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Publication #PI6

Posting of Lawn and Ornamental Pesticide Applications 1

O. Norman Nesheim2

This document details the posting requirements for pesticide applications made to lawns and ornamental plants in Florida.

Background

Florida law requires pesticide applicators to post notices of pesticide applications they make to lawns and exterior foliage (ornamental plantings) when these are part of the landscape around a building. This requirement is in the Florida Structural Pest Control Law (Chapter 482 F.S.), which is administered by the Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). The posting requirement applies to pesticide applications made by the following licensed applicators:

  • Commercial Pest Control Operators—Lawn and Ornamental Category.

  • Commercial Pest Control Operators—General Household Pest Control category, when a pesticide application is made to a lawn or exterior foliage to control certain household pests associated with the structure being treated.

  • Limited Certification—Lawn and Ornamental Category.

  • Limited Certification—Structural, when a pesticide application is made to a lawn or ornamentals to control certain household pests associated with the structure being treated.

  • Limited Certification—Commercial Landscape Maintenance.

The posting requirement does not apply to:

  • Pesticide applications made to golf courses, parks, athletic fields, and cemeteries. The Florida Pesticide Law (Chapter 487 F.S.) regulates pesticide application on these sites.

  • Pesticide applications made by homeowners to the lawn and ornamentals associated with their residence.

Specific Posting Requirements

1.The notice must be posted in a conspicuous location at the time of the application of the pesticide to a lawn or exterior foliage. The figure shown represents the required physical makeup of the notice.

2.The minimum size of the sign is 4" x 5". It must be constructed of rigid, durable, weatherproof material with the background and lettering in contrasting colors. The size of print and symbol must be in conformity with the example in Figure 1.

3.The business name of the licensee or the name of the limited certificate holder making the pesticide application must be clearly identified on the notice.

4.The notice may be a part of a larger sign containing additional information.

Figure 1. 

Footnotes

1.

This document is PI-6, one of a series of the Pesticide Information Office, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. For additional Information, contact the Pesticide Information Office, University of Florida, P. O. Box 110710, Gainesville, Fl 32611-0710, (352) 392-4721. Published as AS596: August 1992. Revised: December 2004. Reviewed May 2009. Please visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu

2.

O. Norman Nesheim, Ph.D., professor and pesticide coordinator, Pesticide Information Office, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611-0710.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.