There are two basic categories of licenses issued in Michigan, Dealer and Grower Licenses.

Dealer Licenses
These are licenses to sell nursery stock or herbaceous perennials that have been obtained from a grower or other wholesale source. No inspection of the stock is required, as it already has been inspected at the source.  Dealer Licenses are issued to those who resell or reship, but do not grow or produce nursery stock. Examples include landscapers, garden centers and tree movers.

Grower Licenses
No application form is required to obtain a Grower License. The first time through the process, a grower must contact their MDA Regional office to request an inspection. Growers should contact the regional office that services the county where the grower is located. After an inspection report is written up the grower will be issued a license by the licensing staff in Lansing. In subsequent years, annual inspections will be done by MDA automatically. No renewal notice will be sent out. These types of licenses always have the inspection date written on them. Compliance agreement information will be included that pertains to meeting Federal or states' quarantine requirements, including quarantines for pine shoot beetle, Japanese beetle, gypsy moth, and black stem rust.