Analysis
NAICS 561730 is the 2022 national industry for landscaping services, part of 56173 (Landscaping Services). Census lists 40 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 117,969 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 802,899 people at an average annual payroll of $51,286 per employee (19th percentile of national industries). 71% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 11% and employment rose 18%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include arborist services, cemetery plot care services, fertilizing lawns and garden maintenance services, among 40 in all.
Census lists 3 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 23, 541320 and 444240. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
For example, 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 23 (Construction) instead.
Official definition
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.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Installing artificial turf, constructing (i.e., installing) walkways, retaining walls, decks, fences, ponds, or similar structures, or right of way cutting (except maintenance) | 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) | 541320 Landscape Architectural Services |
| Retailing landscaping materials and providing the installation and maintenance of these materials | 444240 Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers |
Index entries (40)
- 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)
- Landscape installation services
- Landscaping services (except planning)
- Lawn care services (e.g., fertilizing, mowing, seeding, spraying)
- Lawn fertilizing services
- Lawn irrigation services
- Lawn maintenance services
- Lawn mowing services
- Lawn mulching services
- Lawn seeding services
- Lawn spraying services
- Line slash (i.e., rights of way) maintenance services
- Maintenance of plants and shrubs in buildings
- Mowing services (e.g., highway, lawn, road strip)
- Ornamental tree and shrub services
- Plant and shrub maintenance in buildings
- Plant maintenance services
- Pruning services, ornamental tree and shrub
- Seasonal property maintenance services (i.e., snow plowing in winter, landscaping during other seasons)
- Seeding lawns
- Shrub services (e.g., bracing, planting, pruning, removal, spraying, surgery, trimming)
- Snow plowing services combined with landscaping services (i.e., seasonal property maintenance services)
- Sod laying services
- Spraying lawns
- Tree and brush trimming, overhead utility line
- Tree pruning services
- Tree removal services
- Tree services (e.g., bracing, planting, pruning, removal, spraying, surgery, trimming)
- Tree surgery services
- Tree trimming services
- Tropical plant maintenance services
- Turf (except artificial) installation services
- Weed control and fertilizing services (except crop)