If you are a pest control professional, you likely already have all your necessary licenses to operate in your state. However, if you are new to the pest control industry, you might be curious if a license is required in your specific state.
In some instances, Natural products require the same licenses as conventional synthetic pesticides. In other states, however, the rules for Natural products, or 25(b) exempt products, are different.
The following list is our best effort to collect the information as we understand it today. This information was collected in early 2022. These are not the official rules from the state. Your state and local regulators are the only people who can give you the definitive correct answer as to which license is required. Please use this webpage, it’s links, and our video as guidance to help you investigate your relevant laws, regulations, and rules. We recommend reaching out to your Department of Agriculture to verify what license you may need.
If you are applying 25(b) Natural products in Alabama you will need a license, and might have to follow some extra steps. Here is an explanation of what I mean. From the Alabama Professional Services rules 80-10-9, pest control work where an individual or company is providing their services for hire is considered Professional Services work and the person or company must first obtain proper certification and then apply for an annual license. If you are applying Stop the Bites ® ! Mosquito and Tick, or any mosquito and tick control, this type of control falls under Alabama’s Household Pest Control category. This means the person applying will be required to be examined and obtain proper certification for that type of work along with getting a business license to perform said work.
The short answer is yes, you need a license. In Alaska, state regulations 18-AAC-90.300 requires you to be a Certified Pest Applicator for commercial application. This means if you use, or supervise, the use of pesticides on property other than your own, it is considered “custom, commercial, or contract” application and requires certification. This regulation applies to all pesticides, whether they are 25(b) or not! For more information on pesticide licensing in Alaska, click here.
Yes, you do. The State of Arizona says that any work in the pest control field requires a license, regardless if it is a natural product or not. This certified applicator license would need to be issued under the Industrial and Institutional category. The Industrial and Institutional category is defined as pest management in or about a residential or other structure excluding anti-microbial pest management, fungi inspection, or pest management covered by another certification category. This includes public health pest management such as adult mosquitoes.
To see Arizona’s Pest Management FAQ’s, click here.
The answer is yes. As a commercial pest control applicator, you must be licensed. Below is part of the Arkansas Pest Control Program:
““Pest control service” means any person who, for compensation, gives advice or engages in work to prevent, control, or repel arthropods, mammals, birds, reptiles, or wood-damaging or wood-destroying organisms that may invade or infest homes, other buildings, or similar structures and shall include arthropods, mammals, birds, reptiles, weeds, and plant diseases that may invade, infest, or infect shade trees, shrubs, lawns, turf, and pecan groves. This term shall also include any person who issues letters of clearance, or who shall solicit such work in any manner, but the term shall not be construed to include agricultural crops from planting to harvest other than those mentioned above;”
If you have any questions, please visit the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s website or contact the Pesticide Section at (501) 225-1598 or pesticide.commercial@agriculture.arkansas.gov.
In California, regardless of if an individual is applying a FIFRA 25(b) exempt product, the products are still pesticides and individuals for hire are still subject to the Department of Pesticide Regulations licensing requirements.
This means that if an individual is going to spray mosquito treatment in your yard for hire – or any form of pest control – that person must possess a DPR Pest Control Business (PCB) License. In addition, the PCB must have an individual responsible at each business location to supervise the operations of the business. This supervising individual must possess a DPR Qualified Applicator License (QAL) and hold the appropriate pest control category(ies) for pest control activities conducted by the PCB.
Check out the Pest Control Business License Packet which includes all of the requirements and information for getting your license in California. For information on the California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s website regarding obtaining your license, click here.
Yes, anyone applying pesticides, including 25(b) products, for hire needs to have a commercial applicator’s license in the state of Colorado. To easily apply for a license, visit the Pesticide Applicator Licensing Online Portal.
Contact Neal Kittelson, the Pesticide Applicator Coordinator, at 303-869-9063 for questions.
Yes, you do. Any pesticides applied commercially in the state of Connecticut require a certification for the applicator, as well as a business registration. This applies to all pesticides, including 25(b) (like Stop the Bites ® !), organic, and conventional products. Check out the Pertinent Pesticides Statutes and Regulations for the state of Connecticut for the exact rules. Click here for details on how to get your license, and more on the DEEP’s website.
Yes, you do! If you are applying a Natural product or any pesticide as part of a business, you need a pesticide business license in the State of Delaware. The Pesticide Law in the State of Delaware Code goes into great detail of the law. For more information on obtaining your license in Delaware, check out this page.
Yes. In the state of Florida you will need a license to apply any pest control. To put it simply, anyone who performs commercial pest control using any product or device must be licensed, and may only use pesticides that are registered by the state of Florida. Reference Chapter 482 under the Florida Statute of the Florida Structural Control Act for more detailed information. Then, for information on how to obtain your license, visit the Florida Department of Agriculture’s website.
Yes, you do. In Georgia you must have a Category 41 Commercial Applicators license in order to apply pesticides, even if it is a 25(b) product! Visit this page on the University of Georgia Extension website for more information!
The Aloha State does require that you have a license in order to apply pesticides, regardless of the type of product. The Pest Control Board issues licenses for pest control operators and pest control field representatives. A pest control operator is any person who personally, or through others, offers to undertake or practices pest control. A pest control field representative is any individual who is licensed by the board to secure pest control work, identify infestations, make inspections, submit bids, or sign contracts on behalf of a licensed operator.
If you plan on participating in any of the above for hire in Hawaii, you need a license. For a detailed explanation, check out the HAR 16-94-66 – the requirements of federal and state pesticides laws. For an application form and more information on pursuing your license, visit this page on the Hawaii Pest Control Board’s website.
The short answer is yes. All persons that perform professional pesticide application (commercial applications) need to have the appropriate pesticide license and in the correct categories. The type of pesticide does not matter; if the person is applying the pesticide for compensation, then they need to have a professional Idaho pesticide applicator license along other requirements.
Those requirements are outlined in the administrative rules: IDAPA 02.03.03 . Check them out for more details! Also, click here for a fillable PDF application form.
In Illinois, you do not need a license to commercially apply 25(b) products! If you are applying restricted-use pesticides, you need a license, but 25(b) products do not require a license.
To view the full act and its rules, check out the Illinois Pesticide Act. For questions and contact information, head to the bottom of this page on the Illinois Dep. of Agriculture’s website.
The answer is yes. If you will be spraying for hire you will need a license in the State of Indiana. So if you plan on applying natural mosquito control on a yard or treating a tick nest at a school and you are getting paid, you will need a license. For any questions, view this list of contacts at the Office of Indiana State Chemist to find who to reach out to!
In the state of Iowa, if you will be spraying pesticides for hire, you must have a license and a certification. That means if you are going to do a mosquito treatment in someone’s yard, or spray a property for ticks, or apply pesticides to rid of any pests, you must have a license. See how to obtain your Applicator License and Certification on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website.
You will need a license in Kansas. The Kansas Pesticide Law requires individuals to become certified as commercial applicators and to obtain a pesticide business license before applying pesticides to someone else’s property for compensation. This information is stated on the webpage, specifically on the page Pesticide Business.
For a more detailed answer, check out the Kansas Pesticide Law.
Kentucky, like many other states, does require you to have a pest control license if you are applying a pesticide commercially. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture Structural Pest Control Branch states that “All commercial pest control companies must have an operator’s license and be registered to legally perform work in Kentucky.” In order to apply pesticides in daycares, schools, hospitals, etc., you will need additional certification. See this page on the Kentucky Dept. of Ag website for detailed information!
In the state of Louisiana, you will need a license and certification in order to apply any pesticide for a fee. The Pesticide Licensing and Certification page on the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s website has all the info you need to know on pest control licensing in their state!
Yes. Applicators of 25(b) products and all pesticides must be licensed if they plan on providing a service for which compensation is received. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry has done an excellent job putting together a very informational website with this information. Learn all about the Board of Pesticide’s Licensing and Certification rules.
Maryland does require a pest control license, even for 25(b) product applications. You must get a Certified Applicator’s license along with a Business license underneath Category 8; Public Health & Mosquito Control (if you are applying mosquito treatment).
Check out the Pesticide Applicator Certification and Business Licensing Requirements for the state of Maryland. Then, if you have more questions, check out this page on the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s page for more information.
This one is a tad bit complicated. As of right now (February 18th, 2022) you do not need a license to apply 25(b) products on a property of another for hire. However, the state is in the process of changing that rule. It is unknown when the law will officially be changed, but be aware of possible changes.
For questions, contact one of Massachusett’s Pesticide Inspectors, Laurie Rocco, at laurie.rocco@state.ma.us.
In Michigan, you will need a license in order to apply pesticides, regardless if they are 25(b) exempt or not. Those that apply pesticides for a commercial purpose are required to be certified or registered as pesticide applicators. Along with that, commercial applicator businesses are required to obtain a commercial pesticide applicator business license for each place of business.
Applicators and businesses that apply pesticides for hire must be licensed in the appropriate categories for that specific type of application. View this document that explains which categories you should be licensed in.
Find out how to become a Certified Pesticide Applicator and how to obtain your Pesticide Applicator Business License by following the respective links.
The “Land of 10,000 Lakes” does require a pest control license. Regardless if the product is 25(b) or not, anytime a pesticide is applied, the applicator must have the appropriate license.
Check out the Minnesota Statute 18B.33 for a detailed explanation. Also be sure to visit this website for more information on a Commercial Pesticide Applicator License.
Yes. The State of Hospitality requires you to have a pest control license to commercially apply (even for natural products). The Mississippi Statutes outline the law in great detail. For contact information and links to more information, visit the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce’s website. Check them out!
You indeed will need a license in the state of Missouri. Regardless of the status of the product, an individual applying pesticides for hire will need a commercial applicator license.
Check out the Commercial Applicator page on the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s website to find out what steps you need to take to get your license.
Yes. In the state of Montana, you will need to have a Commercial Applicator’s license in order to apply any pesticide for hire. That license will need to be issued under Category 34 – Ornamental and Turf pest control.
For all the information you need to know on obtaining your license in Montana, visit this page.
Nope, not in Nebraska! According to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, 25(b) exempt products are still considered pesticides, so they are subject to interpretation for certified applicator licensing. For purposes of mosquito control, this license would come under Category 9; Public health pest vectors. A license is only required for restricted use pesticides (not 25(b) products) or if the practice includes wide area applications for political subdivisions of the state. If you are doing 25(b) commercial applications to private properties, one property at a time, it would not require certification.
For everything you need to know about Pesticides in Nebraska, visit this page.
Yes, individuals who apply pesticides for hire (including 25(b) products) need to be licensed with the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Even though 25(b) products are considered minimum risk, they are still conducting pest control which includes soliciting and detecting.
Here are the specific statutes that state this rule.
NRS 555.280 License as applicator required for natural persons to engage in pest control. A natural person, including, without limitation, any consultant, demonstrator, researcher or specialist, shall not engage in pest control or serve as an agent, operator, pilot, primary principal, location principal or principal for that purpose within this State at any time without a license as an applicator issued by the Director.
NRS 555.2667 “Pest control” defined. “Pest control” means conducting as a function of the agency, in the case of a city, county, state or other governmental agency, or publicly holding oneself out as being in the business of detecting, preventing, controlling or exterminating pests or otherwise engaging in, advertising or soliciting for:
1. The use of pesticides or mechanical devices for the extermination, control or prevention of infestations of pests.
2. The inspection of households or other structures and the submission of reports of inspection, estimates or bids, written or oral, for the inspection, extermination, control or prevention of wood-destroying pests.