Landscaping Liability Insurance: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re a landscaper, you know that it can be a dangerous field. And if you own a landscaping business, you might be concerned about being held liable for property damage, injuries, or accidents. That’s why experts recommend that landscapers purchase a landscaping liability insurance policy.

While not legally required, landscaping liability insurance is essential for shielding your business from potentially debilitating legal costs and medical bills should such an accident occur.

What is Landscaping Liability Insurance?

Liability insurance covers potential costs your business may incur if it causes property damage or injuries to a third party (i.e., someone who is not an employee). A liability policy can also cover legal expenses if your company is sued for libel or slander.

Here are some examples of what landscaping liability insurance typically covers:

• Damage to a customer’s house
• Damage to a yard or commercial lawn
• Broken gas lines, sprinklers, or other utility lines
• Lost income due to damage (for example, if your company damages a storefront and it must close for several weeks)
• Injuries to a customer caused by misplaced equipment
• Injuries to a third party due to a hole left in a lawn
• Medical expenses resulting from a client’s exposure to pesticides or other chemicals
• Harm to children or pets from toxic plants
• Lawsuits for libel or slander stemming from an employee speaking negatively about a client

Note: Liability insurance does not cover injuries to yourself or your employees. For that, you would need workers’ compensation insurance. Additionally, landscaping liability insurance does not cover motor vehicle accidents; you would need commercial vehicle insurance for that type of coverage.

How Much Does Landscaping Liability Insurance Cost?

The cost of liability insurance for landscapers depends on several factors, including the size of the company, its risk level, location, operating seasons, and the amount of coverage desired. Premiums can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per year.

For example, if your business only offers lawn care and gardening services during the spring and summer, you might pay as little as $40 per month. However, if you operate year-round and offer higher-risk services such as tree pruning or complete lawn reseeding, your premiums will likely be higher. On average, most small landscaping businesses pay around $50 per month for liability coverage.

Choosing a policy with a higher deductible—meaning you’ll pay more out of pocket before coverage begins—can help lower your premiums. You may also qualify for discounts by paying your premium in a lump sum rather than monthly, or by bundling your liability policy with other coverage in a business owner’s policy (BOP).

Determining how much coverage your business needs is essential. Liability policies are typically offered in coverage amounts starting at $500,000 or $1 million.

Liability insurance is a worthwhile investment. On average, businesses spend $1.2 million per year on litigation—a cost that could be devastating for a small business.

What Insurance Do I Need as a Landscaper?

As a landscaper, having liability insurance is essential. Without it, you could be responsible for thousands—or even tens of thousands—of dollars in attorney fees, medical bills, repairs, or replacements.

Landscaping liability insurance is commonly carried by landscapers, gardeners, lawn care professionals, tree pruning and removal specialists, excavators and graders, and hardscape designers. The risk increases if your company works with commercial clients—such as golf courses or athletic fields—since any damage could result in significant revenue losses for the client, for which you could be held liable.

While liability insurance is not legally required, it may be mandatory depending on your contracts. For instance, if you’re working with a town government or school system, they may require proof of insurance. It may also be necessary when applying for a business loan or renting professional equipment.

In addition to liability insurance, you should also consider other types of coverage. Commercial property insurance can protect your office or storage facility, while commercial auto insurance covers your fleet of vehicles. A solid workers’ compensation policy is also important, especially given the physically demanding nature of landscaping work.

Learn more about how we can meet your insurance needs! Speak with an independent agent at C&S today.