NACE 81.3 – Landscape Service Activities | Public Tenders
NACE 81.3: Green-space maintenance, tree care and landscaping in municipal tenders. CPV codes and procurement practice at a glance.
Definition: NACE 81.3 covers landscape service activities including the creation and maintenance of gardens, parks, green spaces and sports facilities, as well as tree care and the design of outdoor areas. Municipalities are by far the most significant contracting authorities in this segment.
Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026
What does NACE 81.3 cover?
NACE 81.3 (Landscape service activities) classifies companies that create, design and maintain green and open spaces — a core area of municipal procurement that ranges from cemetery maintenance to roadside greenery.
Group 81.3 within Section N and Division 81 comprises:
| Class | Title | Typical services |
|---|---|---|
| 81.30 | Landscape service activities | Green-space maintenance, tree care, landscaping, new planting |
Public contracting authorities are primarily municipalities (green space departments, municipal gardening services), road maintenance authorities (roadside greenery), cemetery administrations, school authorities (school yards), sports facility operators and federal operators (military property, Autobahn GmbH).
Public Tenders: NACE 81.3 in Practice
Municipal green space tenders are among the most frequently recurring public contracts — lawn mowing, hedge trimming and tree care are generally awarded as annual or multi-year framework agreements.
Typical types of contract
- Green-space maintenance: Lawn and meadow care, perennial care, woody plant pruning in parks, green spaces and cemeteries
- Roadside greenery: Maintenance of slopes, central reservations, tree pits and roadside trees along public roads
- Tree care and tree inspection: Crown care, removal of deadwood, visual tree assessment (VTA) under FLL guidelines
- Redesign of outdoor areas: Creation of playgrounds, park paths, planting concepts, urban greening
- Sports surface maintenance: Maintenance of grass sports pitches, running tracks and beach volleyball courts
- Winter service and green waste disposal: Often combined with green-space maintenance in framework agreements
Thresholds and procedure types
Green-space maintenance is tendered nationally or EU-wide depending on scope. Smaller maintenance services are frequently awarded under the restricted procedure without prior call for competition. Larger city-wide maintenance contracts (total areas of several square kilometres) exceed the EU threshold and must be published on TED.
Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 81.3
| CPV Code | Title | Application |
|---|---|---|
| 77310000 | Planting and maintenance services of green areas | General green-space maintenance |
| 77311000 | Maintenance services for ornamental and pleasure gardens | Maintenance of gardens and parks |
| 77313000 | Parks maintenance services | Park maintenance, urban green spaces |
| 77314000 | Grounds maintenance services | Lawn mowing, meadow care |
| 77340000 | Tree-pruning and hedge-trimming | Tree care, crown pruning, hedge trimming |
| 77211400 | Tree-cutting services | Forestry tree care in parks |
Who is NACE 81.3 relevant to in procurement law?
Public Contracting Authorities
Municipal green-space departments are the most important contracting authorities, increasingly in the form of inter-municipal cooperation or centralised purchasing bodies. Sustainability criteria — such as avoiding chemical plant protection products, promoting flowering meadows and using low-emission equipment — are increasingly included in service specifications and award criteria.
Companies and Bidders
- Professional qualifications: Master's certificate or equivalent qualification in horticulture and landscaping (GaLaBau)
- Competence evidence: Where applicable, competence in plant protection (§ 9 PflSchG) for the use of plant protection products
- Machinery: Sufficient equipment (mowers, aerial work platforms for tree care, chippers)
- Insurance: Operating liability insurance, and where applicable specific insurance cover for tree work
- References: Comparable maintenance services (floor area, service type) for public contracting authorities
NACE 81.3 in Context: Section N and Division 81
- NACE N – Administrative services: Parent section
- NACE 81 – Services to buildings and landscape activities: Division
- NACE 81.1 – Combined facilities support activities: Facility management
- NACE 81.2 – Cleaning activities: Cleaning services
Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 81.3 and Public Tenders
How frequently are green-space maintenance contracts tendered? Maintenance contracts are typically tendered as annual or multi-year contracts (2–4 years), often with extension options. The tender cycle follows the budget years of the municipalities.
Can public contracting authorities use their own works yards for green-space maintenance? Yes — in-house services by municipal own-account and in-house operations are permissible under procurement law, provided the in-house criteria are met. Where external companies are engaged, the procurement rules apply in full.
What role does environmental protection play in the award decision? Increasingly, ecological award criteria are used: noise emissions of the equipment used, avoidance of herbicides, protection of pollinators (flower strips) or the carbon footprint of the service delivery can all be assessed.
Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.
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