Business insurance • Texas landscapers
Texas Landscaping Contractor Insurance: Irrigator and Pesticide Licenses, Coverage, and Costs
Texas has no general landscaping contractor license. Anyone who sells, designs, or advertises landscape irrigation needs a TCEQ Landscape Irrigator license, and anyone who applies pesticides to lawns, trees, or ornamentals for hire needs a Texas Department of Agriculture license. Commercial pesticide applicators must show $100,000 property damage and $100,000 bodily injury coverage per occurrence.
This guide covers Texas landscaping licenses, required coverage, and typical costs. Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency licensed in Texas, and a licensed agent can compare quotes for your landscaping business.
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Texas landscaping licenses
| License | Requirement |
|---|---|
| TCEQ Landscape Irrigator | Required to sell, design, install, or advertise irrigation; Basic Irrigator course, six-hour exam (70% per section), $111 every three years, 24 CE credits |
| TCEQ Irrigation Technician | Works under a licensed irrigator to maintain, alter, or repair systems |
| TDA commercial applicator | Restricted-use or regulated herbicides for hire; $100,000 property damage and $100,000 bodily injury per occurrence (or $200,000 aggregate) |
| TDA noncommercial applicator | General-use pesticides for hire; no insurance requirement listed |
| Fertilizer only | No license required |
Sources: TCEQ irrigator licensing notice, Contractor License Requirements (Texas irrigator guide), Texas Department of Agriculture. TCEQ requires no bond or insurance for the irrigator license, though cities and water suppliers may.
Workers’ comp in Texas
Texas employers that do not carry workers’ compensation must file DWC Form-005 each year, and nonsubscribers with five or more employees must report workplace injuries on DWC Form-007 (Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation). Going without coverage can expose you to injury lawsuits, so weigh that choice and check what your clients require.
Coverage most Texas 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 Texas 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.
Texas landscaping insurance FAQs
Does Texas require a landscaping license?
Not for general landscaping, but irrigation work needs a TCEQ license and pesticide application for hire needs a TDA license.
How much insurance does a Texas commercial pesticide applicator need?
$100,000 property damage and $100,000 bodily injury per occurrence, or $200,000 aggregate.
Is workers’ comp required for Texas landscapers?
Texas does not require private employers to carry it, but nonsubscribers must file notice with the Texas Department 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.
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