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Aipedia: Landscape architects
Usually, yes: most landscape PI wordings do not mention AI and respond to negligent professional services however they were produced, subject to the policy terms. The detail matters because the LI sets no minimum wording, so policies differ.
Part of: AI in Landscape architects
In short
LI Rule 5 requires members to hold appropriate PI covering relevant landscape services, and Registered Practices must carry and evidence PI, but there is no minimum limit or wording. Most landscape PI policies are silent on AI, so a negligent LVIA, visualisation or design produced with AI help is usually treated like any other professional error. Cover can still be affected by exclusions, the description of business, and whether AI use was fairly presented. LI TGN 01/13 advised telling insurers about new digital workflows such as BIM, which is a sensible approach for significant AI use.
Rule 5 of the LI Code of Practice states: "You must have appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance covering relevant landscape services". R5g(a) requires practices to maintain PI for all landscape work done by them or on their behalf. LI Registered Practices must carry PI and evidence it; public authority departments provide a Chief Executive indemnity letter instead.
The LI sets no minimum limit, no minimum wording and no AI provision. Unlike professions with compulsory minimum terms, landscape architects buy PI on the open market, so the cover available varies. Clients, frameworks and public bodies often set their own PI requirements in appointments. No LI or insurer statement on AI and PI for landscape architects had been published as at October 2026.
PI usually responds to claims alleging a breach of professional duty in the course of the insured's professional services. Most landscape PI wordings say nothing about AI. That is often called silent AI cover: the policy neither grants nor excludes AI risk expressly, so an AI-related claim is assessed in the usual way. If an assessor relied on an AI-drafted LVIA section that contained errors, or a designer issued an AI-generated planting schedule, the claim is still one of professional negligence by the practice.
Some insurers may introduce AI exclusions or questions, and affirmative AI cover may be available that states expressly what AI-related losses are included. For a landscape practice that uses AI as a tool rather than selling it, silent cover is common, but the position should be checked at each renewal. See does PI cover AI mistakes? and affirmative versus silent AI cover.
LI TGN 01/13 Implications of BIM on PI Insurance (2013, rebadged as guidance in March 2016) advised members to tell insurers before starting BIM workflows and flagged the liability limits of automated model-checking software. It contains no AI content, but its logic carries across: a significant change in how professional work is produced is worth disclosing. Under the duty of fair presentation, a practice should describe its activities accurately at proposal and renewal, including technical tasks such as drainage sizing or tree mapping that AI may have pulled into scope.
Illustrative scenario. A practice prepares an LVIA for a wind energy appeal. An AI tool drafts the visual receptor tables and the assessor reviews them quickly. Several residential receptors are given the wrong sensitivity, and the practice's AI declaration does not mention the tables. At inquiry the errors are exposed and the inspector gives the evidence limited weight. The appeal fails and the developer claims the wasted costs of the appeal from the practice. The practice notifies its insurer, who asks how AI was used, what checks were done and whether AI use was disclosed at renewal.
Whether the claim succeeds will turn on negligence and causation, not on AI as such. The insurer's handling will depend on the wording and the presentation of risk. Related scenarios are in AI in LVIA chapters and AI visualisations and TGN 06/19.
When reviewing a landscape PI policy for AI use, these points are worth checking:
Insurers and claims handlers may look more favourably on practices that can show control over AI use:
Apex arranges PI for landscape architects and landscape practices. A broker can review your wording for AI exclusions, check the business description matches the work you do, and help present your AI use accurately to insurers. See PI for landscape architects and the AI in landscape architecture overview.
No. LI Rule 5 requires appropriate PI covering relevant landscape services, and Registered Practices must carry and evidence PI, but the LI sets no minimum limit or wording. Appointments with clients, frameworks and public bodies often specify their own limits.
Not simply because AI was used, under most current landscape PI wordings, which are silent on AI. The claim is assessed as a professional negligence claim. Problems can arise if the policy has an AI or technology exclusion, or if material changes in your work were not fairly presented.
It is sensible to describe significant AI use at renewal. LI TGN 01/13 advised telling insurers before starting new digital workflows such as BIM, and the duty of fair presentation requires an accurate picture of your activities. A broker can help word the disclosure.
Affirmative AI cover expressly states that certain AI-related losses are covered, rather than relying on a policy that says nothing about AI. It is more relevant to firms that build or sell AI. Most landscape practices rely on silent cover, which should be checked at renewal.
Tell us about your firm and the work you do. A broker will review how your current PI treats AI-assisted work, or arrange new cover. No fee for a quote. Or call 0117 325 0027.
Start a PI quote Request a callbackApex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales, company number 07014570. This page is general information about how AI is used in the profession and how insurance may respond. It is not legal, regulatory or insurance advice on your circumstances, and it does not guarantee that cover will be available or on what terms.
