Lawn care licensing in Florida

Business registration

Florida LLC filing fee is $125. Sole proprietors using a trade name file a "Fictitious Name Registration" with the FL Division of Corporations.

Florida Secretary of State →

Sales tax

Florida taxes nonresidential lawn care services. Residential lawn care is generally NOT taxable. Combined rates often 7–8% with discretionary surtax. Read the rules carefully — Florida's residential exemption is unusual.

Lawn care taxable: Yes · State rate: 6%

Florida Annual Resale Certificate / Sales Tax →

Pesticide / herbicide certification

Florida is stricter than most states. Even routine lawn services that include "weed control" can trigger pesticide licensing requirements. The Limited Lawn and Ornamental Pest Control License is a lower-bar option for general lawn care.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services →

State-specific licensing

Required: Limited Lawn and Ornamental Pest Control License

Florida requires a Limited Lawn & Ornamental license for any business that does pest control or weed control on lawns — even with general-use products.

License details →

Insurance

Florida pest control license requires proof of public liability insurance. $100K is the licensing minimum; $1M is the practical norm.

Worker's compensation

Florida requires worker's comp at 4 or more employees for non-construction businesses (lawn care typically falls here). Construction-classified businesses have a 1-employee threshold.

Worker's comp agency →

Useful links

• FL Division of Corporations
• FL Department of Revenue
• FDACS (Pest Control)

Your starter checklist

• ☐ Register business entity with FL Division of Corporations
• ☐ Get a federal EIN
• ☐ Apply for FL Sales Tax Certificate (commercial work)
• ☐ Open a business bank account
• ☐ Get general liability insurance ($1M)
• ☐ Apply for Limited Lawn & Ornamental Pest Control License if doing weed/pest control
• ☐ (Once you have 4+ employees) Get worker's comp coverage