How to get a landscaping license in Montana

Yes, if you have employees. Since January 1, 2026 Montana requires construction contractors with employees to hold a Construction Contractor License from the Department of Labor and Industry. The law covers altering, repairing or improving buildings and other improvements attached to real estate, which takes in most landscaping work.

PartlyState license for some work, or a registration
The short version for Montana
  • Construction contractors with employees.

Do you need a state license in Montana?

Montana licenses some landscaping work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.

Construction contractors with employees.

Steps to get licensed in Montana

  1. Apply online with the Department of Labor and Industry.

Experience and other requirements

Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).

The license to apply for. Construction Contractor License.

Montana landscaping exams

Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).

Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).

What it costs in Montana

We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Construction Contractor License Program.

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. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).

Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).

Good to know in Montana

  • Contractors with an active Montana registration on December 31, 2025 were converted to the new license.

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 Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Construction Contractor License Program 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.

FAQ

Do you need a state landscaping license in Montana?

Yes, if you have employees. Since January 1, 2026 Montana requires construction contractors with employees to hold a Construction Contractor License from the Department of Labor and Industry. The law covers altering, repairing or improving buildings and other improvements attached to real estate, which takes in most landscaping work.

Can you do small jobs in Montana without a license?

Construction contractors with employees.

Who issues landscaping licenses in Montana?

The Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Construction Contractor License Program. Its site is the place to check current forms and fees before you apply.

We know what works. Leave it to Koira.

☼⚙
Standard⚡ Turbo
● Koira did it● You by hand
Today $9,300$8,100 / $1,200
This week $25,050$18,570 / $6,480
This month $69,300$46,150 / $23,150
Money, just now
Reminded Sean Love, $1,850. Polite reminder with the pay link.
Bids, 9:44 am
Nudged Dana on the kitchen bid. Day 3 follow up. She opened it at 9:12.
Convos, 9:41 am
Texted back a missed call. Walk through booked Thu 10:00.
How to Get a Landscaping and Irrigation License in Montana (2026 Requirements)