Landscape architects had a busy year in state legislatures, and 2024 figures to be just as active. Last year, ASLA staff tracked 145 occupational licensing reform bills and 90 climate change bills nationwide. This year ASLA will continue to work with Chapters to promote and defend landscape architecture licensure.

2023 Recap

2023 began with the Governor of New Hampshire targeting landscape architecture licenses in his annual budget address. “For some reason, we license the person who plants rosebushes in your front yard. Not anymore,” he said.

ASLA and the Chapter responded with fierce a multi-media campaign to educate the Governor, state legislators, and the public on the nature of landscape architects’ practices and responsibilities.

As in New Hampshire, deregulation bills were defeated in South Carolina and Virginia. Landscape architects remain licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Chapters also fought for the integrity of professional licensing boards. In North Dakota, the Chapter introduced and helped pass legislation that would add one landscape architect seat and one public member seat to the state’s joint board of architects and landscape architects. This victory will help the North Dakota board to responsibly regulate practice across the allied professions.

2024 Initiatives

ASLA is working with CLARB to expand adoption of the Uniform Licensure Standard for Landscape Architecture. The standard offers states a model to ensure that licenses are more accessible and mobile than ever before without compromising public health, safety, and welfare.

ASLA and CLARB will host a Licensure Summit in Buffalo, NY from September 16-18. Mark your calendars now!

Chapters are encouraged to start on their annual licensure advocacy activities right away. Now through March is an ideal season for State Advocacy Days to educate legislators on the profession and to form valuable relationships.

These outreach events also create opportunities for continued engagement, such as inviting legislators to tour a landscape architecture site that benefits their constituents.

2024 will ring in the 125th anniversary of ASLA. This milestone can be celebrated by Chapters pursuing proclamations from mayors and governors to formally recognize how landscape architecture benefits the public.

These documents can serve as valuable evidence for why landscape architects must remain licensed. The documents can also detail why landscape architects are the design professionals most fit to lead in climate mitigation and adaptation.

Please contact ASLA State Government Affairs with any questions, concerns, or information related to licensure policy in your state.