What kind of landscape work requires a Florida license?
General garden and yard maintenance does not require a license—unless you want to use pesticides. A commercial applicator license is required to apply pesticides as a business service to residential and other properties.
Landscape Designers who mow, trim, plant, and maintain yards potentially require only an occupational license from their local city or county, but that varies based on location. They can’t use pesticides without at least a certification from FDACS. In Manatee County, all landscape maintenance personnel are required to take a 4 hour course reviewing Best Practicies and must pass a test upon completion of their course. Failure to do so results in fines from Manatee County .
Landscape Architects who actually contour the land for proper drainage, build or install walls and fences, install and maintain irrigation systems, or build structures require a license from the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
What many homeowners don’t know is that, according to Florida Statute 455.228, if you knowingly hire an unlicensed contractor to perform any landscape job that requires a license you become the general contractor! Unlicensed contractors tend to operate without general liability and/or workers’ compensation insurance. This could mean that if they, or their employees, are injured while doing work on your property, you are responsible and could even be sued by the unlicensed contractor — or by anyone working for him. It’s worthwhile to note that contractors unwilling or unable to pay for licensing fees tend to use below-par equipment and deliver shoddy service.
Here at Fast Lawnscapes all of our employees have received their BMP Certification from Manatee County and we carry General Liability, Worker's Compensation, and Commercial Auto insurance to keep you and your property protected!! Since we're not landscape architects we're not required to carry the State level license.
Do you have any questions? Please call us at 941-776-5111.
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