- You do not need the license to apply pesticides on property you own, lease or operate.
- For structural pest control (categories 7A, 7B and 7C), at least one certified applicator needs two years of practical experience under a certified applicator, within the last three years.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. Licenses expire December 31, or when your liability policy ends. Renewals after January 1 pay a 20 percent late penalty.
Do you need a state license in Delaware?
Delaware licenses pest control work at the state level through the Delaware Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Management Section. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
You do not need the license to apply pesticides on property you own, lease or operate.
Delaware license types for pest control work
Delaware splits the work into 2 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Category 7 | Pest control in and around homes, food handling places, schools, hospitals, warehouses and other structures |
| Category 3 | Ornamental and turf pest control: trees, shrubs, flowers and turf |
Steps to get licensed in Delaware
- Become a certified commercial applicator in your categories, with the two years of experience structural work needs.
- Get liability insurance that meets the state minimums.
- Apply online, mark your categories, get the application notarized and pay the fees.
- Register your employees who handle pesticides.
- Renew before December 31 each year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. For structural pest control (categories 7A, 7B and 7C), at least one certified applicator needs two years of practical experience under a certified applicator, within the last three years.
The license to apply for. Pesticide Business License, Category 7 (industrial, institutional, structural and health related pest control).
Delaware pest control exams
Trade exam. Become a certified commercial applicator in each category of pest control you will do.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Delaware
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: Delaware Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Management Section.
Insurance and bond
Insurance. General liability insurance with completed operations coverage: at least $300,000 bodily injury and $100,000 property damage per occurrence.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Licenses expire December 31, or when your liability policy ends. Renewals after January 1 pay a 20 percent late penalty.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Delaware
- Mark service vehicles with the business name and license number, 2 to 6 inches high.
- Every employee who applies or handles pesticides must be registered, after an approved training program done within 45 days of hire.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for pest control near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Delaware Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Management Section and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how pest control companies run on Koira.