How to choose a pest control company

Who licenses pest control companies

Pest control licensing is run by the states. In each state one agency, usually the department of agriculture, works with EPA to enforce federal pesticide rules and respond to complaints. Under programs EPA approves, state pesticide regulatory agencies certify applicators who show they can use pesticides safely.^[6][7][1][4]

Federal law requires certification for anyone who applies or supervises the use of restricted use pesticides, the products that can't be sold to the public. Many states go further and require certification for any commercial pesticide use, restricted or not.^[7]

• A company must have at least one certified, licensed commercial applicator in the proper service category. Its other applicators must be certified themselves or be licensed technicians working under a certified applicator's direct supervision.^[1]
• The license has to fit the job. Minnesota Extension says to check that the applicator's license has the correct classification for the pest problem, and NPIC suggests asking whether the license is current and correct for the job.^[3][2]
• Who counts as a business: Texas requires licenses for anyone in the business of pest control, from a single-person company to a large nationwide franchise, including landscape and lawn companies that offer weed and insect control around homes.^[11]
• Some states split licensing between agencies. In California, structural pest control companies are licensed by the Structural Pest Control Board and landscape pest control by the Department of Pesticide Regulation.^[10]
• Federal rules set 18 as the minimum age for certified applicators and for people applying restricted use pesticides under their supervision, and require commercial applicators to recertify at least every 5 years.^[7]
• Licensed is not the same as endorsed. EPA says government agencies do not endorse any service company or pesticide product, so a claim of government approval is a red flag.^[1]

Check the license and complaint history

Start with the license number and the name of the person who will do the work, then confirm both with the state. Our license-check page lists every state's agency. Some states have an online search; Minnesota, for example, lets you search applicators by license type and county.^[6][3][1]

• Ask the state pesticide regulatory office or the Better Business Bureau about recent violations, complaints or unresolved issues. EPA also lists the state attorney general's office as a place to ask whether complaints have been filed for pesticide misuse.^[2][1]
• Get recommendations from family, friends, coworkers or neighbors, and don't rely on advertising to judge a company's reputation.^[2][10]
• The FTC suggests searching the company's name online with words like "scam," "review" or "complaint," and reading customer reviews with a critical eye.^[16]
• Call the references the company gives you and ask whether they were satisfied.^[1]
• For termite work, Kentucky says membership in the state pest control association or a national trade association suggests an established firm with access to technical and training information, and that the person who does the work matters more than the salesperson.^[4]

Questions to ask

• How many years have you been in business at your present address, and can you provide references?^[1]
• Will the person doing the work be a certified, licensed applicator? Can I see your license and the labels of the pesticides you use?^[1][3]
• Do you carry insurance for my property and your employees?^[3]
• Is there a guarantee, and what are its terms? Is a long-term contract required, and what does it cost over time?^[2]
• How much experience do you have with this particular pest? Do newly hired applicators train with experienced staff, and is there a certified entomologist on staff?^[2]
• Can you identify the pest and explain how big the infestation is? NPIC suggests judging whether the staff can do this and are willing to discuss product choices.^[2]
• How many treatments will this take, and what do I need to do before you arrive?^[3]
• What are the risks to people and pets from the products, and what will you do to prevent unnecessary exposure?^[3][2]
• For lawn and tree work, Minnesota Extension adds: do you have a safety plan for spills or exposure, and do you post signs to alert neighbors?^[3]
• For wildlife jobs: do you use live traps, kill traps or repellents, how often are traps checked, and do you remove dead animals, clean contaminated areas and seal entry points?^[3]

Choosing an IPM provider

Integrated pest management (IPM) companies use regular monitoring, exclusion, baiting, trapping and reduced-risk pesticides. UC IPM's examples: door sweeps to keep outdoor cockroaches out, and baits for ants.^[10]

UC IPM says IPM service may cost more at first, because of extra service time, labor and monitoring visits, but often gives better long-term control.^[10]

• Ask for long-term fixes as well as an immediate treatment. A company that practices IPM will suggest changes such as cutting back irrigation, painting exposed wood, or installing door sweeps and screens.^[10]
• Ask for monitoring, trapping and baiting as alternatives to routine sprays. UC IPM notes that liquid, dust or granular applications are sometimes still needed when pests are numerous or threaten health or the building.^[10]
• Some companies and individuals are certified as IPM practitioners by independent certification programs.^[10]
• For bed bugs, EPA says anyone you hire should use IPM, including monitoring for bugs missed in treatment, and that very few infestations are controlled with one treatment, so expect several visits.^[9]

What a written estimate and contract should show

UC IPM says that after an inspection the company should give you a written diagnosis and identification of the pest, and spell out the plan: treatments and products, how often it will inspect and expect to treat, and an estimate of the total cost.^[10]

• The FTC's advice for any home contractor: get the contract in writing even if your state doesn't require it, check that it lists the company's name, address, phone number and license number, and make sure every promise made in conversation is written in.^[16]
• Make sure all blank spaces are filled in, and don't sign anything you haven't read or that is in a language you don't understand.^[16]
• Don't pay the full amount up front. The FTC notes that some states limit how much a contractor can ask for as a down payment, and suggests not making the final payment until the work is done.^[16]
• Ask whether the company requires a long-term contract or offers flexibility, such as fewer applications instead of a package with many.^[2][3]

Contracts and warranties

Routine pesticide applications aren't warranted unless there is a constant infestation; contracts should include periodic inspections, with pesticides applied only when pests are present.^[1]

Termite work is customarily guaranteed for one to five years; find out what the guarantee covers and whether there is a yearly inspection or renewal fee.^[1][4]

Most termite warranties require an annual renewal; with baits, letting it lapse is riskier because no residual pesticide remains in the soil.^[4][5]

Spot treatments for subterranean termites are usually a gamble, and most reputable firms won't warrant them.^[4]

• Ask what happens if termites come back. Kentucky says most companies will retreat the affected areas at no additional charge, and some will also repair damage that occurs after treatment, though dating the onset of termite damage is hard.^[4]
• EPA suggests asking whether the company is responsible for structural damage if the treatment fails, and notes that a guarantee is only as reliable as the company that offers it.^[1]
• Some homes may get no warranty at all: Kentucky says this can happen when wells, drainage systems, sub-slab heat ducts or inaccessible crawl spaces make it impossible to treat to industry standards.^[4]

Door-to-door sales and your right to cancel

EPA warns about companies or individuals that sell door to door, target elderly people who live alone, arrive unannounced and show you insects they say they found in a neighbor's house, offer pest control as part of a home repair or tree trimming package, or claim to have material left over from another job.^[1]

The FTC lists similar tactics among home improvement scammers: knocking on doors because they are "in the area," leftover materials, pressure for an immediate decision, asking for full payment up front or cash only, and offering financing through a lender they know.^[16]

• The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule gives you three days to cancel certain sales made at your home, and it also applies when you invite a salesperson to make a presentation in your home.^[15]
• It doesn't cover every sale. Exclusions include very small sales, purchases needed to meet an emergency, and work you asked the seller to come to your home to do as repair or maintenance (anything bought beyond that request is covered).^[15]
• The seller must tell you about your right to cancel at the time of the sale and give you two copies of a cancellation form, plus a dated contract or receipt with the seller's name and address.^[15]
• You can cancel for a full refund until midnight of the third business day after the sale, without giving a reason. Saturday counts as a business day; Sundays and federal holidays don't. Send the form or a letter by certified mail and keep a copy.^[15]
• If you cancel, the seller has 10 days to refund your money and return any check you signed.^[15]

After each service

Ask for a written statement with the company name, date of service, the products used with their EPA registration numbers, and precautions to follow.^[3][2]

• NPIC also suggests noting the names of the employees who did the work, the date and time, each product's formulation (gel, spray or dust) and where it was used, and any preparation or precautions you were asked to follow.^[2]
• Follow the technician's instructions before and after treatment. EPA's examples: clear items from floors and cabinets when asked, keep children and pets out of treated areas until sprays have dried, and cover aquariums with heavy plastic and turn off the air pump.^[1]
• Report problems promptly to the company or to your state pesticide regulatory agency.^[2]

If something goes wrong: where to complain

If someone is suffering effects from a pesticide right now, EPA says to get care at the nearest emergency room first and report the incident later.^[8]

For a billing or contract dispute, the FTC suggests trying to resolve it with the company first, following up phone calls with a letter sent by certified mail with a return receipt, and keeping copies of everything. If that fails, contact your state attorney general or local consumer protection office.^[16]

• Pesticide misuse, label violations or an unlicensed operator: contact your state pesticide regulatory agency. EPA says most states have primary enforcement responsibility for pesticide misuse and investigate possible cases, and NPIC's directory lists each state's contact.^[8][6]
• Example, Texas: the Department of Agriculture investigates complaints about health effects from an application, applications inconsistent with the label, unlicensed businesses or individuals, and incomplete or inaccurate wood destroying insect reports. Reports go to (866) 918-4481 or by email.^[12][11]
• In Texas an inspector is assigned and may meet you and gather evidence. If a violation is documented, the department may issue a warning, assess an administrative penalty, suspend, modify or revoke a license, or refer the case to another agency or prosecutor. You can request a copy of the report in writing.^[12]
• Example, California: structural pest control complaints go to the Structural Pest Control Board, whose consumer pages cover license verification and filing a complaint; its enforcement and consumer complaint line is (916) 561-8708.^[13][14]
• You can also report a pesticide incident to the product's manufacturer, which is required by law to pass reports of adverse effects to EPA, or email EPA directly with the product name and EPA Reg. No., the location, date and a description.^[8]
• For questions about a pesticide exposure, NPIC answers at 1-800-858-7378. It sends EPA summary reports but does not collect information for enforcement.^[8]
• If the exposure happened at work, EPA points to your local Occupational Safety and Health Administration office.^[8]

Common questions

Does a pest control company need a license?

Yes. States license pest control businesses and certify their applicators, and EPA says each company must have at least one certified, licensed commercial applicator in the proper category. Texas, for example, requires a license even for a one-person business or a lawn company doing weed and insect control.^[1][11][7]

How do I check whether a company has had complaints?

Ask your state pesticide regulatory office or the Better Business Bureau about violations, complaints and unresolved issues, and call the references the company provides. EPA also lists the state attorney general's office.^[2][1]

Can I cancel a pest control contract I signed at my door?

Often, yes. The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule gives you until midnight of the third business day to cancel many sales made at your home, though emergency purchases and work you asked the seller to come and do are among the exceptions.^[15]

Where do I report a company that misapplied pesticide?

Your state pesticide regulatory agency, which handles pesticide misuse complaints and works with EPA. If anyone is ill, get medical care first.^[6][8]

Is an EPA- or state-approved pest control company a real thing?

No. EPA says government agencies do not endorse any service company or specific pesticide product, so treat that claim as a red flag.^[1]

Sources

1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Tips for Selecting a Pest Control Service.” www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/tips-selecting-pest-control-service (accessed 2026-10-06)
2. National Pesticide Information Center, “Selecting a Pest Control Company.” www.npic.orst.edu/pest/selectpco.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
3. University of Minnesota Extension, “Hiring a pest control professional.” extension.umn.edu/home-maintenance-and-safety/hiring-pest-control-professional (accessed 2026-10-06)
4. University of Kentucky Entomology, “ENTFACT-604: Termite Control: Answers for Homeowners (revised March 2026).” entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu/ef604 (accessed 2026-10-06)
5. University of Kentucky Entomology, “ENTFACT-639: Termite Baits: A Guide for Homeowners.” entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu/ef639 (accessed 2026-10-06)
6. National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
7. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Certification Standards for Pesticide Applicators.” www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/certification-standards-pesticide-applicators (accessed 2026-11-10)
8. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “How to Report a Pesticide Incident Involving Exposures to People.” www.epa.gov/pesticide-incidents/how-report-pesticide-incident-involving-exposures-people (accessed 2026-11-10)
9. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Hiring a Pest Management Professional for Bed Bugs.” www.epa.gov/bedbugs/hiring-pest-management-professional-bed-bugs (accessed 2026-11-10)
10. University of California Statewide IPM Program, “Pest Notes: Hiring a Pest Control Company.” ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/hiring-a-pest-control-company/ (accessed 2026-11-10)
11. Texas Department of Agriculture, Structural Pest Control Service, “Structural Pest Control Consumer Information.” texasagriculture.gov/Regulatory-Programs/Pesticides/Structural-Pest-Control-Service/Structural-Pest-Control-Consumer-Information (accessed 2026-11-10)
12. Texas Department of Agriculture, Structural Pest Control Service, “SPCS Complaint Process.” texasagriculture.gov/Regulatory-Programs/Pesticides/Structural-Pest-Control-Service/Structural-Pest-Control-Consumer-Information/SPCS-Complaint-Process (accessed 2026-11-10)
13. California Structural Pest Control Board, “Consumer Information.” www.pestboard.ca.gov/about/consumer.shtml (accessed 2026-11-10)
14. California Structural Pest Control Board, “Contact the Structural Pest Control Board.” www.pestboard.ca.gov/about/contact.shtml (accessed 2026-11-10)
15. U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice, “Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help.” consumer.ftc.gov/articles/buyers-remorse-ftcs-cooling-rule-may-help (accessed 2026-11-10)
16. U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice, “How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam.” consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-home-improvement-scam (accessed 2026-11-10)