Application Of The Chapter - Structural Pest Control Operators - CA Business And Professions

Section § 8550

This law says that you must have a license to advertise, work, or offer to work in structural pest control. However, if you're not licensed, you can still promote pest control services for a licensed company, but only by introducing clients, handing out flyers, or making appointments. You can't do any actual pest control work or give advice or quotes on pest control unless you're licensed. It's also illegal for any businesses to offer pest control services without proper registration.

(a) It is unlawful for any person to advertise, to engage in, or offer to engage in the business or practice of structural pest control, as defined in Section 8505, unless he or she is licensed under this chapter.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), an unlicensed person may solicit pest control work on behalf of a structural pest control company only if the company is registered pursuant to this chapter, and the unlicensed individual does not perform or offer to perform any act for which an operator, field representative, or applicator license is required pursuant to this chapter. As used in this subdivision, to “solicit pest control work” means to introduce consumers to a registered company and the services it provides, to distribute advertising literature, and to set appointments on behalf of a licensed operator or field representative.

(c) It is unlawful for an unlicensed person, soliciting pest control work on behalf of a registered structural pest control company pursuant to subdivision (b), to perform or offer to perform any act for which an operator, field representative, or applicator license is required, including, but not limited to, performing or offering pest control evaluations or inspections, pest identification, making any claims of pest control safety or pest control efficacy, or to offer price quotes other than what is provided and printed on the company advertising or literature, or both.

(d) It is also unlawful for any unlicensed person to offer any opinion, or to make any recommendations, concerning the need for structural pest control work in general, or in connection with a particular structure.

(e) It is unlawful for any firm, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, or other organization or combination thereof to engage or offer to engage in the practice of structural pest control, unless registered in accordance with Article 6 (commencing with Section 8610).

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(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 572, Sec. 9. (SB 1481) Effective January 1, 2019.)

Section § 8551

This law makes it illegal for someone who doesn't have a proper license to use dangerous chemicals for fumigation in places where the public might be, like hotels, apartment buildings, or similar locations.

It is unlawful for any unlicensed person to perform fumigation with dangerous or lethal fumigating chemicals in any public structure, including rooming houses, or households when used as public structures, hotels, apartment houses, or any part thereof.

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(Amended by Stats. 1945, Ch. 1027.)

Section § 8551.5

If you're working for a company that deals with pesticides and you're not licensed yet, you can only apply certain pesticides under Branches 2 or 3 for the first 90 days of your job. During this time, you must be supervised on-site by someone who is licensed. This 90-day rule strictly cannot be extended.

Except as provided in this chapter, an unlicensed individual in the employ of a registered company shall not apply any pesticides included in Branch 2 or Branch 3. However, an individual may, for 90 days from the date of employment, apply pesticides for the purposes of training under the direct supervision of a licensed field representative or operator employed by the company. This direct supervision means in the presence of the licensed field representative or operator at all times. The 90-day time period may not be extended.

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(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 560, Sec. 16. (SB 1244) Effective January 1, 2015.)

Section § 8552

You can't say that pest control work has been done on a building unless a registered company actually did the work, unless there's a specific rule in this chapter that says otherwise.

It is unlawful for any person to advertise or represent in any manner that any pest control work, in whole or in part, has been done upon any structure, unless the work has been performed by a registered company, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

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(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 430, Sec. 36. (AB 181) Effective January 1, 2016.)

Section § 8553

This law says that if you break any rule in this chapter, or if you plan with someone else to break a rule, you're committing a misdemeanor. You could be fined between $50 and $5,000, go to county jail for up to six months, or face both a fine and jail time.

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, or who conspires with another person to violate any provision of this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and is punishable by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

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(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 572, Sec. 10. (SB 1481) Effective January 1, 2019.)

Section § 8554

If someone operates as a pest control operator in California without a proper license, they can't sue in court to get paid for their work. This rule also applies to businesses like firms or corporations involved in pest control; they need to be duly registered. However, if a suspension or revocation happened, but the board allowed them to work, they can still sue for payment.

No individual engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of an operator may bring or maintain an action in any court of this state for the collection of compensation for the performance of any act or contract without alleging and proving that he or she was a duly licensed operator at all times during the performance of such act or contract.

No firm, partnership, corporation, association or other organization or combination thereof engaged in the practice of structural pest control may bring or maintain an action in any court of this state for the collection of compensation for the performance of any act or contract without alleging and proving that it was a duly registered company at all times during the performance of the act or contract.

Nothing herein shall prohibit the bringing or maintaining an action for the collection of compensation in the event of a suspension or revocation of a license or company registration by the board, if the order of suspension or revocation authorized the performance of the act or work, compensation for which the action is brought or maintained.

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(Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 1348, Sec. 32. Operative January 1, 1987, by Sec. 97 of Ch. 1348.)

Section § 8555

This section outlines who is not covered by the regulations in this chapter. It doesn't apply to public utilities regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, unless they're working on properties outside that jurisdiction. It also excludes those in agricultural pest control with proper permits, people handling pests on their own property (with some restrictions), government employees doing their jobs, educational and research representatives while doing research or preparing expert opinions, architects and engineers working professionally (with some limitations), and those capturing and removing certain animals like bats or raccoons without pesticides, as long as they have the required insurance. However, it doesn't cover mice, rats, or pigeons and doesn't exempt them from certain wildlife laws.

This chapter does not apply to:

(a) Public utilities operating under the regulations of the Public Utilities Commission, except to work performed upon property of the utilities not subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission or work done by the utility for hire.

(b) Persons engaged only in agricultural pest control work under permit or license by the Department of Pesticide Regulation or a county agricultural commissioner.

(c) Pest control performed by persons upon property that they own, lease or rent, except that the persons shall be subject to the limitations imposed by Article 3 of this chapter.

(d) Governmental agencies, state, federal, city, or county officials, and their employees while officially engaged.

(e) Authorized representatives of an educational institution or state or federal agency engaged in research or study of pest control, or engaged in investigation or preparation for expert opinion or testimony. A professional engaging in research, study, investigation, or preparation for expert opinion or testimony on his or her own behalf shall comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(f) Certified architects and registered civil engineers, acting solely within their professional capacity, except that they shall be subject to the limitations imposed by Article 3 of this chapter.

(g) Persons engaged in the live capture and removal or exclusion of vertebrate pests, bees, or wasps from a structure without the use of pesticides, provided those persons maintain insurance coverage as described in Section 8692. “Vertebrate pests” include, but are not limited to, bats, raccoons, skunks, and squirrels, but do not include mice, rats, or pigeons. This section does not exempt a person from the provisions of Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code.

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(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 718, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1996.)

Section § 8556

This law allows licensed contractors in California to remove and replace parts of a building damaged by wood-destroying pests if it's part of other ongoing work or if noted in a pest inspection report. They can apply wood preservatives to certain areas like end cuts of wood and fencing without needing a special pest control license, but must inform customers about contacting pest control companies for infestations. However, contractors cannot perform specific pest control activities outlined in another law section. Additionally, while contractors can arrange for soil treatments to tackle pests affecting buildings, only registered pest control companies can actually perform the treatments.

(a) Licensed contractors acting in their capacity as such, may remove and replace any structure or portions of a structure damaged by wood destroying pests or organisms if that work is incidental to other work being performed on the structure involved or if that work has been identified by a structural pest control inspection report. Licensed contractors acting in their capacity as such may apply wood preservatives directly to end cuts and drill holes of pressure treated wood, and to foundation wood as required by building codes, as well as to fencing and decking, by brush, dip, or spray method and need not obtain a license under this chapter for performance of that work, provided a disclosure in the following form is submitted to the customer in writing: “The application of a wood preservative is intended to prevent the establishment and flourishing of organisms which can deteriorate wood. If you suspect pest infestation or infection, contact a registered structural pest control company prior to the application of a wood preservative.”

These exemptions do not authorize the performance of any other acts defined in Section 8505.

(b) A licensed contractor may contract for the performance of any soil treatment pest control work to eliminate, exterminate, control, or prevent infestations or infections of pests or organisms in the ground beneath or adjacent to any existing building or structure or in or upon any site upon which any building or structure is to be constructed, but the actual performance of any such work must be done by a registered structural pest control company.

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(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 983, Sec. 10.4. Effective January 1, 2000.)

Section § 8557

This law states that local governments in California, such as cities and counties, cannot stop a person or group from doing business if they have a license or certification from the relevant state board that authorizes them to work in that field.

No city, county, or city and county shall prohibit a person or group of persons, authorized by the board by a license, certificate, or other such means under this chapter to engage in a particular business, from engaging in that business, occupation, or profession or any portion thereof as authorized in this chapter.

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(Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 99, Sec. 1. (AB 417) Effective January 1, 2012.)