Does a lawn care company need a licence to spray fertilizer or weed killer in Virginia?

Yes. In Virginia, a company you pay to spray weed killer needs a state pesticide business licence and a certified commercial applicator on staff, and a company you pay to spread fertilizer needs a state contractor-applicator permit and a Certified Fertilizer Applicator behind the work. Both are issued or overseen by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), which publishes lists you can check in a few minutes before you sign up.

Weed killer: a pesticide business licence

Weed killers are a type of pesticide, so the pesticide rules apply. Virginia law says no one may apply or recommend any pesticide commercially without a pesticide business licence and the employment of a certified commercial applicator responsible for safe application and for pesticide recommendations.^[1] An annual licence is required for each location that applies or recommends pesticides.^[1][2]

VDACS requires the licence for any person or business that, for compensation, sells, stores, distributes, mixes, applies or recommends pesticides, and it is separate from any local business licence.^[2] To get one, a business has to show insurance of at least $100,000 for property damage, $100,000 for injury to or death of one person, and $300,000 per occurrence.^[2] Licensed businesses must keep written records of pesticides applied commercially for two years,^[2] and all pesticide business licences expire on March 31 and must be renewed each year.^[2]

Who is allowed on the truck

The people doing the spraying need credentials too. Anyone who uses pesticides on someone else's property for pay is a for-hire commercial applicator and must work for a company with a pesticide business licence.^[3] Crew members may instead be registered technicians. Registered technicians have not completed commercial certification but can apply general-use pesticides without supervision,^[3] while they must be supervised by a commercial applicator to apply restricted-use products.^[3][5]

Certification is by category. Virginia's turf pest control subcategory covers applicators who use pesticides in maintaining turf, including residential lawns.^[4] When a company tells you its applicator is certified, it is reasonable to ask in which category.

Fertilizer: a permit and a certified applicator

Fertilizer has its own, separate rules. It is unlawful for anyone other than a fertilizer licensee or a licensee's agent to apply fertilizer for profit without a contractor-applicator permit, which carries a $50 annual fee.^[6] Employees of a permit holder do not need their own permit.^[6]

On top of the permit, Contractor-applicators who apply fertilizer commercially must employ or retain a Certified Fertilizer Applicator and apply at rates, times and methods consistent with Virginia's nutrient management standards.^[8] Trained crew members may apply under the control of a Certified Fertilizer Applicator who does not have to be on site, but untrained workers need direct on-site supervision.^[8] Certification comes from completing approved training, is valid for four years, and requires two hours of coursework every two years.^[9]

Larger operators carry reporting duties as well. Companies that fertilize more than 50 acres of nonagricultural land a year must also report their acreage by zip code to VDACS by February 1.^[7][9] The state can impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000 on a contractor-applicator who does not comply with the fertilizer regulations.^[7]

How to check a company in five minutes

You do not have to take a salesperson's word for any of this. VDACS posts downloadable lists of certified commercial applicators and registered technicians and of licensed pesticide businesses^[11] on its pesticides page. For fertilizer, Virginia law directs VDACS to publish a list of contractor-applicators who have met the fertilizer training requirements and to encourage consumers to check it when hiring,^[10] and the list of certified fertilizer applicators is linked from the VDACS Certified Fertilizer Applicator page.^[9]

Then ask about the work itself. EPA suggests asking any applicator to explain the proposed treatment, including the pests targeted, the active ingredients, how they will be applied and what non-chemical alternatives exist.^[12] EPA also suggests asking for proof of insurance on paper and getting bids from two or three companies, judging value more than price.^[12] A good company will tell you which weeds it is targeting on your lawn and why a treatment is timed when it is. Our guides to getting rid of lawn weeds without killing grass and when to fertilize in Virginia will help you judge whether a proposed schedule makes sense.

Treating your own lawn

These rules are about work done for pay, on the job or in public places. Restricted-use products are the exception: No one may use a restricted-use pesticide without certification or certified supervision,^[5] whoever owns the lawn. For the products sold to homeowners, the label is the rule to follow.

Stop and call a pro if

• A company cannot give you its pesticide business licence or name its certified applicator, or does not appear on the VDACS lists. Keep looking.
• A treatment has damaged your lawn, trees or garden, or you believe pesticide drifted onto your property. Contact the company first. The VDACS Office of Pesticide Services takes pesticide complaints at ops.enf@vdacs.virginia.gov or 804-371-6560.^[11]
• Your lawn needs more than routine feeding and weed control, such as a renovation, drainage repair or grading. That may call for a landscaping contractor as well.

For prices, see what lawn fertilization costs in Virginia. Browse more lawn and landscaping answers, compare fertilization and weed control services, or find lawn businesses around Blacksburg. When you are ready, describe your lawn once and local businesses quote it.