Regulation of pesticide use at the County level is mandated by the California Food and Agricultural Code. The Agricultural Commissioner is under the direction and supervision of the Director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation for the enforcement of State laws and regulations pertaining to pesticide use within the State.

The objective of the program is to protect the public, pesticide applicators, field workers, the environment and agricultural crops from the adverse effects of pesticides resulting from misuse or improper handling. This is accomplished through the regulation of the activities of professional pest control operators, advisors, dealers, private applicators (growers) and other pesticide users County-wide.

Program Elements:

• Regulate the use of restricted and non-restricted pesticides through a detailed permitting and use reporting system
• Regulate activities of licensed agricultural and structural pest control operators and private applicators
• Investigate pesticide illness and crop loss episodes
• Enforce worker safety laws and regulations, including field worker safety
• Conduct pesticide application, mix/load and equipment inspections
• Audit records of growers, pest control operators, dealers and pest control advisors
• Inspect pesticide storage facilities
• Provide pesticide safety instruction and education to pesticide users
• Sample crops for residues
• Assure compliance with pesticide use reporting regulations
• Certify properly rinsed pesticide containers for recycling or disposal

This Department encourages and expects compliance with all laws and regulations governing pesticide use. The Agricultural Commissioner has statutory authority to levy administrative fines for violations of agricultural and structural pesticide use.

As a reminder, all permits expire December 31st of the current year.  You must register your license and/or renew your permit before performing any work in Yolo County.  Permit/Operator ID renewal is to be done by appointment only during normal operating hours.  If you have a current year permit, your reminder will be mailed to you the middle of October and we will be making appointments to start the renewal process starting November 15th.  You must bring your valid Private Applicator Card or QAL/QAC card along with you to renew the permit.  If you need to take the test to update your Private Applicator Card, please notify us at the time the appointment for renewal is made.  Thank you.

Visit our permit and licensing page for more information.

Or go to our Forms and Handouts page for copies of pesticide use documents produced by our office.

Rice information

• Rice Pesticide Drift Control Requirements
• Seepage Management

For more information on documents we produce in our office regarding Rice Conditions, please go to our Forms and Handouts page.

DPR's  new "Community Guide to Recognizing and Reporting Pesticide Problems" is now available online

• The complete "Community Guide to Recognizing and Reporting Pesticide Problems" (PDF, 1.5MB)
• Excerpt - Pesticide Emergencies (PDF, 134 kb)
• Excerpt - Using Pesticides in California (PDF, 317 kb)
• Excerpt - Pesticide Drift (PDF, 191 kb)
• Excerpt - Pesticide Odor (PDF, 197 kb)
• Excerpt - Reporting Pesticide Incidents and Illnesses (PDF, 224 kb)
• Excerpt - What are the Potential Health Effects of Pesticides? (PDF, 136 kb)
• Excerpt - Incident Notes (form for recording notes on an incident) (PDF, 67 kb)

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