Business insurance • North Carolina landscapers
North Carolina Landscaping Contractor Insurance: State License, $10,000 Bond, and Coverage
North Carolina licenses landscape contractors through the Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board. A license is required when contracts at a job site total $30,000 or more in any 12-month period, and licensees must keep a $10,000 surety bond or letter of credit. Mowing, edging, and stand-alone lawn care are exempt, irrigation work over $2,500 needs a separate irrigation contractor license, and employers with three or more employees must carry workers’ compensation.
This guide covers North Carolina landscaping licenses, required coverage, and typical costs. Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency licensed in North Carolina, and a licensed agent can compare quotes for your landscaping business.
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North Carolina landscape contractor license
| License | When required |
|---|---|
| Landscape contractor | Contracts at one job site of $30,000 or more in any 12 months; $10,000 surety bond or letter of credit |
| Irrigation contractor | Irrigation contracts at a job site over $2,500 |
| Exempt | Lawn mowing, edging, debris removal, and stand-alone fertilization, aeration, or weed control |
Sources: N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 89D, UNC School of Government. A local government cannot require a landscape license below the state threshold.
North Carolina workers’ compensation
Employers with three or more employees must carry workers’ compensation, and corporate officers count as employees (North Carolina Industrial Commission).
Coverage most North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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.
North Carolina landscaping insurance FAQs
When does North Carolina require a landscape contractor license?
When contracts at one job site total $30,000 or more in any consecutive 12 months.
Is there a bond for North Carolina landscape contractors?
Yes. Licensees must keep a $10,000 surety bond or an equivalent letter of credit.
Do North Carolina landscapers need workers’ comp?
When they have three or more employees, counting corporate officers.
Related guides
Important information
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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
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