Landscaping Company Insurance in Washington State

Landscaping companies in Washington operate across a remarkably wide risk spectrum. At one end, a solo lawn mowing operation faces relatively modest liability — a rock thrown by a mower into a car windshield, a sprinkler head broken during edging. At the other extreme, a full-service landscaping company performing tree removal faces some of the highest risk exposures in the entire construction industry. Your insurance needs depend entirely on where your business falls on that spectrum, and many landscaping companies grow into higher-risk services without updating their coverage accordingly.

Property damage is the most frequent claim category for landscapers. Mowers and string trimmers launch debris into windows, vehicles, and siding with regularity. Excavation work for irrigation systems, retaining walls, and hardscaping strikes underground utilities — gas lines, water mains, fiber optic cables, and electric conduit. A severed gas line can trigger evacuation, emergency response, and repair costs that reach tens of thousands of dollars. In Washington's established neighborhoods, underground utility locations are not always accurately mapped, and "call before you dig" doesn't eliminate the risk.

Tree work stands apart as the single highest-risk activity a landscaping company can perform. A falling tree or limb can crush structures, vehicles, fences, and people. The physics of tree work are unforgiving — a misjudged fell direction or a hung limb that releases unexpectedly creates catastrophic consequences. Many insurance carriers either refuse to cover tree work entirely or charge substantially higher premiums for it. If your landscaping business performs tree removal or trimming, you need to make sure your policy explicitly covers it — a common general liability policy may exclude tree work above certain heights.

Washington requires landscaping contractors performing work over $3,000 to register with L&I and carry a $15,000 specialty contractor surety bond. Pesticide and herbicide application requires a separate license from the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Equipment theft is a pervasive industry problem — mowers, blowers, and trailers left on job sites or in open trailers are frequent targets. Without inland marine coverage, replacing stolen commercial mowing equipment can cost $10,000 to $50,000 out of pocket.