Top 4 Best Pest Control Companies in Marin County, California (Updated 2026)

Who licenses pest control companies in California

The Structural Pest Control Board regulates structural pest control in California. The Board describes the field as the control of household pests, including rodents, vermin and insects, and of wood destroying pests and organisms.

Under Business and Professions Code section 8550, a person may not advertise or practice structural pest control without a license, and a business may not practice it unless the business is registered with the Board. Section 8610 adds that each registered company must name a qualifying manager who holds an operator's license in every branch of pest control the company works in.

Other pest control licensing sits with a different agency. The Department of Pesticide Regulation licenses pest control businesses and maintenance gardener pest control businesses. That department states that people and businesses doing structural pest control for hire are licensed by the Structural Pest Control Board instead. Garden and yard companies are listed under landscapers.

The three branches and three license types

The Board splits the work into three branches, set out on its licensing page.

The Board issues three license types to individuals.

None of the three may contract for pest control work on their own behalf.

How to check a pest control license

1. Open the Department of Consumer Affairs License Search and select the Structural Pest Control Board under boards and bureaus.
2. Search by first or last name, business name, license type or license number.
3. Read the record. It shows if a license is current, expired or has been subject to disciplinary action.

Cancelled licenses and registrations do not appear in the results. For those, the Board asks people to call (916) 561-8704.

Complaints go to the Board through its online complaint page. A complaint must be filed within two years of the act, or within four years for fraud, gross negligence or misrepresentation. The Board states that it has no authority over payment disputes between consumers and licensees.

Wood destroying pest inspection reports

Under Business and Professions Code section 8516, a company may not start work on a contract, or issue any document giving an opinion on the presence or absence of wood destroying pests or organisms, until a licensed Branch 3 field representative or operator, employed by a registered company, has inspected. The written report goes to the person who ordered it and to the property owner, or the owner's agent, within 10 business days from the start of the inspection. It must be delivered before work begins.

The statute lists what the report must contain, including:

1. A diagram of the structure that shows the approximate location of infested or infected areas.
2. Conditions likely to lead to infestation, such as earth to wood contact, excessive moisture and insufficient ventilation.
3. Areas that were inaccessible or not inspected.
4. Recommendations for corrective measures.
5. A statement on whether the exterior surface of the roof was inspected. If it was not, the report refers the reader to a roofing contractor licensed by the Contractors State License Board. Those are listed under roofers.

The report form must separate infestation or infection that is evident from conditions that are only deemed likely to lead to it. Every report must also carry a printed notice that you have a right to seek a second opinion from another company.

A pest report is not a home inspection. The home inspectors page explains the difference.

The Board's WDO property address search shows if an inspection was completed at a California address within the last two years. If the search finds the property, the Board accepts written requests for copies of the inspection reports.

The pesticide notice before treatment

Business and Professions Code section 8538 requires a registered company to give clear written notice to the owner, or the owner's agent, and to the tenant if there is one. The notice must state:

1. The pest to be controlled.
2. The pesticide or pesticides proposed and the active ingredients.
3. A state caution statement, with numbers for the company, the county health department, the county agricultural commissioner and the Structural Pest Control Board.
4. How often treatment will take place, if there is a contract for periodic service.

For a Branch 1 fumigation, the notice is due at least 48 hours before application, unless fumigation follows the inspection by less than 48 hours. For Branch 2 and Branch 3 work, it is due before application.

County offices are on the Marin County government and services page. Pest control is one of the trades in the home services section of this directory.

Who licenses pest control companies in California?

The Structural Pest Control Board, part of the Department of Consumer Affairs, licenses people and registers companies that do structural pest control for hire. The Department of Pesticide Regulation states that these businesses are licensed not by that department but by the Board. The Board's licensing line is (916) 561-8704.

Does a pest control company need a license in California?

Yes. Business and Professions Code section 8550 makes it unlawful to advertise, engage in or offer structural pest control without a license. It is also unlawful for a firm, partnership, corporation or sole proprietorship to practice structural pest control unless it is registered with the Structural Pest Control Board.

How do I check a pest control license in California?

Use the Department of Consumer Affairs License Search and select the Structural Pest Control Board. You can search by first or last name, business name, license type or license number. Each record shows if a license is current, expired or has been subject to disciplinary action. Cancelled licenses and registrations do not appear in the results.

How do I file a complaint against a pest control company in California?

File it with the Structural Pest Control Board through its online complaint form. Under Business and Professions Code section 8621, a complaint must be filed within two years of the act or omission. The limit is four years in a matter involving fraud, gross negligence or misrepresentation. The Board has no authority over payment disputes.

Who can do a termite inspection in California?

Under Business and Professions Code section 8516, a company may not issue any document giving an opinion on the presence or absence of wood destroying pests or organisms until an inspection has been made by a licensed Branch 3 field representative or operator employed by a registered company. A written report is due within 10 business days.

Does a pest control company have to tell me what pesticide it will use?

Yes. Business and Professions Code section 8538 requires a registered company to give the owner, or the owner's agent, and any tenant a clear written notice. The notice names the pest to be controlled, the pesticide or pesticides proposed and their active ingredients. It also carries a state caution statement and contact numbers.