Lawn care licensing in Texas
Quick answer
- ✓ Register your business with the TX Secretary of State (or DBA at county for sole props)
- ✓ Get a Texas Sales Tax Permit — lawn care is taxable at 6.25% + local
- ✓ Get general liability insurance
- ✗ No state-specific license for mowing-only
- ⚠️ Pesticide / herbicide application requires TX Department of Agriculture license
Business registration
Texas LLC filing fee is $300. Sole proprietors using a trade name file a "DBA" (Assumed Name Certificate) with the county clerk where they operate.
Sales tax
Texas taxes lawn maintenance services (mowing, edging, weed control, leaf removal, fertilization). State rate is 6.25%; combined rates often 8.25% with local. New tree planting and landscape design are NOT taxable, which causes confusion — keep clean records.
Lawn care taxable: Yes · State rate: 6.25%
Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit →
Pesticide / herbicide certification
Commercial applicators must be licensed. Relevant category for lawn care is "Lawn and Ornamental." Both initial exam and CEUs for renewal.
Texas Department of Agriculture →
State-specific licensing
Texas does not require a state license for general lawn maintenance. Some cities (e.g., Houston, San Antonio) require local business permits.
Insurance
Not state-mandated. Texas is unusual: workers' comp is OPTIONAL for private employers (one of the few states), but $1M general liability is still the practical norm.
Worker's compensation
Texas does NOT require worker's comp for private employers. However, opting out exposes you to lawsuits without the no-fault protection comp provides. Most employers carry it anyway.
Useful links
Your starter checklist
- Register business entity with TX SOS (or file DBA at county)
- Get a federal EIN
- Apply for Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit
- Open a business bank account
- Get general liability insurance
- (If applying chemicals) Get TDA pesticide license
- (Before hiring) Decide on workers' comp opt-in/out