Landscaper license requirements in Florida.
Florida does not license landscaping as a trade — you can mow, prune, and install without a state landscaping license. What Florida does regulate is pesticide application. If you apply herbicides, insecticides, or fungicides for hire, you need certification from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the common landscape credential is narrower than most people expect.
What Florida requires.
Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance (LCLM) certification
Lets commercial landscape maintenance personnel apply herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides to ornamental plants and plant beds only. It does not cover any pesticide application to turf — including weed control and weed-and-feed products.
Broader pest control licensing
Turf applications, supervising employees under your certificate, and operating a pest control business all require licensing beyond LCLM.
What the LCLM certification takes
- Provide proof of insurance
- Pass the certification exam, covering CORE material (pesticide laws, safety, labeling) plus LCLM principles
- As of July 1, 2024, the previously required 6-hour pre-application class was removed
- The exam voucher is $150, which also covers the first year of the LCLM license on a pass
- · The turf exclusion is the trap: LCLM covers ornamentals and plant beds, not lawns. Spraying turf for a customer requires a different license.
- · LCLM does not authorize you to supervise employees applying pesticides under your certificate, or to run a pest control business.
The official board
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) — Pest Control Licensing and Certification
Visit the boardVerified 2026-08 against the sources below. Licensing rules change — confirm with the board before relying on this page.
Florida landscaping and lawn care licensing FAQ.
Do you need a license to do landscaping in Florida?
Not for landscaping itself — Florida has no state landscaping trade license, so mowing, pruning, and planting do not require one. You do need certification from FDACS if you apply pesticides for hire, and local business registration still applies.
What is an LCLM license in Florida?
Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance certification. It allows commercial landscape maintenance workers to apply herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides to ornamental plants and plant beds only — issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Does an LCLM license let you spray weeds in a lawn in Florida?
No. LCLM specifically excludes turf. It does not authorize any pesticide application to turf areas, including weed control or weed-and-feed products. Treating lawns requires broader pest control licensing.
How do you get an LCLM certification in Florida?
Provide proof of insurance and pass the certification exam covering CORE material — pesticide laws, safety, and labeling — plus LCLM principles. The 6-hour pre-application class requirement was removed as of July 1, 2024. The $150 exam voucher also covers your first year of licensure if you pass.
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