Will I be told before pesticide is applied near my home?

Which states require pest control and lawn companies to give notice or post signs, and which keep a registry you can join to be told in advance.

Updated October 7, 202654 official sources

On this page2 sections

1What the rules usually cover
2The rules in each state

Whether you're told before a pesticide is applied depends on your state, on where the treatment is, and on whether you're the customer, a tenant or a neighbor. Many states require a written notice for the customer, some require signs on treated lawns, and a few keep a registry you can join to be told ahead of time.

What the rules usually cover

The customer. Many states require the company to give you written details of what it applied, before or after the treatment.
Tenants. Several states require notice to people living in a rented home or apartment before it's treated.
Lawns. Signs on treated lawns, and notice to neighbors who ask for it, are common rules. Most of them cover lawn and landscape work, not treatments inside a home.
Fumigation. Tenting a building comes with its own warning signs and notices in several states.
Registries. Some states keep a list of people who want advance notice, often people with a doctor's note about pesticide sensitivity. The table says who each registry covers. In some states it covers only lawn and outdoor work, and in Indiana and Kentucky it covers schools only.

The rules in each state

The table says what the research found on an official page for each state. Where a state isn't listed, the research didn't find enough on an official page to say. A city or county may add its own notice rules where state law allows it; Can my town make its own pesticide rules? covers that.

State	What the state requires
Alaska	Before treating a rented home, the applicator must notify the tenant, either with a written notice posted at each entrance to the treated area or verbally with the date, time, pesticide and when it's safe to go back in (18 AAC 90.635). Common areas of apartment buildings with more than four units count as public places, where a written notice must be posted at each entry before the application and left up at least 24 hours (AS 46.03.320; 18 AAC 90.630).^1-2
California	Before treatment, the company must give the owner and any tenant a written notice naming the pest, the pesticide and its active ingredients, with the state's required caution statement, by mail or email, posting on the property or hand delivery (Bus. & Prof. Code 8538). For fumigation (Branch 1) the notice is due at least 48 hours ahead, and for periodic service it's needed only at the first treatment unless the pesticide changes.³
Colorado	At each structural application, the applicator leaves the customer (and the occupant, if different) a written notice naming each pesticide, the date and the label's precautions, and posts a notice at the entrances to treated common areas of a multiunit building when the owner isn't on site (8 CCR 1203-2, Parts 10.04 to 10.07). People on the state's pesticide-sensitive registry get advance notice of lawn and ornamental work on or next to their property, and of structural treatments in the multiunit building they live in (C.R.S. 35-10-112(1)).^4-5
Connecticut	Before agreeing to apply a pesticide, a business must give the customer and the resident or manager of the property notice of the state's notification registry and the label's safety information (Conn. Gen. Stat. 22a-66a(a)). Neighbors on the registry get notice at least 24 hours before an application within 100 yards of their property line, and outdoor applications need posted signs (Conn. Gen. Stat. 22a-66a(b) and (c)).⁶
Delaware	When a soil termite treatment uses less than the label volume or leaves out labeled areas, the company must give the customer a written disclosure on a department-approved form within 14 days, covering what was applied, where, and any warranty (3 Del. Admin. Code 601, section 22.3).⁷
District of Columbia	Before treating, a pest control company must give the customer a written Notice of Pesticide Application with its D.C. license number, the pest and the pesticide, with 24 hours' advance notice when the customer asks at least 48 hours ahead; in multi-unit buildings the owner must notify each resident 24 hours to 7 days before (20 DCMR 2211). Lawn and outdoor plant applications need a yellow sign that stays up for 48 hours (20 DCMR 2212).^8-9
Florida	Companies must post a sign at each lawn or exterior foliage application and, on request, tell customers the pesticide used and its label safety information (s. 482.2265, F.S.). People on FDACS's physician-certified registry get 24 hours' notice before lawn, plant bed or exterior foliage treatments near their home, and termite treatments leave a posted notice near the attic or crawl space access (ss. 482.2267, 482.226(5), F.S.).^10-12
Georgia	After every structural treatment the company gives the owner or resident a record of the product, amount, areas treated and precautions, and before a fumigation it warns occupants in writing at least 3 hours ahead or posts the notice on every regular entrance (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 620-3-.02, 620-8-.04).¹³
Illinois	Lawn care companies must place a marker at the usual entry points right after each lawn application, and give day-before notice to any abutting or adjacent neighbor who asks for it (415 ILCS 65/3). These rules cover lawn care only.¹⁴
Indiana	Before a termite treatment that leaves out any label-required step, the applicator must give the customer a written disclosure form approved by the state chemist and have the customer sign it (355 IAC 4-5-2). Indiana's pesticide notification registry covers school property only (IC 15-16-5-64.7).^15-16
Iowa	Commercial applicators treating lawns and other outdoor areas in cities and residential developments must post signs at the start of the application and leave them at least 24 hours; work inside a structure or within six feet of its outside perimeter is exempt (21 IAC 45.50). An adjoining occupant who asks the applicator in writing gets notice at least the day before a lawn application (21 IAC 45.50(8)).^17-18
Kansas	After each service the business must give the customer a written statement listing the pest, the pesticide and amount used, the date and time, and the applicator's signature and certification number; termite work adds retreatment and inspection terms.¹⁹
Kentucky	Lawn care applicators must place a marker in the lawn right after each application, and a customer or an adjoining neighbor can ask for notice 24 to 48 hours beforehand (302 KAR 26:080). This rule covers lawn, turf, ornamental and interior plantscape work; the school registry covers schools only (302 KAR 26:090).^20-21
Louisiana	Before a structural fumigation the company must give the department written notice at least 24 hours ahead, and warning signs with the word "poison" and a skull and crossbones must stay at every entrance until ventilation is complete (La. Admin. Code 7:XXV.147).²²
Maine	Outdoor general pest control (7A) treatments must be posted with a caution sign before work starts and for at least two days after, and commercial applicators must notify anyone on the Maine Pesticide Notification Registry 6 hours to 14 days before an outdoor application within 250 feet of their property, though 7A work within five feet of a building is exempt from that notice (01-026 CMR ch. 28). In rented homes and condominiums, residents who didn't ask for a treatment get a written notice 24 hours to seven days ahead (01-026 CMR ch. 26).^23-24
Maryland	At each application, or when a contract is signed, the company must give the customer written information including its business license number, the pesticide's common name and label safety information, and must give advance notice of applications if the customer asks (COMAR 15.05.01.16). Lawn signs (left up 48 hours) and the state's list of pesticide-sensitive individuals apply only to lawn, landscape and public health (mosquito) applications.^25-27
Michigan	The company must agree the service with the customer before treating and leave written details (firm, applicator, target pests, pesticides, date and label precautions) at each application, or electronically within 48 hours with the customer's written approval, plus risk and benefit information at the first visit (Mich. Admin. Code R 285.637.12). Lawn markers and the state's pesticide notification registry cover lawn and ornamental applications only, and the registry doesn't apply to treatments on or within 10 feet of a structure (R 285.637.11).^28-29
Minnesota	After a structural treatment, the applicator must give a copy of the treatment record to the person who ordered it or leave it in a conspicuous place at the site, and must post the label's post-application precautions inside a treated rental apartment (Minn. Stat. 18B.37, subd. 3). Turf warning signs are required only in cities that adopt the state's posting ordinance.^30-31
Montana	A city or county may require commercial applicators to post a sign at least 4 by 5 inches reading "pesticide application" with a phone number, and can't set stricter notice rules than that (MCA 80-8-120). Before a restricted-use pesticide application, the applicator tells the owner, lessee or manager of the property about its precautions and restrictions.^32-33
Nevada	A licensee using a pesticide harmful to people or animals tells the owner of animals on the property before treatment, and places rodent bait out of reach of children and pets or in a marked tamper-resistant station (NAC 555.460).³⁴
New Hampshire	For lawn and turf work, a commercial applicator gives the client or residents written notice at least once a year, including the right to ask for notice of each application date. At multifamily dwellings the manager gets written notice 72 hours to 2 weeks ahead, with signs at common entryways or written notice to every resident, and signs on treated turf stay up at least 48 hours (Pes 508.01).³⁵
New Jersey	Indoor pest control at a single-family home needs a written consumer information notice before application, and at apartments a decal goes inside a kitchen cabinet door in each unit before treatment (N.J.A.C. 7:30-9.12). Treated lawns get "Pesticide Treated Area" signs for 72 hours, and anyone who asks must be notified before an application (N.J.A.C. 7:30-9.13, 7:30-9.15).³⁶
New York	Before treating a home, the certified applicator gives the occupants the label information and warnings, or for a multiple dwelling gives it to the owner or agent (ECL 33-0905). Commercial lawn jobs need markers posted for 24 hours (ECL 33-1003), and where a county or New York City has adopted neighbor notification, 48 hours' written notice goes to neighbors within 150 feet (6 NYCRR 325.41).^37-40
North Carolina	Licensees give the client, owner or occupants the pesticide's name, active ingredient, formulation and EPA number on request (02 NCAC 34 .0404). Before fumigating a structure, the fumigator notifies police and fire departments and occupants of buildings within 10 feet, and for a home also notifies the Division five days ahead (02 NCAC 34 .0807).⁴¹
Oregon	Oregon's pesticide notice and warning sign rules cover school campuses (ORS 634.700 to 634.750), and local governments can't add their own notification rules (ORS 634.057).⁴²
Rhode Island	Lawn care companies give the homeowner a written list of pesticides before the first application, leave a written notice after each one, and post "Lawn Chemicals Applied" signs at points of access for 48 hours or longer if the label says so. A neighbor whose property borders the lawn can ask for 48 hours' notice before each application (250-RICR-40-15-2.23).⁴³
South Dakota	On written request, a commercial applicator gives the customer a record of each pesticide application on the customer's property.⁴⁴
Texas	Before an indoor treatment at a home, the applicator makes TDA's pest control information sheet available to the owner, or to each tenant in a rental with fewer than five units (Occ. Code 1951.453). In buildings with five or more units the owner or manager posts the sign in a common area or leaves the sheet at each affected unit at least 48 hours ahead, and outdoor treatments at homes also get the sheet (Occ. Code 1951.453, 1951.457).⁴⁵
Utah	Before applying a restricted use pesticide with a Danger or Danger-Poison signal word, the business gives the customer a written statement of the company, applicator, date, product and EPA number (R68-7-16). Structural fumigation needs written notice to homes and businesses within 100 feet, warning signs at entrances and a call to the local fire department first (R68-7-18).⁴⁶
Vermont	Lawn and ornamental treatments need product details given to the customer first, a caution sign at each access point for 24 hours and a statement left after, and at condos and apartments a notice posted 24 hours to 7 days ahead (Vermont Rule for Control of Pesticides 7.01, 7.02). Indoor treatments in rented units need written notice to the occupant 24 hours to 7 days ahead unless the occupant asked for the treatment (7.03).⁴⁷
Virginia	A landlord gives tenants written notice at least 48 hours before a pesticide is applied in their unit, unless the tenant asked for it or agrees to less, and posts signs in common areas 48 hours ahead (Va. Code 55.1-1223). Property owners' and condominium associations post signs 48 hours before treating common areas.^48-50
Washington	A licensed applicator treating a residential landscape puts a marker at the usual point of entry, and at apartments a marker at each treated site (RCW 17.21.410). People on WSDA's yearly pesticide-sensitive list get at least two hours' notice of landscape applications next to their home (RCW 17.21.420, 17.21.430).⁵¹
West Virginia	The Department of Agriculture keeps a registry of people with a documented health sensitivity to pesticides and sends it to pesticide application businesses for voluntary notification.⁵²
Wisconsin	At each home treatment the applicator leaves written details with an adult resident or posts them at the unit door, and posts notices in common entryways for common-area or perimeter work (Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 29.55). Lawn and landscape applications get warning signs before treatment, and neighbors on DATCP's yearly landscape registry get advance notice.^53-54

If you want to be told before a treatment, ask the company when you book. If your state keeps a registry, the agency named in the table runs it.

Notice rules from state agriculture and environmental departments, pest control boards and legislatures, checked October 2026.

Will I be told before pesticide is applied near my home?

What the rules usually cover

The rules in each state

Tell us what's happening

Sources (54)

Find pest control companies in your county