrigation installation and lawn maintenance such as mowing and fertilizing do not need the license.
The Mississippi license for this work
There is one license to aim for here.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Commercial license, Landscaping, Grading and Beautification | Commercial landscaping, hardscaping, planting, mowing and trimming on commercial jobs over $50,000, from the State Board of Contractors |
Steps to get licensed in Mississippi
- Submit the License Exam Application and qualify to take the exams.
- Pass the exams on the scheduled date.
- File a surety bond of at least $1,000.
- Request the license and ID cards for you and your employees.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Landscape Horticulturist License.
Mississippi landscaping exams
Trade exam. Landscape horticulturist exams, after you qualify to sit for them.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Mississippi
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 |
|---|---|
| Landscape Horticulturist License | No cost |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. A surety bond of at least $1,000.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every 3 years, with an updated surety bond.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Mississippi
- Lawn maintenance businesses cannot use the words landscape or landscaping in their name without the license.
- License holders and employees who solicit business carry an ID card, and work vehicles must be marked.
- Keep records of all work, including contracts, for 2 years.
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 Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Bureau of Plant Industry 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.