Nursery Stock Dealer & Grower License

Both new and renewal applications for these tasks are submitted and paid for online through the Michigan Business One Stop portal.  

A. NAME OF PERMIT OR APPROVAL: Nursery establishment license application

B. STATUTORY AUTHORITY: The Insect Pest and Plant Disease Act, Public Act 189 of 1931 as amended   

C. APPLICABLE REGULATION: None

D. SUMMARY OF PERMIT/APPROVAL PROCESS:   

 1.  Applicability (activities that require the permit)  

Any establishment which sells, offers for sale or gives away nursery stock must obtain a nursery establishment license, including landscapers who purchase stock to install at customer locations. Nursery stock means hardy trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, rose bushes, mum plants, small fruit plants, vines, bulbs and parts of these plants capable of propagation. A nursery establishment license is not required for sale of cut Christmas trees, annual plants, tropical plants, cut flowers, field crop seed, vegetable seed, flower seed, corms or tubers.

 2.  Pre-Application Requirements  

None

 3.  Application Submission Requirements  

Application is made through the Michigan Business One Stop portal by completing the task for either the Nursery/Plant Grower or Nursery/Plant Dealer. Select/add the appropriate task to/from your My WorkSpace, complete the online application form and submit to your shopping cart. After you pay for your shopping cart, the application is electronically sent to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for processing. You will receive an electronic notification in your My Status notifications when the application is processed.

 4.  Procedures and Time-Frame for Obtaining Permit or Approval  

License applications are electronically forwarded to the MDARD Central License Unit. Establishments that grow nursery stock for sale must also be inspected by MDARD before selling stock that they have grown. Most applications submitted through One Stop receive an immediate eCredential (found in your eCabinet) after you pay for you shopping cart (the exception is for entities that registered with One Stop as "other" at the time the account was created).MDARD will issue an initial or renewal license not later than 90 days after the applicant files a completed application. Receipt of the application is considered the date the application is received by MDARD. If MDARD determines that the application is incomplete, MDARD will notify the applicant in writing, or will make the information electronically available, within 30 days after receipt of the incomplete application, describing the deficiency and requesting the additional information.

 5.  Operational Requirements  

A) Nursery stock offered for sale must meet all of the following criteria:

• Must be annually inspected by an agricultural official and certified as free of pests and diseases.
• Must be in a live and vigorous condition.
• Must be properly labeled as to name and grade.

B) Establishments must renew their license annually. All licenses expire October 31 of each year.    

C) All growers and dealers (including Registered Nursery Dealers), who purchase stock are required to keep copies of shipping documents, including certificates of inspection, for a period of 36 months after the date of receipt. Growers and dealers who sell to wholesale customers are also required to keep records of those sales for 36 months. 

 6.  Fees  

The standard nursery license fee is $100 per licensed location (grower or dealer). The Registered Dealer fee is $35 per licensed location. Establishments that grow less than 1/4 acre of stock or less than 200 square feet of greenhouse space may be eligible for a $40 small scale grower and/or dealer license. Annual inspection of growers will incur a per acre inspection fee. Nursery Stock Dealers will be inspected once every two years and will incur an hourly inspection fee; the length of the inspection is dependent upon the amount of stock to be inspected and the quantity of records to review.

 7.  Appeal Process  

Section 9, Insect Pest and Plant Disease Act, Public Act 189 of 1931 as amended allows MDARD to withhold, suspend or revoke a nursery license for sufficient cause. MDARD is required to give written notice to the applicant or holder of the license, stating the intention of MDARD to withhold, suspend or revoke the license and giving reasons for the action. The respondent may appeal from the decision within 10 days to the circuit court of the county where respondent resides.

 8.  Public Input Opportunities  

MDARD investigates complaints of nursery stock being sold which does not meet pest free standards, or does not match the grade or name as labeled. MDARD also investigates sales of nursery stock by unlicensed establishments. Complaints should be directed to the MDARD Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division Nursery Program Manager. Program information is available on the MDARD web site.

Find a Licensed Firm in Michigan provides a link to current information on all licensed nursery growers and dealers in Michigan.  

E. Contact Information:   

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Creation/Revision Date:

April 25, 2012