LC/PA Licensure Q&A Page
Limited commercial and public applicators are defined in C.R.S. 35-10-103 of the Pesticide Applicators’ Act.
"Limited commercial applicator" means any person engaged in applying pesticides in
the course of conducting a business other than the production of any agricultural commodity;
except that such application shall be only in or on property owned or leased by the person or the
person's employer.
"Public applicator" means any agency of the state, any county, city, and county, ormunicipality, or any other local governmental entity or political subdivision which applies pesticides.
A business license is not required for limited commercial or public applicators. However, those entities that apply restricted use pesticides (RUP) are required to register with the Department and meet all of the same standards as a commercial pesticide applicator.
- Who must register as a limited commercial pesticide applicator?
If your business uses restricted use pesticides (RUP) on a property you own or lease, in the course of (non-agricultural) business, a limited commercial applicator registration is required.
All registration submission requirements are similar to those for commercial applicator businesses, although the fee is $50/year and there is no liability insurance requirement. [link to application] Limited commercial entities that only apply general use pesticides (GUP) can voluntarily register with the Department if they choose to. Once registered you must meet all business requirements and would be subject to inspection.
- Who must register as a public pesticide applicator?
Any agency of the state, any county, city, and county, or municipality, or any other local governmental entity or political subdivision that uses restricted use pesticides (RUP) must register as a public pesticide applicator.
All registration submission requirements are similar to those for commercial applicator businesses, although the fee is $50/year, no submission from the Secretary of State is required and there is no liability insurance requirement.
Any state public entities that only apply general use pesticides (GUP) can voluntarily register with the Department if they choose to. Once registered you must meet all business requirements and would be subject to inspection. CDA does not register any federal public entities.
- Are there requirements for non-registered limited commercial or public applicators?
Yes, in accordance with C.R.S. 35-10-109, non-registered limited commercial and public applicators must ensure that owners or designated employees that apply general use pesticides must be trained in core pesticide use, as outlined in Part 16 of the Rules. meet basic training requirements for certain applicators – for the owner or the owner’s representative of a limited commercial applicator, and for most applicators employed by a public applicator.
- Am I required to notify the department of licensed applicators working for my business?
Yes. Commercial applicators are required to notify the Department and link any employee holding an individual license (qualified supervisor or certified operator) within 15 days of their hire date or release from employment.
The form must be signed by both an authorized business representative and the individual licensee.
- How long does it take to process my application?
Processing normally takes up to five business days after receipt by CDA. To check on the status of your license in process you can contact Commercial Applicator Licensing Administrator at commercialapplicator@state.co.us.
- How long is my registration good for?
Limited Commercial and Public Applicator registrations are good for the calendar year. Licenses issued in the middle of the calendar year are not pro-rated and expire on December 31st of each year.
- How do I renew my license?
It is the businesses responsibility to renew their license. As a courtesy, CDA generally mails a renewal application each November, but if this is not received, contact the Department at (303) 869-9066 or commercialapplicator@state.co.us to request a renewal application.
The application form can be found here.
- What about record-keeping?
Your business must comply with the record-keeping requirements outlined in C.R.S. 35-10-111 of the Colorado Pesticide Applicators’ Act (PAA), and Part 6 of the Rules associated with the Act.
- What if I employ non-licensed technicians?
Non-licensed technicians, or “Applicator Technicians” are required to be trained in accordance with the Technician Training requirements outlined in Part 5 of the Rules associated with the Pesticide Applicators’ Act. “Applicator technician” means a technician whose job includes the use of pesticides.
You are responsible for maintaining complete and accurate training records of all applicator technicians employed. Applicator technician training must meet the minimum standards outlined in Part 5 of the Rules for the specific pest management category(s) they conduct pesticide applications in. An applicator technician, once trained, can only make General Use Pesticide (GUP) applications under the supervision of a licensed qualified supervisor (QS) that holds the specific licensure category; and restricted use pesticide (RUP) applications under the direct on-site supervision of a QS that holds the specific licensure category.
Technician training requirements and record keeping forms can be found here.
- Does my business have an obligation to notify persons listed on the pesticide-sensitive registry of my pesticide applications?
Commercial pesticide applicators licensed in the Turf, Ornamental and certain Structural Pest Control categories are required, pursuant to C.R.S. 35-10-112, to notify persons on the PSR when making applications to properties that abut the PSR person’s property or that they reside on.
Applicators must take reasonable actions to give notice of the date and approximate time of each pesticide application, prior to the application, to any person who resides on a property which abuts the property to be treated or resides on the property to be treated and whose name is on the published registry.
Notification must include the address or location of the property to be treated. An applicator may meet this requirement by making not less than two attempts to notify any owner or tenant who is on the registry. Such attempts shall be made as early as practicable but not later than twenty-four hours before the application.
Notice may be by any method, including telephone,mailor personal notification. If attempts at notification by the applicator fail, and a pesticide application are necessary, the commercial applicator shall attempt to notify the resident in person immediately prior to the application. Notice of the application and attempts at notification shall be placed on the door of the person requesting notification if all notification attempts fail.
The PSR notification requirements also apply to Registered Limited Commercial and Registered Public Applicators that hold these pest management categories.
For more information on the PSR.
- Is my business subject to inspection by the Department?
Yes, C.R.S. 35-10-119 provides the Department the authority to conduct inspections of your business premises, equipment, and records. Each new licensee should expect an inspection during their first year of business.
On-going licensees are inspected on a rotating basis, but on average about every three years. Routine office inspections conducted at your business location include, but are not limited to; a review of your licensing credentials for the pest categories you are conducting business in, a review of your application records, training records, pesticide storage, and equipment. The Department may also conduct field inspections. During these inspections, a CDA inspector will monitor a pesticide application, verify that all required PPE is being used, that all application equipment is in good working order and conduct a label review.