STATE LICENSE
ConditionalDepartment of Licensing and Consumer Prot…
Landscaping is not a District-licensed occupation; only landscape architects (design) are (D.C. Code § 47-2853.04(24)). Anyone doing business in the District needs a basic business license ($99 for two years; § 47-2851.04). Three things change that: applying any pesticide — herbicides and weed-and-feed included — for a fee requires a DOEE-certified commercial applicator or registered technician (§ 8-404(a)); fences, driveways, decks, patios, and similar residential hardscape for $300 or more are home improvement work needing the Home Improvement Contractor endorsement and a $25,000 bond (16 DCMR §§ 802.1, 899.1); and trees are protected.
Cutting down, topping, or removing a Special Tree (40 to 100 inches in circumference at 4.5 feet) on private property requires a permit, granted if the tree is hazardous, a listed species, or the applicant pays $55 per inch into the Tree Fund (D.C. Code § 8-651.04); a Heritage Tree (100+ inches) can be removed only if hazardous, a listed species, or relocated (§ 8-651.04a). Violations carry fines of at least $300 per inch. Lawn and landscape pesticide applications require a sign posted for 48 hours (§ 8-403.03).
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
The District is the only layer. DLCP licenses the business; DOEE certifies pesticide applicators and enforces use restrictions; DDOT Urban Forestry administers Special and Heritage Tree permits; DOB permits fences, retaining walls, and sheds. Work in public parking (the planted strip between property line and sidewalk) is public space and needs DDOT approval.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every District of Columbia county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
Applying any pesticide for a fee — including herbicides — requires a licensed commercial applicator or registered technician (§ 8-404(a)).
A Special Tree is 40 to 100 inches in circumference at 4.5 feet (§ 8-651.02(5)); older guidance cited 44 inches.
Most pesticides are barred on schools, child-occupied facilities, waterbody-contingent property, and District property, with listed exceptions (§ 8-433).
A practical sequence for a new landscaping contractor in District of Columbia. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Removing, topping, or destroying a Special or Heritage Tree without a permit or violating permit conditions.
Violating the pesticide subchapter or its regulations, including unlicensed application for hire.
Violating the basic business license law is a misdemeanor; civil infraction fines may be imposed instead.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
| County · City | Permit office | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia Washington (consolidated gov.) | District of Columbia Department of Buildings (DOB) — Permitting ↗ | Citizen Access Portal ↗ |
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: DOEE pesticide certification, registered technician, and operator license fees (not published on DOEE's pages; § 8-403 delegates them to the Mayor) · DOEE's pesticide licensing page still routes final licensing through DCRA's Business Service Division; the current DLCP process may differ · Which agency office currently issues Special Tree permits (statute says 'the Mayor'; DDOT Urban Forestry is the long-standing administrator) and current Tree Fund fee after any inflation adjustment · Late-renewal penalties: D.C. Code § 47-2851.10 (as amended through D.C. Law 26-183, Sept. 25, 2026) sets $75 within 30 days, $150 from 30 days to 6 months, and $350 after 6 months, while DLCP's fee summary lists $75, $75, and $200 — DLCP's page appears stale
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.