Title: Live Plant Dealer
Alternate Title:
Description: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is responsible for the administration of the Nursery Law (
Minn. Stat. Chapter 18H) the purpose of which is to prevent the introduction into and the dissemination within the state of harmful plant pests. To accomplish this, nursery stock produced for sale must be inspected annually and certified free of harmful plant pests. Stock originating outside Minnesota must be officially certified under all applicable quarantines at origin.
Subject: Landscapers
Nurseries
Creation Date: 1/10/2025 10:15:32 AM
Modification Date: 4/7/2026 10:28:45 AM
Agency Name: Agriculture (MDA), Minnesota Department of
Agency URL: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/
Agency Description:
The mission of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is to enhance all Minnesotans’ quality of life by equitably ensuring the integrity of our food supply, the health of our environment, and the strength and resilience of our agricultural economy.
Agency Phone: 651-201-6000
800-967-2474
Agency Fax: Agency URL: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/
Agency Address:
625 N. Robert Street
St. Paul
MN
55155
Unit Name: Plant Protection
Unit URL:
Unit Description:
Unit Phone: Unit Fax: Contact person(s): nurseryprogram@state.mn.us
Unit URL:
Audience: Hold
Application URL: https://agriculture.state.mn.us/s/
Renewal URL: https://agriculture.state.mn.us/s/
Versa URL:
Requirements:
Review:
Nursery Certification and Plant Regulation
Nursery Certification in Minnesota Changed in 2025
Historically, the MDA offered two types of nursery certificates, one for nursery growers and one for nursery dealers.
On January 1, 2025, the two certificate types were combined into one and all nursery certificate holders were considered Live Plant Dealers:
"Live Plant Dealer" means an entity who:
(1) raises, grows, or propagates nursery stock for sale, outdoors or indoors;
(2) acquires and further distributes nursery stock, including through landscaping or distribution with a tree spade; or
(3) operates a business in Minnesota selling nursery stock with or without taking ownership or handling the nursery stock
Nursery Stock Definition
Nursery Stock refers to perennial plants that are hardy to USDA Zone 5 or lower and are intended for planting or propagation.
Nursery Stock Includes (but is not limited to)
- Trees
- Shrubs
- Vines
- Small perennials
- Biennials
- Grafts
- Cuttings
- Buds
Nursery Stock Does Not Include
- Plants considered annuals when planted outdoors in Minnesota (including dahlias, houseplants, and tropical plants)
- Seeds
- Vegetable plants, bulbs, or tubers
- Christmas trees
- Sod
- Field and forage crops
Rules:
Statutes: 18H
Forms:
Fees:
Refer to questions and answers in the Requirements section.
Period of Issuance:
January 1 - December 31
Length of Determination: 1 to 2 weeks
Other Info:
Activity: Nurseries
Landscapers
Tree Spaders
Nursery Stock Dealers
License Detail URL:
Nursery Certification and Plant Regulation
Nursery Certificate Look Up
Licensing Information Search
Online Licensing System
Licenses & Inspections Locator
