South Dakota
Landscaper and lawn care insurance in South Dakota
Green-industry data, chemical licensing, and city guides for South Dakota landscapers. A quote is not a binder.
South Dakota had 376 landscaping service businesses in 2023 with 1,460 employees, by the Census Bureau's count. Below: the state's green-industry numbers, who licenses chemical applicators, what moves a landscaper's quote, and guides to the largest cities.
South Dakota landscaping industry data
| Measure | South Dakota | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Landscaping services establishments (2023) | 376 | Census CBP |
| Landscaping services employees (2023) | 1,460 | Census CBP |
| Annual payroll per landscaping employee | $50,038 | Census CBP |
| Landscaping firms with fewer than 5 employees | 77% | Census CBP |
| Nursery, garden center, and farm supply stores | 71 | Census CBP |
| Single-family share of housing units | 71% | Census ACS |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (May 2025) | 2,980 | BLS OEWS |
| Median annual wage, landscaping workers | $35,370 | BLS OEWS |
| Tree trimmers and pruners employed | 270 | BLS OEWS |
| Median annual wage, tree trimmers | $50,430 | BLS OEWS |
| Landscaping supervisors employed | 340 | BLS OEWS |
Census CBP 2023 (NAICS 561730, 444220); BLS OEWS May 2025 (37-3011, 37-3013, 37-1012); ACS 2020–2024 (B25024).
Pesticide and herbicide licensing in South Dakota
Commercial application of pesticides and herbicides in South Dakota is licensed by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Insurance has its own requirement: many general liability policies exclude pollution, so crews that spray should carry a pesticide and herbicide applicator endorsement. Our chemical liability guide lists the agencies for all ten states.
What moves a South Dakota landscaper quote
- Services: maintenance, installation, tree work, chemicals, snow.
- Revenue and number of crews.
- Payroll by job class.
- Trucks, trailers, and drivers.
- Equipment values and theft protection.
- Commercial contract requirements.
- Claims history.
More on pricing in landscaper cost factors; crew tips in the safety checklist.
South Dakota city guides
- Sturgis
- Tea
- Harrisburg
- Brandon
- Pierre
- Spearfish
- Box Elder
- Huron
- Mitchell
- Yankton
- Watertown
- Brookings
- Aberdeen
- Rapid City
- Sioux Falls
Landscaper coverage pages
- General liability for landscapers
- Workers' compensation for landscapers
- Commercial auto for landscapers
- Tools and equipment coverage
- Insurance for lawn care businesses
- Tree and shrub service insurance
- Irrigation contractor insurance
- Groundskeeping insurance
- Pesticide and herbicide liability
- What affects landscaper insurance cost
- Landscaping crew safety checklist
- Snow removal insurance
- Landscaper insurance application checklist
Every other South Dakota community
We take requests from landscapers statewide. Remaining towns, by county (Z to A), biggest town first:
Ziebach County: Dupree
Yankton County: Gayville · Mission Hill · Volin · Lesterville · Utica
Walworth County: Mobridge · Selby · Java · Glenham · Akaska · Lowry
Union County: North Sioux City · Beresford · Elk Point · Alcester · Jefferson
Turner County: Parker · Centerville · Marion · Viborg · Irene · Hurley · Chancellor · Monroe · Davis · Dolton
Tripp County: Winner · Colome · New Witten
Todd County: Mission · St. Francis
Sully County: Onida · Agar
Stanley County: Fort Pierre
Spink County: Redfield · Tulare · Doland · Mellette · Conde · Northville · Frankfort · Ashton · Brentford · Turton
Sanborn County: Woonsocket · Letcher · Artesian
Roberts County: Sisseton · Wilmot · Rosholt · Summit · New Effington · Peever · Claire City · Corona · Ortley · White Rock
Potter County: Gettysburg · Hoven · Tolstoy · Lebanon
Perkins County: Lemmon · Bison
Pennington County: Hill City · Wall · New Underwood · Keystone · Wasta · Quinn
Oglala Lakota County: Batesland
Moody County: Flandreau · Colman · Egan · Trent · Ward
Minnehaha County: Dell Rapids · Hartford · Crooks · Baltic · Garretson · Valley Springs · Colton · Humboldt · Sherman
Miner County: Howard · Carthage · Canova · Vilas
Mellette County: White River · Wood
Meade County: Summerset · Piedmont · Faith
Mcpherson County: Eureka · Leola · Long Lake · Wetonka · Hillsview
Mccook County: Salem · Canistota · Bridgewater · Montrose · Spencer
Marshall County: Britton · Veblen · Langford · Eden · Lake City
Lyman County: Presho · Oacoma · Kennebec · Reliance
Lincoln County: Canton · Lennox · Worthing · Hudson · Fairview
Lawrence County: Lead · Deadwood · Whitewood · Central City
Lake County: Madison · Wentworth · Ramona · Brant Lake · Nunda
Kingsbury County: De Smet · Arlington · Lake Preston · Iroquois · Badger · Oldham · Erwin · Hetland · Bancroft
Jones County: Murdo · Draper
Jerauld County: Wessington Springs · Alpena · Lane
Jackson County: Kadoka · Interior · Belvidere · Cottonwood
Hyde County: Highmore
Hutchinson County: Parkston · Freeman · Menno · Tripp · Dimock · Olivet
Hughes County: Blunt · Harrold
Harding County: Buffalo · Camp Crook
Hanson County: Alexandria · Emery · Fulton · Farmer
Hand County: Miller · St. Lawrence · Ree Heights
Hamlin County: Estelline · Castlewood · Lake Norden · Bryant · Hayti · Hazel
Haakon County: Philip · Midland
Gregory County: Gregory · Burke · Bonesteel · Fairfax · Dallas · Herrick
Grant County: Milbank · Big Stone City · Stockholm · Revillo · Strandburg · La Bolt · Twin Brooks · Marvin · Albee
Faulk County: Faulkton · Cresbard · Orient · Seneca · Chelsea · Rockham · Onaka
Fall River County: Hot Springs · Edgemont · Oelrichs
Edmunds County: Ipswich · Bowdle · Roscoe · Hosmer
Douglas County: Armour · Corsica · Delmont
Dewey County: Eagle Butte · Timber Lake · Isabel
Deuel County: Clear Lake · Gary · Toronto · Goodwin · Astoria · Brandt · Altamont
Day County: Webster · Waubay · Bristol · Roslyn · Pierpont · Andover · Grenville · Butler
Davison County: Mount Vernon · Ethan
Custer County: Custer · Hermosa · Buffalo Gap · Pringle · Fairburn
Corson County: McLaughlin · McIntosh · Morristown
Codington County: Florence · Henry · South Shore · Kranzburg · Wallace
Clay County: Vermillion · Wakonda
Clark County: Clark · Willow Lake · Bradley · Raymond · Vienna · Naples · Garden City
Charles Mix County: Wagner · Platte · Lake Andes · Pickstown · Geddes · Dante · Ravinia
Campbell County: Herreid · Pollock · Mound City · Artas
Butte County: Belle Fourche · Newell · Nisland · Fruitdale
Brule County: Chamberlain · Kimball · Pukwana
Brown County: Groton · Warner · Frederick · Hecla · Columbia · Claremont · Westport · Stratford · Verdon
Brookings County: Volga · Aurora · Elkton · White · Bruce · Sinai · Bushnell
Bon Homme County: Springfield · Tyndall · Scotland · Avon · Tabor
Bennett County: Martin
Beadle County: Wolsey · Wessington · Cavour · Yale · Hitchcock · Broadland · Virgil
Aurora County: Plankinton · White Lake · Stickney
South Dakota landscaper insurance FAQ
Who licenses pesticide applicators in South Dakota?
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources licenses commercial pesticide applicators in South Dakota. Confirm current categories and requirements with the agency.
How many landscaping businesses are in South Dakota?
The Census Bureau counted 376 landscaping service establishments in South Dakota in 2023, employing 1,460 people.
Where can a South Dakota landscaper check an insurer or file a complaint?
Contact the South Dakota Division of Insurance, which oversees insurers doing business in the state.
Do South Dakota landscapers need workers' compensation?
Generally yes once you hire crew members, though thresholds, owner exemptions, and opt-out rules differ by state. Seasonal crew count too.
Where these numbers come from
Landscaping firm counts and payroll: Census County Business Patterns, 2023 data. Worker counts and wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Housing mix: Census ACS five-year file, 2020–2024. City sizes: Census 2024 estimates. Insurance oversight: South Dakota Division of Insurance.
Start a South Dakota landscaper quote
Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research