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Restricted Materials Use Requirements

Restricted materials are pesticides deemed to have a higher potential to cause harm to public health, farm workers, domestic animals, honeybees, the environment, wildlife, or other crops compared to other pesticides. With certain exceptions, restricted materials may be purchased and used only by or under the supervision of a certified commercial or private applicator under a permit issued by the County Agricultural Commissioner (CAC).

Certification and licensing of commercial pesticide applicators falls to the Department of Pesticide Regulation while certification of private applicators is carried out by the CACs.

California requires permits for restricted materials so that the local CAC can assess, in advance, the potential effects of the proposed application on health and the environment. Permits are time- and site- specific, and include use practices to reduce adverse effects. The CAC may deny permits or require feasible alternatives to be used.

          The Permit Process for Restricted Pesticides (PDF, 122 kb) – a four-page handout describing restricted materials permits and the appeal process.

Certification

• Licensing and certification program – DPR’s program is responsible for examining and licensing qualified applicators, aircraft pilots, pest control dealer designated agents, and agricultural pest control advisers; and for certifying pesticide applicators who use or supervise the use of restricted pesticides.
  • Commercial applicators
  • Laws governing private applicator certification – Private applicators are certified by the County Agricultural Commissioner. Contact the local CAC where you intend to conduct business operations. (Food and Agricultural Code section 14090 et seq) (Opens in new window)
  • Regulations governing private applicator certification (3 CCR section 6580 et seq) (Opens in new window)

Permitting

• Restricted Materials and Permitting (Volume 3, Pesticide Use Enforcement Program Standards Compendium)
• Laws governing restricted materials (Food and Agricultural Code section 14001 et seq) (Opens in new window)
• Regulations governing the restricted materials program (Title 3, California Code of Regulations, Division 6, Section 6400 et seq)
• About the restricted materials program, (PDF, 48 kb), excerpted from Regulating Pesticides: The California Story-A Guide to Pest Regulation in California (2001)
• A History of the Listing of Pesticides as Restricted Materials in California (PDF, 23 kb ) (1997 report)

Permit Appeals

• Restricted Materials Permit Review (PDF, 24 kb) – Describes permit evaluation and review; due process; and grounds for refusal, revocation, and suspension of a restricted materials permit
• Laws governing permit review (Scroll to Food and Agricultural Code section 14009) (Opens in new window)
• Regulations governing permit review

Restricted material lists

• California Restricted Materials Requirements (PDF, 24 kb)
• Pesticides approved for Section 18 emergency exemptions (Use requires permit)
  • About Section 18s
• Federal restricted use pesticides (Only persons with specific training can use these products. However, unless they are also on DPR’s restricted list, no permit is required.) (Opens in new window)
• Search for Pesticide Products Registered as Restricted Materials

Related links

• Compliance assistance information for employers
• County agricultural commissioner directory California Department of Food and Agriculture page (names, addresses, telephone numbers and web sites) (Opens in new window)
• Regulations to reduce VOCs by controlling field fumigant emissions

For content questions contact:
Roy Rutz
1001 I Street, PO Box 4015
Sacramento, California 95814-4015
E-mail: rrutz@cdpr.ca.gov