Free practice + study guide

CSLB Landscaping (C-27) Trade

CSLB Landscaping (C-27) Trade Examination — Questions: Not published by CSLB · 210 minutes · Passing score: Not published by CSLB. CSLB's C-27 Landscaping study guide, form 13E-27 (03/2026) gives these approximate section weights: Planning and Estimating 18%, Construction Preparation 12%, Hardscape Installation 21%, Drainage, Irrigation, Lighting, and Plant Installation 21%, Maintenance and Repair 11%, Safety 17%. CSLB publishes section weights but no question count and no passing score for this exam. Last checked 2026-10-12. PrepPass also publishes a complete study guide for this exam as a downloadable book (236 pages, 200 practice questions inside, $14.99).

Your other CSLB exam

PrepPass Course: CSLB Law and Business

This license also needs the Law and Business exam (CSLB can waive an exam in some cases). 110 lessons, 732 practice questions.

Exam inside two weeks?

A printable colour cheat sheet for the exam: the format, the content areas and the figures it turns on, each checked against a named source and dated.

CSLB C-27 Landscaping cheat sheet PDF — $9.99 →

4 pages · US Letter · printable PDF · yours to keep

01

Test what you know · free, all of it

Five ways to practise.

The same 400 questions, dealt five ways. Pick the one that fits the time you have.

02

Learn what the questions test

Practice finds the gaps. Reading closes them. The ten chapters below are free to read online. The study guide book is a separate download, sold on its own page.

Practice · free
400
questions, each explained — finds what you don't know yet
Learn · the guide
236
pages in the study guide book, section by section

The ten sections, as chapters

free to read online
  1. 1Irrigation Hydraulics: Pressure, Flow, and PipeIrrigationRead free →
  2. 2Sprinklers, Drip, Precipitation Rate, and SchedulingIrrigationRead free →
  3. 3Backflow Prevention, Valves, Controllers, and MWELO ComplianceIrrigationRead free →
  4. 4Soil, Amendments, and Plant NutritionPlanting & SoilRead free →
  5. 5Planting, Turf, Pruning, and MaintenancePlanting & SoilRead free →
  6. 6Grading, Drainage, and StormwaterHardscape & GradingRead free →
  7. 7Hardscape: Base, Pavers, Concrete, Walls, and LightingHardscape & GradingRead free →
  8. 8Excavation, DigAlert, and Trench SafetySafetyRead free →
  9. 9Equipment, Tree Work, Pesticides, and Site SafetySafetyRead free →
  10. 10Planning, Estimating, Permits, and Contract LawPlanning & EstimatingRead free →
Cover: CSLB C-27 Landscaping Trade Exam Study Guide (2026)
Study guide · PDF + EPUB
CSLB C-27 Landscaping Trade Exam Study Guide (2026)
236 pages · 200 practice questions inside · updated 2026-10-23
$14.99 one-time · yours to keep
03

Before you sit

Know the exam you're walking into.

04

See the questions first

Two from the bank, answered.

Real items, with the answer marked and the reason written out — the same format as all 400.

Irrigation

Under California's MWELO (23 CCR §493.2.2), overhead irrigation is not permitted within what distance of any non-permeable surface?

  1. AWithin 12 inches
  2. BWithin 36 inches
  3. CWithin 18 inches
  4. DWithin 24 inchesCorrect

Why: Section 493.2.2(d)(10) provides that overhead irrigation shall not be permitted within 24 inches of any non-pervious surface. Drip or other low flow non-spray technology may be used inside that setback, and the setback may be planted or unplanted and surfaced with mulch, gravel, or other porous material. The requirement may be modified where no runoff occurs, where the adjacent hardscape drains entirely to landscaping, or where the designer demonstrates an alternative design preventing water waste. This is a setback from hardscape, not a limit on how narrow a planting area may be — the width rule is a separate provision at 10 feet.23 CCR §493.2.2(d)(10)

Planting & Soil

What does MWELO require of a project regarding soil before the planting plan is finalized?

  1. AA geotechnical report establishing the bearing capacity of the subgrade
  2. BA record of the last three crops or land uses on the parcel
  3. CA soil management report with testing and amendment recommendationsCorrect
  4. DA certified laboratory analysis of the irrigation water source

Why: MWELO requires a soil management report so that amendment and mulching decisions are based on actual soil chemistry and texture rather than habit. Water quality analysis is useful but is not the required report. Bearing capacity belongs to structural design. Prior cropping history is not part of the ordinance.CA MWELO (Title 23)

Read all 400 questions with answers →

06

The exam itself

CSLB Landscaping (C-27) Trade, by the numbers.

QuestionsNot published by CSLBCSLB says only that “All trade examinations consist of multiple-choice questions.” No count appears in the study guide, the Examinations FAQ, or PSI's candidate bulletin.
Time210 minutesCSLB: “You will be given 3-1/2 hours to complete each examination.” It is per examination, not per sitting — a candidate taking Law and Business plus a trade exam gets 3-1/2 hours for each.
SectionsIrrigation · Planting & Soil · Hardscape & Grading · Safety · Planning & Estimating
Passing scoreNot published by CSLBCSLB: “You will be informed at the test site about the percentage of correct answers needed to pass each examination,” and, in Get Licensed to Build Q14, that the percentage “varies for each exam”. Passing candidates are never shown their own score. PrepPass states no passing score for this exam.
Our bank400 questions · updated August 2026Written from Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
LanguagesEnglish
SourceContractors State License Board (CSLB)Verified 2026-10-12

Full facts and sources →

07

Helpful resources

The board's own page, and what else helps.

Register — CSLB (official) →

Recommended prep — books & tools

  • Rain Bird Landscape Irrigation Design Manual

    Standard reference for the irrigation design the C-27 exam covers.

    See it on Amazon →
  • Construction Master Pro Calculator

    Handles the grading, area and material math on the C-27 trade exam.

    See it on Amazon →

This section contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, PrepPass earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

08

Contractor License Exams

On the same path.

09

Questions

Asked before starting.

Is the practice really free, or does it stop after a few questions?

All 400 questions, the timed mock and the report are free with no sign-up. A free account only adds saving your progress. The study guide book is sold separately, $14.99 one-time; nothing in the practice requires it.

Is your mock the same as the real CSLB Landscaping (C-27) Trade?

No. Ours is 100 questions in 210 minutes; the real exam is 210 minutes long. Use the mock for stamina and section timing, not as a score predictor.

What score do I need?

Not published by CSLB. CSLB: “You will be informed at the test site about the percentage of correct answers needed to pass each examination,” and, in Get Licensed to Build Q14, that the percentage “varies for each exam”. Passing candidates are never shown their own score. PrepPass states no passing score for this exam.

What is on the CSLB Landscaping (C-27) Trade?

CSLB's C-27 Landscaping study guide, form 13E-27 (03/2026) gives these approximate section weights: Planning and Estimating 18%, Construction Preparation 12%, Hardscape Installation 21%, Drainage, Irrigation, Lighting, and Plant Installation 21%, Maintenance and Repair 11%, Safety 17%. CSLB publishes section weights but no question count and no passing score for this exam. Last checked 2026-10-12.

Who administers the CSLB Landscaping (C-27) Trade Examination?

Contractors State License Board (CSLB), California Department of Consumer Affairs — exam delivered by PSI Services LLC. CSLB's legal existence is set by Business and Professions Code § 7000.5. CSLB states it has contracted with PSI to administer its examinations.

How many questions are on the CSLB Landscaping (C-27) Trade Examination?

Not published by CSLB. CSLB says only that “All trade examinations consist of multiple-choice questions.” No count appears in the study guide, the Examinations FAQ, or PSI's candidate bulletin.

How long is the CSLB Landscaping (C-27) Trade Examination?

210 minutes. CSLB: “You will be given 3-1/2 hours to complete each examination.” It is per examination, not per sitting — a candidate taking Law and Business plus a trade exam gets 3-1/2 hours for each.

How much does the CSLB Landscaping (C-27) Trade Examination cost?

$450 — Original application (exam or waiver, one classification) (CSLB, one-time); $51.43 — Examination registration (each registration, first attempt or retake) (PSI Services LLC, per attempt); $200 — Initial license fee (sole owner) (CSLB, one-time); $350 — Initial license fee (non-sole owner: partnership, corporation, LLC, joint venture) (CSLB, one-time). Two payees: application and license fees go to CSLB, the per-exam registration fee to PSI. CSLB's 2023 “Get Licensed to Build” PDF still names a $100 rescheduling fee; it appears neither on CSLB's current fee list nor in Business and Professions Code § 7137 as amended effective 1 January 2026, so it is not stated here. The application fee is charged once per original license application and covers both required exams.

What languages is the CSLB Landscaping (C-27) Trade Examination offered in?

English · Spanish. CSLB publishes Spanish versions of 10 exams and names this one among them. Candidates requesting a translator for those exams are required to take the Spanish version instead.

Is the CSLB Landscaping (C-27) Trade study guide a PDF?

Yes. CSLB C-27 Landscaping Trade Exam Study Guide (2026) downloads as PDF + EPUB (236 pages, 200 practice questions inside), $14.99 one-time, and the files are yours to keep. The 400 practice questions on this page stay free without it. See the study guide →

Practice questions are AI-assisted study material written from Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and reviewed by PrepPass — for practice only, not official exam questions. Bank updated August 2026. PrepPass is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Always confirm current exam details with Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
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