Business insurance • Florida landscapers
Florida Landscaping Contractor Insurance: Fertilizer and Pesticide Certification, Coverage, and Costs
Florida has no statewide landscaping contractor license, so cities and counties set local rules. The state does regulate chemicals: anyone applying fertilizer for hire needs a Limited Urban Commercial Fertilizer certificate after GI-BMP training, and the Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance certificate for pesticides on plant beds requires proof of insurance. Florida employers also have workers’ compensation thresholds.
This guide covers Florida landscaping licenses, required coverage, and typical costs. Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency licensed in Florida, and a licensed agent can compare quotes for your landscaping business.
Request a Florida landscaping insurance quote
Tell us about your landscaping business and crew, and a licensed agent will follow up. Submitting the form does not bind coverage.
If the form does not load, call 888-387-3687, Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 5:00, or email info@blakeinsurancegroup.com.
Prefer to quote online yourself?
Start a business insurance quote online with one of our partners, without waiting for a call back.
Get a quote from ERGO NEXT →General liability, workers’ compensation, business owner’s policies, professional liability, and commercial auto.
Start an application with First Connect →Quotes from multiple insurance carriers through our First Connect portal.
Sponsored. Each link opens the partner’s website in a new tab, where its terms and privacy policy apply. Blake Insurance Group may be compensated if you buy.
Florida landscaping certifications
| Certification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Limited Urban Commercial Fertilizer | Required to apply fertilizer for hire; GI-BMP training, $25, renewed every four years with 4 CEUs |
| Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance (LCLM) | Pesticides on plant beds and ornamentals only; 6 hours of training, $150 exam, proof of insurance on DACS Form 13654, renewed yearly with 4 CEUs |
Sources: UF/IFAS fertilizer certification, FDACS landscape maintenance certification. LCLM does not allow applications to lawns or turfgrass, and violations can bring penalties of up to $5,000 each.
Florida workers’ compensation
Florida non-construction employers need workers’ compensation at four or more employees, and construction employers at one or more. Hardscape and installation work can fall under construction classes, so confirm how your work is classified (Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation).
Coverage most Florida landscapers carry
- General liability: third-party injuries and property damage, such as a mower throwing a rock through a window or a client tripping over equipment.
- Business owner’s policy: general liability bundled with property coverage for your shop, yard, and supplies.
- Workers’ compensation: medical bills and lost wages if an employee is hurt, including mower and trimmer injuries, heat illness, and lifting strains.
- Commercial auto: trucks and trailers that haul crews, mowers, and materials.
- Tools and equipment (inland marine): mowers, trimmers, blowers, and skid steers on job sites or in transit.
- Commercial umbrella: extra limits on top of general liability and auto, often required by HOAs and commercial clients.
What Florida landscapers pay
| Policy | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| General liability | $63 | $761 |
| Business owner’s policy | $92 | $1,101 |
| Workers’ compensation | $150 | $1,802 |
| Commercial auto | $299 | $3,590 |
| Tools and equipment | $53 | $637 |
| Commercial umbrella | $92 | $1,101 |
| License and permit bonds | $9 | $112 |
Costs for landscaping businesses that bought policies through Insureon, mostly businesses with fewer than five employees. General liability assumes $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. Your price depends on payroll, the work you do, claims history, and location.
Florida landscaping insurance FAQs
Does Florida require a landscaping license?
There is no statewide landscaping contractor license, but cities and counties may require local licenses, and chemical applicators need state certification.
Do Florida landscapers need fertilizer certification?
Yes. Anyone applying fertilizer for hire needs the FDACS Limited Urban Commercial Fertilizer certificate.
Does the LCLM pesticide certificate require insurance?
Yes. FDACS does not issue the certificate until it receives proof of insurance.
Related guides
Important information
Compensation. The link in the partner quote box near the top of this page is sponsored, and Blake Insurance Group may be paid if you make a purchase. Sponsored placement does not affect the other information on this page.
Independent agency. Blake Insurance Group LLC is an independent insurance agency. Licensed insurance producer NPN 16944666. Licensed states: AZ, AL, TX, CA, NY, OH, FL, NC, VA, GA, OK, NM, IA, KS, MI, NE, SC, SD, WV, IL, NJ, PA, TN, and WA. Which insurance companies we can quote depends on our current appointments, the product, and your state. Mentioning a company on this page does not mean we represent it.
Cost figures. Published averages and ranges are cited from the sources named, as of the dates shown. They are not quotes and may not reflect your price, which depends on the insurer, your state, your payroll, the work you do, and your claims history.
Availability. Coverage, prices, discounts, and eligibility vary by insurer, state, and applicant, and are subject to underwriting. The issued policy controls.
Your next step
Tell us about your Florida landscaping business, and a licensed agent will compare quotes, or start a business insurance quote online with our partners.
