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Pesticide Use Enforcement
Back to Home PageThe Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) regulates pesticides under a comprehensive program that encompasses enforcement of pesticide use in agricultural and urban environments. DPR oversees a multi-tiered enforcement infrastructure and is vested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with primary responsibility to enforce federal pesticide laws in California. DPR directs and oversees the County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs) who carry out and enforce federal and state pesticide and environmental laws and regulations at the local level.
The Structural Pest Control Board, within the State Department of Consumer Affairs, administers licensing of structural pest control businesses and structural applicators. The CACs carry out local enforcement activities for structural pest control applications.
The Department of Public Health (DPH) oversees the activities of local vector control agencies. DPR, the CACs, and DPH designate and carry out responsibilities regarding vector control practices for public health/mosquito abatement under a memorandum of understanding.
About pesticide enforcement
- Enforcement authority – Federal and state pesticide laws and regulations
- County implementation and oversight of California’s pesticide enforcement activities
- Planning and improvement – Initiatives, evaluations, and reports to gain and measure compliance
Information for:
- County agricultural commissioners
- Employers, pesticide users, and others in the regulated community
- General public
Related links
- How to file a complaint
- Contact DPR
- DPR Enforcement Branch regional offices (PDF, 117 kb)
- Drift from pesticides
- Pesticide Use Enforcement Program Standards Compendium
- Residue monitoring provides food safety data and reports
- Structural Pest Control Board, Department of Consumer Affairs, regulates businesses and professionals that apply pesticides to structures
- UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
- U.S. - Mexico Border Project
- Vector control, Division of Communicable Disease Control, Department of Public Health
For content questions, contact:
Roy Rutz
1001 I Street, PO Box 4015
Sacramento, California 95814-4015
E-mail: rrutz@cdpr.ca.gov