How to Verify a California Pest Control License

Do it before anyone sprays or drills. If you want a company that has already been checked, ask for a free inspection and a quote before any treatment.

How to run the search

1. Open the Department of Consumer Affairs license search at search.dca.ca.gov. The Structural Pest Control Board's license page links straight to it.
2. In the Board and Bureaus field, choose Structural Pest Control Board so you only see pest control licenses.
3. Search by the person's first or last name, the business name, the license type or the license number.
4. Use Advanced Search if you need to filter by location or license status.

Cancelled licenses and registrations do not show up in the search. If you are trying to look up a company that may have closed or lost its registration, the Board says to call it at (916) 561-8704. You can also call the Board's toll-free line at (800) 737-8188 to ask whether a company is registered or a person holds a valid license.

The Board's consumer brochure says a licensee should carry an identification card issued by the Board showing the license type and when it expires. Asking to see it at the door is normal and a good company will not mind.

What the three branches mean

California splits structural pest control into three branches. The definitions below are the Board's:

• Branch 1 is fumigation with poisonous or lethal gases, for household pests and wood destroying pests. This is tenting.
• Branch 2 is household pest control without fumigation. Ants, roaches, spiders, rodents, bed bugs and the like.
• Branch 3 is control of termites and other wood destroying pests with insecticides or structural repairs and corrections, without fumigation.

A license is issued per branch, and a person can hold more than one. Match the branch to the job. Only a Branch 3 field representative or operator can do a termite inspection. That rule is in Business and Professions Code section 8516. A general pest company that only holds Branch 2 should not be writing your termite report.

A Branch 2 or Branch 3 company can sell you a fumigation and hire a Branch 1 company to do it, but section 8514 requires your written consent first and tells you that you can choose another company. Section 8514.5 also requires a written notice that the subcontracted price may include the first company's own charges for arranging the work. The Board's fumigation brochure confirms you can contract directly with a Branch 1 fumigation company if you give it a copy of an inspection report that identifies a pest fumigation can treat.

Company registration vs the people who show up

The search returns two kinds of records: the company and the individuals.

Registered company

A pest control business needs a company registration from the Board. To get one it must name a qualifying manager who holds an Operator license in each branch the company works in, carry at least $500,000 in general liability insurance, post a $12,500 bond and show workers' compensation coverage or an exemption, according to the Board. Once approved, the company gets a principal registration number, often written as a PR number.

Operator

An Operator can do this work on behalf of a registered company:

• secure pest control work
• identify infestations
• inspect
• bid
• contract

An Operator is the only license that can own and run a company or act as its qualifying manager. Operators can be licensed in any of the three branches.

Field representative

A field representative can do the same work, but only for a registered company and never on their own behalf. That includes inspecting and bidding as well as applying pesticides. Field representatives can also be licensed in any of the three branches.

Applicator

The Applicator license is the entry level. An Applicator applies pesticides for Branch 2 or Branch 3 pests for a registered company. An Applicator cannot contract for work and is not licensed in Branch 1.

So the person spraying your baseboards may be an Applicator, which is fine. The person who inspects for termites and signs the report has to be a Branch 3 field representative or Operator.

Not sure what you are dealing with before you call anyone? Send a photo first.

What to ask before you sign

These questions come from the Board's rules and from UC IPM's guide to hiring a pest control company. They are the ones I would ask.

• What pest is it? UC IPM notes that state law requires the company to identify the target pest before applying pesticides, and that any inspection fee should get you a written diagnosis.
• What will you apply, and where? Section 8538 requires a written notice to the owner and tenant listing the pest and each pesticide with its active ingredients. If it is a recurring contract, the notice also lists how often you will treat.
• Can I see the label and Safety Data Sheet? UC IPM says you can ask for both. They spell out precautions for children and pets.
• What will you do besides spray? UC IPM suggests asking for exclusion and monitoring, not routine spraying. Trapping and baiting are on its list too.
• What is the guarantee, in writing? For termite work, section 8516 requires the report and contract to state any guarantee. They must also state its terms and how long it lasts.
• For termites, can I see a second report? The report itself has to tell you that you have a right to a second opinion. UC IPM suggests getting at least three reports before choosing a drywood treatment.

The Board's termite brochure adds one more piece of advice I agree with: take your time. Termite damage builds slowly, and a company that pushes you to sign on the spot with a special or a scare is a company to walk away from.

How to file a complaint with the Board

Call the company first and give it a chance to fix the problem. If that fails, file with the Board using its online complaint form, linked from pestboard.ca.gov under How do I file a complaint. Describe what happened and who did it. Give the dates and the address. Upload any documents you have, such as:

• inspection reports
• service agreements
• escrow instructions
• receipts

The Board takes complaints about:

• licensees and registered companies
• infestations missed or not reported in an inspection
• unlicensed activity
• poor workmanship or repairs below trade standards, and unfinished work
• false or misleading advertising
• fraud or theft
• misrepresentation

Watch the deadlines. Under Business and Professions Code section 8621, a complaint must be filed within two years of the act, or within four years for fraud, gross negligence or misrepresentation. The Board will not handle landlord and tenant disputes, real estate agents or contractors, and it has no authority over payment disputes. It does try to mediate first, and its consumer brochure says it can require a company to complete a contract or correct violations.

If you think someone got sick from a pesticide or it was misapplied, the Board's brochure says to call your county agricultural commissioner. You can reach yours through (877) 378-5463. For a possible poisoning, call Poison Control at (800) 222-1222.

For more on termite reports, read Section 1 vs Section 2 findings and our termite inspection page. For routine service, see general pest control in Bakersfield and one-time vs quarterly service.

We only refer companies licensed by the California Structural Pest Control Board.