Compare the activity, then the code
NAICS code for landscaping
Start with 561730 for landscape care, maintenance or plant installation. Compare 541320 when the business primarily plans and designs landscapes, and 444240 when it primarily retails nursery, garden or farm products.
2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked
The activity changes the answer
Which work does the business primarily do?
Compare the service or product itself. The business name alone does not settle the classification.
Landscaping Services
Landscape care and maintenance, lawn care, tree services, or installation of plants, lawns and gardens.
Check the boundaryDesign-only work, standalone construction and primarily retailing landscaping materials have separate boundaries.
Read the official definitionLandscape Architectural Services
Planning and designing land areas using knowledge of land characteristics, structures and landscape design.
Check the boundaryDesign provided along with plant installation or landscape maintenance is specifically cross-referenced to 561730.
Read the official definitionNursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers
Retailing nursery and garden stock predominantly grown elsewhere, or farm supplies.
Check the boundaryGrowing and retailing nursery stock and providing landscaping services have separate cross-references.
Read the official definitionTake the candidates into the Finder
Open the official records side by side and download a source-backed shortlist.
When to investigate another classification
These activity differences take the comparison beyond the starting candidates.
Standalone landscape construction
23 · ConstructionArtificial-turf installation or construction of walkways, retaining walls, decks, fences or ponds has a Sector 23 construction boundary when it is the standalone primary activity. Choose the specific construction code for the work.
Census recordGrowing and retailing nursery stock
111421 · Nursery and Tree ProductionThe garden-retail cross-reference directs growing and retailing nursery stock to Nursery and Tree Production.
Census recordSnow plowing alone
561790 · Other Services to Buildings and DwellingsSnow plowing driveways and parking lots without another service is indexed under 561790; seasonal snow plowing combined with landscaping is indexed under 561730.
Census recordFollow the decisive activity
Worked classification examples
Illustrative businesses for comparison, rather than individual filing advice.
A business primarily mows, fertilizes and maintains customers’ lawns.
Lawn care and lawn maintenance are exact index activities.
Compare 561730 · Landscaping ServicesA contractor installs plants and lawns and provides landscape plans with the installation.
The definition includes installation provided along with landscape design.
Compare 561730 · Landscaping ServicesAn office primarily plans and designs landscapes without installing plants or maintaining the grounds.
The design-only boundary is explicit in the landscaping cross-reference.
Compare 541320 · Landscape Architectural ServicesA garden center primarily sells plants and sod grown elsewhere.
The retail definition specifies stock predominantly grown elsewhere.
Compare 444240 · Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply RetailersA nursery primarily grows and retails its own nursery stock.
This activity is separately identified by the garden-retail cross-reference.
Compare 111421 · Nursery and Tree ProductionA business only plows driveways and parking lots and offers no landscaping service.
The source distinguishes snow plowing alone from seasonal property maintenance combined with landscaping.
Compare 561790 · Other Services to Buildings and DwellingsRead the classification behind the comparison
Official definitions and hierarchy
The wording below is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 records. Activity explanations above are from BiznTools.
561730Landscaping Services
2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked
This industry comprises (1) establishments primarily engaged in providing landscape care and maintenance services and/or installing trees, shrubs, plants, lawns, or gardens and (2) establishments primarily engaged in providing these services along with the design of landscape plans and/or the construction (i.e., installation) of walkways, retaining walls, decks, fences, ponds, and similar structures.
Open 561730 in the Census referenceHierarchy, activity phrases and cross-references
Official hierarchy
- 56Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
- 561Administrative and Support Services
- 5617Services to Buildings and Dwellings
- 56173Landscaping Services
- 561730Landscaping Services
Selected official activity phrases
- Arborist services
- Cemetery plot care services
- Fertilizing lawns
- Garden maintenance services
- Hydroseeding services (e.g., decorative, erosion control purposes)
- Interior landscaping services
- Landscape care and maintenance services
- Landscape contractors (except construction)
Official cross-references
- Installing artificial turf, constructing (i.e., installing) walkways, retaining walls, decks, fences, ponds, or similar structures, or right of way cutting (except maintenance)--are classified in Sector 23, Construction;
- Planning and designing the development of land areas for projects, such as parks and other recreational areas; airports; highways; hospitals; schools; land subdivisions; and commercial, industrial, and residential areas (without also installing trees, shrubs, plants, lawns/gardens, walkways, retaining walls, decks, and similar items or structures)--are classified in Industry 541320, Landscape Architectural Services; and
- Retailing landscaping materials and providing the installation and maintenance of these materials--are classified in Industry 444240, Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers.
541320Landscape Architectural Services
2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in planning and designing the development of land areas for projects, such as parks and other recreational areas; airports; highways; hospitals; schools; land subdivisions; and commercial, industrial, and residential areas, by applying knowledge of land characteristics, location of buildings and structures, use of land areas, and design of landscape projects. Illustrative Examples: Garden planning services Landscape architects' offices Golf course or ski area design services Landscape consulting services Industrial land use planning services Landscape design services
Open 541320 in the Census referenceHierarchy, activity phrases and cross-references
Official hierarchy
- 54Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 541Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 5413Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
- 54132Landscape Architectural Services
- 541320Landscape Architectural Services
Selected official activity phrases
- Architects' offices, landscape
- Architects' private practices, landscape
- Architectural services, landscape
- City planning services
- Garden planning services
- Golf course design services
- Industrial land use planning services
- Land use design services
Official cross-references
- Establishments primarily engaged in providing landscape care and maintenance services and/or installing trees, shrubs, plants, lawns, or gardens along with the design of landscape plans are classified in Industry 561730, Landscaping Services; and
- Government establishments primarily engaged in the administration and planning of the development of urban and rural areas, such as urban planning commissions, are classified in Industry 925120, Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development.
444240Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers
2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing nursery and garden products, such as trees, shrubs, plants, seeds, bulbs, and sod, that are predominantly grown elsewhere. These establishments may sell a limited amount of a product they grow themselves. Also included in this industry are establishments primarily engaged in retailing farm supplies, such as animal (except pet) feed, fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, and pesticides.
Open 444240 in the Census referenceHierarchy, activity phrases and cross-references
Official hierarchy
- 44-45Retail Trade
- 444Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers
- 4442Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers
- 44424Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers
- 444240Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers
Selected official activity phrases
- Christmas trees, cut, direct selling
- Farm supply stores
- Feed stores (except pet)
- Garden centers
- Lawn supply stores
- Nurseries, retail, stock primarily grown off premises
- Nursery and garden centers without tree production
Official cross-references
- Merchant wholesale distribution of farm supplies--are classified in Industry 424910, Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers;
- Providing landscaping services--are classified in Industry 561730, Landscaping Services; and
- Growing and retailing nursery stock--are classified in U.S. Industry 111421, Nursery and Tree Production.
Check the original source files
Definitions, titles, activity phrases and exclusions come from the same 2022 U.S. edition.