OH · Landscaping & Lawn Care · Ohio BWC state

Landscaping & Lawn Care workers compensation in Ohio

Ohio is a monopolistic state fund (Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC)), so class-by-class Landscaping & Lawn Care rates are available only via the state fund, not in public filings. As a national reference, Landscaping & Lawn Care workers comp runs a median of $2.83 per $100 of payroll, with a range of $0.850 to $9.96 across reporting states. Ohio caps weekly benefits at $1,231 with a 1-year statute of limitations. Verified 2026-05-09.

National median $2.83
Rate authority Ohio BWC
Max weekly benefit $1,231

Landscaping & Lawn Care rate context for Ohio

Ohio does not publish class-by-class loss costs publicly, but Landscaping & Lawn Care rates from comparable reporting states give you a useful planning range. Use the national rate range below as a baseline; your actual quote depends on payroll size, loss history, and your specific NCCI class code.

Landscaping & Lawn Care class code Typical occupation National median National range
0042 Landscape gardening $2.83 $0.850 - $9.96
Why no per-state rates here? Ohio runs a monopolistic state fund (Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC)), so private carriers do not file public rates. The class codes above use the same NCCI nomenclature, but your binding rate comes from your carrier's filed loss cost multiplier (LCM) applied to those base loss costs.

Ohio compliance for Landscaping & Lawn Care employers

Coverage threshold

1 or more employees (private employers must obtain coverage from Ohio BWC; no private workers compensation carriers permitted in Ohio)

1099 vs W-2 in Landscaping & Lawn Care

Workers are generally considered employees unless they meet specific criteria for independent contractor status, which is determined by a multi-factor test focusing on control and independence.

Owner exclusion

Allowed in Ohio. Sole proprietor self-coverage optional; LLC member self-coverage optional.

Max weekly benefit

$1,231 at 66.67% of average weekly wage, effective 2025-01-01.

Statute of limitations

1 year from injury date in Ohio.

Audit window

Ohio carriers audit payroll Within 90 days of policy expiration for private employers, but BWC can audit at any time.. Keep Landscaping & Lawn Care payroll segregated by class code and have job-duty documentation ready.

Cross-cite: full Ohio workers comp overview · Landscaping & Lawn Care cross-state rate comparison · Ohio workers comp lawyer guide · Ohio settlement chart

Estimate your Landscaping & Lawn Care premium in Ohio

Pre-filled to Landscaping & Lawn Care and Ohio. Adjust payroll to see a real premium range from filed rates.

Estimate your workers comp premium

Pick your industry, state, and annual payroll. Range comes from real rate filings.

Filing checklist for Landscaping & Lawn Care businesses in Ohio

  1. Step 1, Confirm coverage threshold

    1 or more employees (private employers must obtain coverage from Ohio BWC; no private workers compensation carriers permitted in Ohio) For Landscaping & Lawn Care operations, this typically applies once you make a first W-2 hire, even part-time.

  2. Step 2, Pick the right class code

    Landscaping & Lawn Care businesses typically use codes like 0042. The wrong code can cost 4 to 10x more or get reclassified at audit. Across reporting states, Landscaping & Lawn Care median rates run $2.83 per $100 with a range of $0.850 to $9.96.

  3. Step 3, Get a quote

    Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) is one option in Ohio; private carriers (Travelers, Hartford, Liberty Mutual, AmTrust) also write coverage. Schedule credits up to 25% are typical for low-loss accounts.

  4. Step 4, Document subcontractors

    A principal contractor can be held liable for the workers' compensation coverage of their subcontractors if the subcontractor does not have coverage. Landscaping & Lawn Care operators with crews of 1099s should keep certificates of insurance for every sub, otherwise the GC absorbs the sub liability at audit.

  5. Step 5, Annual audit

    Carriers audit payroll Within 90 days of policy expiration for private employers, but BWC can audit at any time.. Have payroll segregated by class code, job descriptions on file, and overtime properly excluded from rated payroll. Landscaping & Lawn Care class allocation can shift if any worker spends more than 50% of time on a different code.

Penalty for non-coverage in Ohio: Employers failing to secure coverage face fines, stop-work orders, and potential criminal charges. They are also liable for all medical costs and lost wages for injured employees.

Landscaping & Lawn Care workers comp FAQs in Ohio

Why aren't Landscaping & Lawn Care workers comp rates published for Ohio?

Ohio is a monopolistic state fund. Class-by-class rate data for this state is available through the rating bureau or licensed brokers. For a national reference, Landscaping & Lawn Care median rates run $2.83 per $100 of payroll across all reporting states, with a typical range of $0.850 to $9.96.

How can a Landscaping & Lawn Care business in Ohio get a real quote?

Get a quote from any private carrier licensed in Ohio or the state fund (Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC)). Provide your annual payroll, ownership structure, and your current Landscaping & Lawn Care class code. Most carriers will return a binding quote within 24-48 hours.

Are Landscaping & Lawn Care 1099 contractors covered by workers comp in Ohio?

Workers are generally considered employees unless they meet specific criteria for independent contractor status, which is determined by a multi-factor test focusing on control and independence.

What is the maximum weekly benefit for an injured Landscaping & Lawn Care worker in Ohio?

Ohio caps weekly workers comp benefits at $1,231 (effective 2025-01-01), calculated as 66.67% of the average weekly wage. Landscaping & Lawn Care workers are subject to the same statutory cap as workers in any other industry.

How long does a Landscaping & Lawn Care worker have to file a comp claim in Ohio?

The statute of limitations in Ohio is 1 year from the date of injury. Most claims also require notice to the employer within 30 days. Landscaping & Lawn Care workers should report any incident on the date it happens, even minor strains, because cumulative trauma claims can fail without contemporaneous documentation.

Can a Landscaping & Lawn Care business owner exclude themselves from comp coverage in Ohio?

Yes, Ohio allows business owners (sole proprietors, partners, LLC members, corporate officers) to file an exclusion election. Landscaping & Lawn Care owner-operators often elect out to keep premium below the minimum. Sole-proprietor self-coverage is not required, and LLC member self-coverage is not required.