Landscaping looks low risk until a mower throws a rock through a window or a trailer full of equipment disappears overnight. Those two claims, damage to client property and stolen gear, shape most landscaping insurance.
Lawn care and simple landscaping sit on the lower end of the price range. Tree removal, snow plowing, and pesticide application cost more because the claims are bigger. Tell insurers exactly which services you offer so the quote matches the work.
What insurance do landscapers need?
Here is how each type of landscaping insurance fits a typical landscaping business, from what clients and states usually require to what depends on how you work.
General liability
Usually requiredHOAs and commercial clients require it. Pays for injuries and property damage you cause to other people.
About $63 a month for landscapersCommercial auto
Usually requiredTrucks and trailers hauling equipment. Covers trucks and vans you use for work, and the damage they cause.
About $299 a month for landscapersTools & equipment
Usually requiredMowers, trimmers, and blowers walk away easily. Replaces tools and gear that get stolen, lost, or damaged.
Workers comp
Usually requiredRequired in most states once you hire a crew. Pays medical bills and lost wages when an employee gets hurt on the job.
About $150 a month for landscapersBusiness owners policy
Depends on your setupIf you keep a yard or shop. General liability and business property bundled together, usually for less.
About $92 a month for landscapersLicense & surety bonds
Depends on your setupFor pesticide work or where your city requires it. A guarantee to your customer or the state that you will follow the rules and finish the work.
How much does landscaping insurance cost?
The typical landscaping business pays about $63 a month, or $761 a year, for general liability, based on published customer data. Your price moves with your services, revenue, crew size, claims history, state, and the limits you choose.
| Policy | Typical monthly | Typical yearly |
|---|---|---|
| General liability | $63 | $761 |
| Business owners policy | $92 | $1,104 |
| Workers compensation | $150 | $1,800 |
| Commercial auto | $299 | $3,588 |
Source: Insureon cost data for this trade. Yearly figures without a published annual number are the monthly figure times twelve. These are typical figures, not quotes.
Want a number for your setup? Try the contractor insurance cost calculator, or see ways to get cheap contractor insurance.
Common landscaping insurance claims
- Flying debrisMowers and trimmers throw rocks into windows, cars, and people. General liability covers the damage and injuries.
- Equipment theftTrailers and mowers are easy to steal. Tools and equipment cover pays to replace them.
- Chemical exposurePesticide and fertilizer work can bring injury or plant damage claims, and some policies exclude it unless you add it.
- Higher-risk add-onsTree work and snow removal raise your price. Insureon data shows tree service liability running far above routine lawn care.
Landscaping license and bond requirements
Most states do not license routine lawn care, though some license landscaping contractors above a job size or require registration. Applying pesticides or herbicides commercially usually requires a state applicator license from your state agriculture department.
Confirm before you rely on this. Licensing and insurance rules change, and cities can add their own. Check with your state licensing board and a licensed agent before you bid.