The label is the law. Read your product's label before you mix or apply; the rates here come from the labels listed under Sources.
- Active ingredient
- Permethrin (CAS 52645-53-1)
- Chemical class
- Synthetic pyrethroid: a human-made chemical that acts like natural extracts of the chrysanthemum flower.[1]
- Mode of action
- IRAC Group 3A: Sodium channel modulators (nerve action)[3]
- Signal word
- Permethrin 3.2 SFR: Caution[2]
How it works
Permethrin affects the insect nervous system when insects eat or touch it, causing muscle spasms, paralysis and death.[1]
It is more toxic to insects than to people and dogs because insects cannot break it down as quickly; cats are more sensitive than dogs or people because their bodies take a long time to break it down.[1]
Permethrin is in IRAC Group 3A, the same group as bifenthrin, deltamethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin, so switching between these does not rotate modes of action.[3]
Cats come first
Because the label itself warns the concentrate may be toxic or fatal to cats, keep cats completely away from where it is mixed and applied; the label allows people and pets back into a treated area only after the application has dried.[2]
Where it is used
Permethrin 3.2 SFR is labeled for perimeter insect control on lawns, ornamental trees and shrubs around buildings, outside surfaces of buildings, crawl spaces, interiorscape ornamentals, and subterranean termite treatment.[2]
Products containing permethrin come as liquids, dusts, aerosols, sprays and treated clothing, and some permethrin products for scabies and head lice are drugs regulated by the FDA rather than EPA.[1]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permethrin 3.2 SFR[2] | Control Solutions, Inc. | 53883-90 | 36.8% | emulsifiable concentrate (3.2 lb active per gallon) | Caution |
Label rates
| Product | Use | Pests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permethrin 3.2 SFR | Lawns | Fleas, ticks, chinch bugs, sod webworms, armyworms, mole crickets and other listed lawn pests | 0.4–0.8 fl oz per 1,000 sq ft (mixed in 4–25 gal of water)[2] Higher rate for faster knockdown and longer residual. |
| Permethrin 3.2 SFR | Outside surfaces of buildings and perimeter band (0.5% emulsion) | Ants, spiders, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, scorpions and other listed nuisance pests | 1.67 fl oz per gal of water[2] At homes the label's residential restrictions cap the perimeter band at 7 ft wide from the base of the house (its older perimeter directions still say 6–10 ft); treat the foundation 2–3 ft up, but walls above pavement no higher than 2 ft. Use 2–10 gallons of emulsion per 1,000 sq ft. |
How to apply it, step by step
1. Protective gear
- Mixers and applicators must wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes and socks, and chemical-resistant gloves; barrier laminate and Viton are materials the label names as resistant to this product.[2]
- Fogging calls for more: coveralls, chemical-resistant footwear and, for overhead work, chemical-resistant headgear indoors. Never put the concentrate or emulsion in fogging equipment.[2]
2. Before you spray
- Keep cats away from the treatment: the label warns the product may be toxic or fatal if cats touch it or swallow it.[2]
- Don't use it as a broadcast spray on indoor surfaces at homes, nurseries, day cares, schools, hospitals or nursing homes, and don't spray it on sources of electricity.[2]
- Don't apply it to sewers, drains or gutters that drain to sewers or water, and outdoors, spray in calm weather with no rain forecast for 24 hours.[2]
3. Mixing
- Mix it with water only to make an emulsion. For a 0.5% emulsion, the label's chart uses 1 2/3 fl oz of Permethrin 3.2 SFR per gallon of finished spray; a 1.0% emulsion takes 3 1/3 fl oz per gallon.[2]
- For lawns the label uses 0.4 to 0.8 fl oz per 1,000 sq ft, mixed in 4 to 25 gallons of water; shake the container well first.[2]
4. Applying
- In crawlspaces, a 0.5% emulsion controls ants, fleas, roaches and scorpions: treat surfaces until wet.[2]
- For pests nesting under slabs, inject 1 gallon of a 0.5% to 1.0% emulsion per 10 square feet, or 2 gallons per 10 linear feet, through drilled holes.[2]
- At homes, keep the perimeter band to 7 feet wide or less from the foundation, as the residential restrictions on the current label require.[2]
5. After you spray
- People and pets may go back into a treated area once the spray has dried; don't let anyone walk on treated carpets or touch treated surfaces before then.[2]
- Rinse equipment over the treated area, not near drains, so it doesn't run off to water.[2]
First aid
- If swallowed, call a poison control center or doctor immediately, don't give the person any liquid, and don't induce vomiting unless told to: the product contains petroleum distillates, and vomiting can cause aspiration pneumonia.[2]
- On skin or clothing, take off contaminated clothing and rinse skin with plenty of water for 15 to 20 minutes; in the eyes, hold them open and rinse gently for 15 to 20 minutes, taking out contacts after the first 5 minutes.[2]
- Have the container or label with you when you call; the label also points to the National Pesticide Information Center for product information.[2]
Storage, spills and disposal
- Store it above 40°F in its original container, away from heat and open flame; if crystals form, let it warm to about 70°F room temperature until they dissolve.[2]
- Confine a spill by diking it or soaking it up with sand, cat litter or a clay absorbent, and keep animals and unprotected people away.[2]
- Don't pour leftovers down a drain or sewer; call your local solid waste agency, and triple-rinse the empty container before recycling it or putting it in a sanitary landfill.[2]
From the safety data sheet
- Control Solutions' safety data sheet for Permethrin SFR (EPA Reg. No. 53883-90, revised June 2026) gives the concentrate as 36.8% permethrin and 25 to 28% petroleum hydrocarbon solvent. Its own comparison table sets the label's signal word, CAUTION, beside the SDS's OSHA signal word, DANGER.[4]
- Its OSHA hazard statements are harmful if swallowed, harmful if inhaled, may cause an allergic skin reaction, may be fatal if swallowed and it enters the airways, suspected of causing cancer, may cause drowsiness or dizziness, and flammable liquid and vapor. The flash point is listed as 111°F (44°C); the same table notes that the label calls the product combustible and says not to use or store it near heat or open flame.[4]
- The sheet says swallowing permethrin may bring on nerve symptoms such as diarrhea, salivation, tremors, convulsions, hyperactivity and oversensitivity to touch or sound. Prolonged exposure might cause a tingling feeling (paresthesia) that reverses within 12 hours, and in repeat patch tests on people, 1% permethrin applied for up to 9 days caused no irritation or sensitization.[4]
- Its acute figures are estimates calculated from the components (ATEmix): rat oral LD50 above 1,010 mg/kg, rat dermal LD50 above 2,700 mg/kg and a 4-hour rat inhalation LC50 above 4.0 mg/L. On component data it doesn't expect eye or skin irritation, though its comparison table records the label's moderate eye irritation statement.[4]
- For permethrin technical it lists LC50 values of 2.5 µg/L for rainbow trout (96 hours) and 1.8 µg/L for bluegill, and LD50 values of 23,000 mg/kg for Japanese quail and 11,257 mg/kg for mallards. Because permethrin clings strongly to organic matter, the sheet says it has little potential to move through soil or reach groundwater, and it breaks down more slowly at termite-treatment rates.[4]
- Keep it locked up, tightly closed and cool in a well-ventilated place, out of direct sunlight and away from heat and strong oxidizing agents. In non-bulk containers shipped by highway it travels as a combustible liquid outside DOT rules; bulk loads, and shipments by sea or air, go as UN1993 flammable liquid, the last two also marked as a marine pollutant.[4]
Safety and environmental hazards
People
The label signal word is CAUTION: harmful if swallowed or absorbed through skin, and it causes moderate eye irritation. EPA classified permethrin as likely to be carcinogenic to humans if eaten, based on its structure, how the body handles it, and tumors in mice and rats; the International Agency for Research on Cancer rated it not classifiable.[2][1]
Pets
The label warns the product may be toxic or fatal if cats contact or swallow it. Cats break permethrin down slowly, and cats accidentally exposed to high-strength (45–65%) products can have tremors and seizures and may die; dogs and cats with it on their skin may flick their paws, twitch or drool.[2][1]
Bees and pollinators
The label states it is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment on blooming crops or weeds; do not apply or let it drift onto blooming plants bees are visiting.[2]
Fish and water
The label states it is extremely toxic to aquatic organisms, including fish and invertebrates. In lakes and streams permethrin sticks strongly to sediment and can remain there for more than a year, though it rarely reaches groundwater.[2][1]
Common questions
- Is permethrin dangerous to cats?
- Yes. The Permethrin 3.2 SFR label warns it may be toxic or fatal if cats contact or swallow it, and NPIC notes cats accidentally exposed to high-strength products can have seizures and may die.[2][1]
- Does permethrin cause cancer?
- EPA classified permethrin as likely to be carcinogenic to humans if eaten, based on animal tumor studies and how the body processes it; IARC rated it not classifiable as to carcinogenicity.[1]
- How strong is the perimeter spray?
- The label calls for a 0.5% emulsion on outside surfaces, which its mixing table makes with 1 2/3 fl oz of Permethrin 3.2 SFR per gallon of finished spray.[2]
Sources
- National Pesticide Information Center, “Permethrin General Fact Sheet.” npic.orst.edu/factsheets/PermGen.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Permethrin 3.2 SFR label, EPA Reg. No. 53883-90 (EPA-stamped, Dec. 12, 2025).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/053883-00090-20251212.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Insecticide Resistance Action Committee, “IRAC Mode of Action Classification Scheme, Version 11.5 (Feb. 2026).” irac-online.org/documents/moa-classification/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Control Solutions, Inc. (linked from its product-labels page; file hosted by Agrian), “Permethrin SFR Safety Data Sheet (Control Solutions, Inc., revised June 25, 2026; EPA Reg. No. 53883-90, the page's Permethrin 3.2 SFR registration).” www.agrian.com/pdfs/PERMETHRIN_SFR_MSDS1hy.pdf (accessed 2026-11-08)