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Pesticides

The Colorado Department of Agriculture's Pesticides Program regulates the distribution and use of pesticides in the state to prevent adverse impacts to the public and the environment.

Update: We now have an online applicator search for looking up Licensed Commercial Applicators, Registered Limited Commercial Applicators, Registered Public Applicators and Licensed Qualified Supervisors, Certified Operators and Private Applicators. Please use the link below to access the search.

**New** Pesticide Applicator Search

The Department is in the process of updating our applicator records to capture business and individual applicator e-mail contact information.  This information will be used for future electronic communications to keep licensed applicators up-to-date with Departmental news, rule changes, new procedural implementations, licensure notifications/correspondence and needs for the licensed community.

          Add/Update your Email Address and Contact Info for your Applicator Business and Individual License Here

 

The Pesticide Applicator Certification and Training Program has moved all of our forms to a digital platform. All Licensing and Registration applications and forms should be submitted through our Pesticide Applicator Online Portal: 

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myColorado Opt-in

Your Qualifed Supervisor, Certified Operator and Private Applicator Licenses are now available digitally through the myColorado App.

When you apply for a new license or renew your existing license there will be options for your digital license or you can Opt-in at anytime using the "myColorado Opt-In" link above.

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The Pesticides Program has the following main areas of focus:

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Pesticide Enforcement

This program investigates alleged misuse of pesticides and takes appropriate enforcement actions based on evidence that reflects that violations have occurred.

Pesticide Enforcement Actions

ACCESS TO FINALIZED ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS PURSUANT TO C.R.S.  § 35-10-124: Effective July 1, 2015, the Department must post specific information concerning enforcement actions taken against users of pesticides.  This table contains the name of the person or entity found to be in violation of the act, the city or county where the violation occurred, the nearest major intersection to where the violation occurred, the resulting enforcement action issued by the Department and the date the Department issued that action.

If an entry appears to be missing a case number, then that entry reflects an enforcement action that came about as a result of some form of inspection, or sufficient information was immediately available and therefore an investigation was not warranted.

Under C.R.S., §§35-10-120 through 123, the Department may impose the following Civil Enforcement Actions:

  • CDO- Cease and Desist Order
  • LOA- Letter of Admonition
  • STIP- Stipulated Agreement
  • CIV- Civil Penalty
  • FAO- Final Agency Order

File a Complaint

To file a complaint of pesticide misuse, please use the link below.

Pesticides Complaint Form

Pesticides In Or Near Waterways - NPDES Info
New Bed Bug Reporting Requirements for Commercial Pesticide Applicators

During the 2019 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly introduced House Bill 19-1328, which amended Title 38, Article 12, Tenants and Landlords, concerning bed bugs in residential premises and it established a requirement for commercial pesticide applicators, Qualified Supervisors or Certified Applicators to notify landlords and tenants of bed bug activity and provide remediation instructions.   HB 19-1328 goes into effect on January 1, 2020. 

Notification provisions created in HB 19-1328, affecting commercial pesticide applicators, expressly state that notification and reporting will be in accordance with Rules established by the commissioner pursuant to Title 35, Article 10.  Therefore the CDA Pesticides Program is in the process of amending its Rules to add a new Part 10.08(a) and (b) to establish what bed bug activity must be reported to the landlord and what remediation recommendations must be provided to the tenant. 

The proposed Rules will be published in the Colorado Registry on September 25, 2019.  Once finalized, the new Rules will go into effect on December 30, 2019.  Compliance with the new reporting provision is not required until January 1, 2020.  

To read HB 19-1328 in its entirety.

If you have any questions regarding this proposed Rule, please contact John Scott, Pesticides Program Section Chief at 303-869-9056.

Dicamba Training Information

In 2017, due to damage caused by dicamba drift and/or volatilization reported throughout the Southeastern and Midwestern U.S., it was determined that additional application and training restrictions needed to be in place for post-emergent dicamba use in 2018.

On October 13th, 2017, EPA issued a press release announcing that the agency had come to an agreement with Monsanto, Dupont and BASF to allow the continued use of certain dicamba herbicides for post-emergent weed control in genetically engineered, dicamba-resistant soybeans and cotton.

EPA worked with dicamba registrants to craft label changes that will be in force in 2018 for post-emergent uses of Dicamba. Registrants have voluntarily agreed to label changes that impose additional requirements for "over the top" (applications to growing plants) use of these products including:

  • Classifying products as "restricted use," permitting only licensed applicators with category-specific training, and those under their supervision, to apply them; 
  • Additional dicamba-specific training for all applicators to reinforce proper use;
  • Requiring applicators to maintain specific records regarding the use of these products to improve compliance with label restrictions;
  • Limiting applications to when maximum wind speeds are below 10 mph (from 15 mph) to reduce potential spray drift;
  • Reducing the times during the day when applications can occur;
  • Including tank clean-out language to prevent cross-contamination; 
  • Enhancing susceptible crop language and record keeping with sensitive crop registries to increase awareness of risk to especially sensitive crops nearby; and
  • A record of the dicamba specific training must be maintained in the applicator’s records. 

On March 15, 2022, the US EPA approved amended labeling for XtendiMax® With VaporGrip® Technology (EPA Reg. No. 264-1210), Engenia® Herbicide (7969-472), and Tavium® Plus VaporGrip® Technology (100-1623).

As part of the new amended labeling, all applicators must check the applicable over-the-top dicamba product-specific website no more than 7 days before application of the product for additional labeling, including state restrictions. Where applicable, applicators must comply with additional requirements found on the applicable product-specific website. Links to both state-specific and collateral labeling can be accessed directly from that website.

Users must follow the label including the requirement to complete dicamba or auxin-specific training prior to making applications for the 2022 season and each growing season thereafter.  

BASF Stewardship: Product -Engenia

EPA OPP Dicamba Training Requirements

Bayer Stewardship: Product-XtendiMax

Other Dicamba Training and Educational Materials

Syngenta Stewardship: Product - Tavium

Pesticide Sensitive Persons Registry

The pesticide sensitive registry is for people who have or can obtain documentation of sensitivity to pesticide products from a licensed Colorado physician.  

To be placed on the registry a certificate must be signed, by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of Colorado, stating that you have a medical condition that makes you sensitive to pesticides. A fillable Physician Certification form can be found here.

The registry does not prevent an application of pesticides but only requires that commercial applicators (like lawn care companies) make at least two attempts to notify people on the registry at least 24 hours before an application is made to an abutting property (property that touches yours) so that you can leave for a period of time or make other preparations. If notification attempts are unsuccessful, the applicator must make a final attempt immediately prior to the application and place a notice on your door.  More details about applying for the Registry can be found in  the Information For Registration of Pesticide Sensitive Persons document. 

The law that outlines the requirements of the Pesticide Sensitive Registry can be found under 35-10-112 of the Pesticide Applicators' Act and in Part 12 of its associated Rules. Both can be accessed through the Home tab above under the Laws, Regulations and Rule hearings link.

Sign up for the Pesticide Sensitive Registry

Please Note: We have moved to an online application form.  You have the option to create an AccessGov account (click "login" in the upper right, you will have options to set up an account or login with a Google or Microsoft account). Creating an account will allow you to track your application and view your history. An account is not required to complete the application.  New to the form is the option to complete your physician’s certification online by providing your doctor's email address; you also have the option to upload the completed PDF physician’s certification as well. Should you have any issues completing the online form please contact pesticidesensitive@state.co.us

Mosquito and Other Public Health Pesticide Applications

Mosquito spraying is a "public health pest control" application performed by city, county or other local authorities or by companies they hire under their local authority to protect the health of the people in the community. The notification requirements of the Pesticide Sensitive Registry do not apply to mosquito or other public health or wide-scale pest control applications.

The pesticide registry maintained by the Colorado Department of Agriculture only requires notification of pesticide sensitive persons for pesticide applications made to control pests of lawns, ornamental trees & shrubs, wood destroying organisms such as termites, and residential, commercial and interior plant pests.

Any notification provided to the public during a public health pest control operation by municipalities and/or commercial applicators is done as a courtesy to those requesting, not because it is a state law requirement.

If you don't want your property included in the spraying you must contact the entity conducting these applications and ask them to exclude your property from the program, if they are able to do that.

If you have questions regarding the date, time or area of an upcoming public health pest control application (i.e.: mosquito control) you should contact your local health department or pest district in charge of such applications.

Commercial Pesticide Applicators

The Pesticide Sensitive Registry (PSR) is sent out annually to all licensed commercial applicators at the beginning of each calendar year. Subsequent updates to the PSR are provided throughout the course of the year.

If your business is not licensed in a category that requires you to notify a person on the PSR and you would like to receive the most recent published Registry you may contact the Department's PSR administrator at any time throughout the year to request an electronic copy.

Please contact Carol Barton at (303) 869-9066 or pesticidesensitive@state.co.us to obtain information on Pesticide Sensitive persons.

Other Topics

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Pesticide Applicators' Act Sunset Review

The Colorado Office of Policy, Research and Regulatory Reform is conducting a sunset review of the regulation of pesticide applicators.  This review will produce a report to the Colorado General Assembly and result in legislation based on the recommendations in the report. Analysis is performed to determine whether the program is necessary and, if it is necessary, whether any changes should be made. Stakeholders are invited to submit any issues, concerns or ideas about the regulation of pesticide applicators to our office. To provide input on this review, please visit COPRRR's website.

Pesticide Safety and Protecting the Environment
Driftwatch

DriftWatch - Pesticide Sensitive Site Viewer

Pesticide News

The Colorado Pesticides News Page is a collection of links to news stories that are relevant to Colorado's Pesticides Program

Proper Use of Disinfectants in the Households and Schools

News from the Environmental Protection Agency

CDC Health Advisory on the Misuse of Pesticides for Bed Bug control

Worker Protection Standards

Worker Protection Standards Revisions

The New Revised Federal Worker Protection Standard How to Comply Manual and Quick Reference Guide

Revisions to the Worker Protection Standards

Resources and Tools for Private Pesticide Applicators

Worker Protection Standards Resources

Updated Questions and Answers on the WPS AEZ

Proper Use of Disinfectants