Lawn pesticide and irrigation rules: who needs a license, by state

Who must be licensed or certified to spray lawns for pay, the states that make lawn care companies post signs or give notice, restricted-use pesticides, state lawn fertilizer rules, and who may install a sprinkler system and its backflow preventer.

Updated November 1, 2026126 official sources

On this page9 sections

1The federal baseline
2Who needs a license to treat lawns for pay
3Notice and signs after a lawn treatment
4Restricted-use pesticides
5Lawn fertilizer rules
6Who may install a sprinkler system
7Backflow preventers
8Rain sensors and smart controllers
9What to ask before work starts

If you hire a lawn care company to spray weeds or bugs, or a contractor to put in a sprinkler system, the state may have a say in who can do the work. Here's what the states we've looked at ask for, with a link to each state's rules page.

The federal baseline

The US Environmental Protection Agency classes pesticides as restricted use or general use. A restricted use pesticide can be used only by a certified applicator or someone under a certified applicator's direct supervision, and it isn't sold to the general public.¹

States issue the certifications. EPA notes that many state pesticide agencies require certification to use any pesticide commercially, whether or not it's a restricted use product.²

Every pesticide label carries the line "It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling." The label sets who may use the product and where, how, how much and how often.³

Who needs a license to treat lawns for pay

Where a state's page says so, the rows below also say whether the rule reaches general use pesticides and whether the business needs a license of its own.

State	What the state asks for
Alabama	Before anyone does or solicits professional work or services under Alabama's professional services law, they need an annual permit from the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries (Ala. Code 2-28-4).⁴ The Department issues its Horticulture Professional Services license to businesses that do or solicit ornamental and turf pest control and have a certified operator who has passed the commercial applicator exam in that category.⁵
Arizona	Pest management includes treating weeds and other pests in lawns and ornamental shrubs and trees (A.R.S. 3-3601). A business doing it needs a pest management business license, and it can't work in a category without a qualifying party registered in that category, ornamental and turf among them (A.R.S. 3-3614, 3-3615, 3-3616). People applying non-restricted use pesticides to residential property they own are exempt (A.R.S. 3-3611).^6-10
Arkansas	Anyone doing pest control for pay must be licensed or certified under the Arkansas Pest Control Law, and that includes treating lawns and turf for insect and weed pests.¹¹
California	A person or business doing pest control for hire needs a pest control business license from the Department of Pesticide Regulation. Its qualified applicator Category B covers maintaining ornamental plants and turf around homes, and a maintenance gardener whose pest control is incidental to the gardening business needs a Maintenance Gardener Pest Control Business License.^12-13
Connecticut	A pesticide application business, lawn services included, needs a Certificate of Registration from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, on top of the individual applicators' certification (Conn. Gen. Stat. 22a-61(a), 22a-66c(a)).¹⁴
District of Columbia	Each place of business that advertises for or conducts pest control in the District must be licensed.¹⁵
Delaware	Applying pesticides to someone else's property for pay needs a pesticide business license from the Department of Agriculture, and to qualify the business needs certified commercial applicators.¹⁶
Florida	It's unlawful to run a pest control business that isn't licensed by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and lawn and ornamental pest control is one of its kinds of pest control (Fla. Stat. 482.021, 482.071). Commercial landscape maintenance workers can hold a limited certification to apply herbicides for weeds in plant beds, driveways, sidewalks and patios and to treat ornamental plants, using products whose label has no signal word or says "caution" (not "warning" or "danger"), with portable handheld equipment and backpack sprayers and no power equipment (Fla. Stat. 482.156).^17-19
Georgia	Anyone in the business of applying pesticides to the lands of another needs a pesticide contractor's license from the Commissioner of Agriculture, with at least one full-time certified commercial applicator licensed in the categories the business works in.²⁰
Idaho	A professional applicator, which includes anyone applying pesticides to another's land or property for pay, needs a professional applicator's license from the Department of Agriculture. Someone using hand-powered equipment to apply pesticides other than restricted-use ones to lawns or ornamental trees and shrubs, with two or fewer employees who apply pesticides, is exempt if they don't hold themselves out as a professional applicator (Idaho Code 22-3401, 22-3404).²¹
Illinois	Anyone who buys, uses or supervises the use of general or restricted use pesticides for hire needs a Commercial Applicator or Commercial Operator license from the Department of Agriculture, and commercial applicators must show proof of insurance.²²
Indiana	Any business that applies restricted use pesticides, general use pesticides or fertilizer to another person's property for hire needs a business license and liability insurance, and must employ at least one licensed for-hire commercial applicator certified in its categories (Senate Enrolled Act 216 of 2024).²³
Iowa	Nobody may be in the business of applying pesticides to the lands or property of another without a license from the Secretary of Agriculture, and commercial applicators have to meet the state's certification requirements (Iowa Code 206.5, 206.6).^24-25
Kansas	A pesticide business can't apply pesticides to the property of another without a pesticide business license, and it isn't issued until the business has certified commercial applicators in each of its categories (K.S.A. 2-2440). Its technicians who apply pesticides for ornamental, turf and other pests must be trained (K.S.A. 2-2440a).^26-27
Kentucky	A business that applies any pesticide to the lands of another counts as a dealer and must register with the Department of Agriculture (KRS 217B.010, 217B.105). Kentucky's applicator category 3 covers applying pesticides or impregnated fertilizer to control insects, weeds and diseases in turf and lawns (302 KAR 26:020).^28-30
Louisiana	Owning or running a business that applies pesticides for a fee takes a license, and its ground applicators must be commercial applicators or work under one's direct supervision (La. R.S. 3:3243).³¹
Massachusetts	Pesticide work for hire with general use pesticides needs an Applicator License from the Department of Agricultural Resources, and using restricted use pesticides for hire needs Commercial Certification (333 CMR 10.06).^32-33
Minnesota	Applying a pesticide for hire needs a commercial applicator license for the right use categories, or a structural pest control license (Minn. Stat. 18B.33).³⁴
Mississippi	A business that solicits and performs pest control services must first get a Company License from the Bureau of Plant Industry. Its categories include horticultural pest control for lawns and ornamental plants and horticultural weed control for ornamentals and turf.³⁵
Montana	Anyone in the business of applying pesticides must get an applicator's license from the Department of Agriculture, and commercial applicators must carry liability insurance.³⁶
Nebraska	People applying general use pesticides to an ornamental and turf site, lawns included, must be licensed when they do it for hire.³⁷
New Hampshire	Nobody may engage in the commercial application of pesticides without a certificate of registration from the Division of Pesticide Control (RSA 430:33), and applicants show proof of insurance unless they're commercial applicators not for hire (Pes 302.03).^38-39
New Jersey	All applicators using restricted use or general use pesticides must be certified and licensed, and commercial applicators include landscapers. Commercial Pesticide Operators, who apply only under a commercial applicator's direct supervision, are licensed but not certified.⁴⁰
New Mexico	Anyone who applies any pesticide for hire, general use pesticides included, is a commercial applicator, and the employees who apply for them are commercial operators or technicians.⁴¹
New York	Each business location offering commercial pesticide application must register with the Department of Environmental Conservation.⁴² DEC's commercial certification categories are for pesticide use on property the applicator doesn't own or lease.⁴³
North Carolina	A Commercial Ground Applicator license is required for anyone applying pesticides, other than by air, for pay on someone else's property, landscapers and lawn care companies included.⁴⁴
North Dakota	A commercial applicator, anyone in the business of applying pesticides for pay, must meet the state's certification requirements before buying or using a pesticide, and a commercial applicator certificate needs proof of financial responsibility (N.D.C.C. 4.1-33-01, 4.1-33-07, 4.1-33-10).⁴⁵
Ohio	Applying pesticides for a pesticide business without direct supervision needs a commercial applicator license from the Director of Agriculture, and owning or running a pesticide business, which includes applying pesticides to someone else's property for hire, needs a pesticide business license (ORC 921.01, 921.06, 921.09).^46-48
Oklahoma	Acting as a commercial applicator takes an applicator's license in the category of work, unless the person is applying to their own property, and commercial application means applying any pesticide for hire (2 O.S. 3-81, 3-82).⁴⁹ A certified applicator, or the applicator's employer, also needs a pesticide business license.⁵⁰
Oregon	A commercial pesticide applicator license holder must work for a business licensed as a commercial pesticide operator in the right categories, and Ornamental and Turf is the category for ornamental plantings and turf.⁵¹
Pennsylvania	A pesticide application business can't operate without a pesticide application business license (7 Pa. Code 128.31), and a commercial applicator has to pass the core and category exams and work for a company with that license.^52-53 Fertilizers with a pesticide in them, such as weed and feed or preemergents, need a pesticide license.⁵⁴
Rhode Island	Anyone applying a pesticide other than a restricted use or state limited use one as a commercial applicator needs a commercial applicator license from the Director of Environmental Management, with an exception for applying on land the applicator or the applicator's employer owns or rents (250-RICR-40-15-2.17).⁵⁵
South Carolina	Anyone who applies restricted use pesticides, or any pesticide in category 3 (ornamental and turf) and several others, to another person's property as part of their job or for pay is a commercial applicator and must be licensed. A separate business license is required only for businesses doing category 7A work (industrial, institutional, structural and health-related pest control).^56-57
South Dakota	Being in the business of applying pesticides to the lands of another takes a commercial applicator's license from the Secretary, unless the chapter exempts the person (SDCL 38-21-17).⁵⁸
Tennessee	A company providing or offering custom pesticide application must have a pest control charter, one for each location. Its Horticulture, Lawn and Turf license covers shrubs, trees and lawns, and applicants must be certified in C03 Ornamental and Turf Pest Control.⁵⁹
Texas	Anyone who applies any pesticide, general use included, to ornamental plants, trees, lawns or weeds for hire must be licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture, with an Agricultural Pesticide license or a Structural Pest Control Service license.⁶⁰
Utah	Applying pesticides commercially takes a Commercial Pesticide Applicator License, and the applicator must work for a business with a Commercial Pesticide Business License. Utah's Ornamental and Turf Technician Permit doesn't give full applicator privileges and strictly limits the applications its holder may make.⁶¹
Virginia	Virginia's turf pest control subcategory is for commercial applicators working on turf, residential lawns included (2VAC5-685-70). A commercial applicator for hire isn't issued an active certificate unless they have, or work for someone who has, a Pesticide Business License.^62-63
Washington	Being in the business of applying pesticides to the land of another takes a commercial pesticide applicator license, and its employees who use or supervise the use of pesticides are commercial pesticide operators (RCW 17.21.020, 17.21.070).^64-65
West Virginia	Applying pesticides for hire takes a pesticide application business license from the Commissioner of Agriculture, and a certified applicator is someone certified to use restricted or general use pesticides for hire (W. Va. Code 19-16A-3, 19-16A-7).^66-67
Wisconsin	A for-hire applicator needs three things before a commercial application: certification in a category, an Individual Commercial Applicator License, and a Pesticide Business License held by the applicator or the employer.⁶⁸
Wyoming	The Department of Agriculture's training page ties the commercial applicator license to restricted use pesticides, while the University of Wyoming Extension's applicator program describes commercial applicators as those using all pesticides, general and restricted, for hire. Ask which Wyoming license your lawn company holds.^69-70

In any other state, ask the lawn company which state pesticide license it holds and look it up with the agency that issued it.

Notice and signs after a lawn treatment

A few states make lawn care companies tell you what they put down and post signs on the lawn.

Illinois Right after treating a lawn, an applicator for hire has to put up a lawn marker at the usual points of entry, saying to stay off the grass until it's dry, and the owner or resident takes it down the next day. At each application the applicator gives the customer each product's name, type and reason for use, how much was applied, any label instructions for using the lawn afterwards, and the applicator's name and number. A neighbor whose property abuts the customer's can ask the company for notice the day before an application (415 ILCS 65/3).⁷¹
Rhode Island Before the first application under a new or renewed agreement, a lawn care applicator gives the homeowner a written list of the pesticides it may use. After each application it leaves a written notice naming the products, and at the time of each application it posts signs at the property's points of access that say to keep them up for 48 hours, or longer if the label says so. A next-door neighbor can ask for 48 hours' notice before each application (250-RICR-40-15-2.23).⁵⁵
Wisconsin Pesticide applications by lawn care businesses must be posted, and the businesses use the state's landscape pesticide registry.⁷²

Restricted-use pesticides

Federal law requires anyone who applies or supervises the use of restricted use pesticides to be certified under EPA regulations and state, territorial and tribal laws.² Some states draw the line there and some go further:

Massachusetts splits the two: general use pesticide work for hire needs an Applicator License, and restricted use pesticide work for hire needs Commercial Certification.³²
Texas, New Mexico, New Jersey and Illinois say in words that their for-hire license covers general use pesticides too (see the table above).
Idaho's exemption for small hand-sprayer lawn businesses doesn't cover restricted use pesticides.²¹

Lawn fertilizer rules

Some states regulate lawn fertilizer apart from pesticides. The rows below cover phosphorus limits, seasonal and pavement bans, and the states that certify the people who apply fertilizer.

State	What the state asks for
Connecticut	No phosphate fertilizer on an established lawn unless a soil test from the previous two years shows the soil lacks phosphorus, or it's for new grass or repairing the lawn with seed or sod. No phosphate fertilizer on any lawn from December 1 to March 15. Agricultural land and golf courses are outside the rule (Conn. Gen. Stat. 22-111yy).⁷³
District of Columbia	People and businesses who fertilize turf for wages must follow the District's fertilizer law's practices and application rates, and they're subject to inspection.⁷⁴
Delaware	People who apply nutrients to land as part of a commercial business, or to 10 or more acres in all, lawns and landscapes included, must be certified by the Nutrient Management program. A Commercial Nutrient Handler, who applies nutrients for a fee, passes an exam and keeps up continuing education.⁷⁵
Florida	Since January 1, 2014, anyone applying commercial fertilizer to an urban landscape must hold the limited certification for urban landscape commercial fertilizer application (Fla. Stat. 482.1562).⁷⁶
Illinois	An applicator for hire can't put phosphorus fertilizer on a lawn unless a soil test from the last 36 months shows the soil lacks it, with exceptions such as 0% phosphate fertilizer and establishing a lawn in its first two growing seasons. It also can't fertilize paved and other hard surfaces (fertilizer that lands there by accident has to be swept or blown back), or frozen or saturated lawns (415 ILCS 65/5a). Applicators for hire must be certified and licensed under the Illinois Pesticide Act before applying lawn care products, fertilizers included (415 ILCS 65/2, 65/4).^77-79
Indiana	Anyone who applies fertilizer for hire must work for a licensed business and be a certified and licensed applicator or a registered technician; fertilizing turf for hire takes the category 3b exam.²³
Maine	A store selling phosphorus fertilizer has to post a state-approved sign saying it isn't appropriate for lawns or turf, except where a soil test shows the lawn needs more phosphorus or the fertilizer is for a new lawn or for reseeding or overseeding one (38 M.R.S. 419).⁸⁰
Maryland	The Department of Agriculture tells anyone hiring a lawn care company to confirm the company's professionals are certified and licensed by the Department, and it keeps a directory of for-hire professional fertilizer applicators.⁸¹
Massachusetts	330 CMR 31.00 limits plant nutrients on lawns and turf, with no application on frozen, snow-covered or saturated soil, and its record keeping rules apply to professional applications, not non-professional ones.⁸²
Michigan	No fertilizer labeled as containing phosphate on turf, except in the cases the law lists, such as a test within the preceding three years showing a deficiency or new turf in its first growing season (MCL 324.8512b).⁸³
Minnesota	No phosphorus fertilizer on turf, except where a test within the last three years shows the soil is short of it, when first establishing turf from seed or sod in its first growing season, or on a golf course under an approved trained person (Minn. Stat. 18C.60).⁸⁴
New Hampshire	No turf fertilizer may go on at more than 3.25 pounds of total nitrogen per 1,000 square feet a year, and the state caps the nitrogen and phosphate in turf fertilizer sold at retail (RSA 431:4-a, 431:4-b).^85-86
New Jersey	A professional fertilizer applicator, anyone who applies fertilizer for hire, can't fertilize turf without a fertilizer application certification, or training if working under a certified applicator's direct supervision (N.J.S.A. 58:10A-63). Rutgers' New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station runs the certification program (N.J.S.A. 58:10A-64).⁸⁷
New York	Nobody may apply phosphorus fertilizer to a lawn, or arrange for someone to by service contract, unless a soil test shows the lawn needs it or the lawn is newly established and in its first growing season. No fertilizer on lawns from December 1 to April 1, and none on paved surfaces (N.Y. Env. Cons. Law 17-2103).⁸⁸
Pennsylvania	Lawn care providers don't need a license or registration to use fertilizer, but they must follow the label and the state's nutrient rate and site rules.⁵⁴ Except as the law provides, each application to turf is capped at 0.7 pounds of readily available nitrogen per 1,000 square feet (3 Pa.C.S. 6813).⁸⁹
Texas	Applicators who apply only fertilizer don't need a Texas Department of Agriculture license.⁶⁰
Vermont	No phosphorus fertilizer on turf unless a soil test from the last 18 months shows a deficiency or it's starter fertilizer for new grass in its first growing season. No fertilizer on pavement, on turf before April 1 or after October 15 or on frozen ground, or within 25 feet of a water of the state (10 V.S.A. 1266b).⁹⁰
Virginia	Licensees and contractor-applicators who fertilize nonagricultural land for commercial purposes must employ or retain a certified fertilizer applicator and apply at rates, times and methods that meet the state's nutrient management standards. Certification takes board-approved training (2VAC5-405-20, 2VAC5-405-30).^91-92
Washington	No turf fertilizer labeled as containing phosphorus on turf, except to establish or repair grass in its first growing season, where a soil test from the last 36 months shows a deficiency, or on the other uses the law lists. Even where an exception applies, that fertilizer can't go on frozen ground, or on purpose on a paved surface (RCW 15.54.500).⁹³
Wisconsin	No phosphorus fertilizer on turf unless you're establishing grass from seed or sod that growing season or a soil test from the last 36 months shows a deficiency. No fertilizer on frozen ground, and none on purpose on paved surfaces (Wis. Stat. 94.643). Applying fertilizer doesn't take applicator certification or licensing.^{72, 94}

Who may install a sprinkler system

State	What the state asks for
Arkansas	The Residential Contractors Committee has a residential specialty for landscaping, irrigation, lawn sprinklers and streams. Among the law's exemptions is home improvement work of $2,000 or less, unless the job is split into separate contracts under $2,000 (Ark. Code 17-25-513).⁹⁵
California	The Contractors State License Board's C-27 Landscaping Contractor builds landscape systems, and its D-12 Synthetic Products class includes PVC irrigation piping and subsurface drip systems.^96-97
Connecticut	The J-3 Limited Lawn Sprinkler Contractor license covers installing, repairing, replacing, altering and maintaining lawn sprinkler systems, and the J-4 is its journeyperson license.⁹⁸
Hawaii	The Contractors License Board has a C-37b Irrigation and lawn sprinkler systems class, and its C-27 Landscaping class includes building sprinkler systems.⁹⁹
Illinois	Every irrigation contractor must register each year with the Department of Public Health, with insurance, a bond or letter of credit, and at least one employee who has passed an approved class in designing and installing lawn sprinklers. A licensed plumber may install a system without registering. The section is set to be repealed on January 1, 2029 (225 ILCS 320/2, 320/2.5).^100-101
Louisiana	Building, installing, connecting, repairing, maintaining or altering any part of a landscape irrigation system, its wiring included, needs a Landscape Irrigation Contractor License from the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, which also requires a written contract with the property owner.¹⁰²
Mississippi	The Department of Agriculture and Commerce's Landscape Horticulturist License isn't required for irrigation installation.¹⁰³ The State Board of Contractors has an Irrigation Systems specialty classification, with a test, for lawn and garden irrigation.¹⁰⁴
Nevada	The State Contractors Board's C-10 landscape contracting license includes building landscape irrigation systems, and its C-1d plumbing subclassification includes landscape irrigation systems (NAC 624.280, 624.190).¹⁰⁵
New Jersey	A landscape irrigation business needs a business permit from the Board of Landscape Irrigation Contractors, and a certified landscape irrigation contractor in the business has to take responsibility for the work, except where the rule provides otherwise (N.J.A.C. 5:62-3.1).¹⁰⁶
New Mexico	The MS-6 Lawn sprinklers license covers installing, repairing and servicing potable water sprinkler systems, with the backflow devices and low-voltage controls that go with them (14.6.6 NMAC).¹⁰⁷
North Carolina	Irrigation construction or contracting needs a license from the Irrigation Contractors' Licensing Board, except where the law exempts the work, as when all contracts for a job site total less than $2,500 or a property owner works on their own property (G.S. 89G-2, 89G-3).¹⁰⁸
North Dakota	The State Plumbing Board says hooking up an irrigation sprinkler system doesn't take a plumbing license.¹⁰⁹
Oregon	Installing or repairing landscape irrigation systems is landscaping work under the landscape contractor law (ORS 671.520). The Landscape Contractors Board's license categories include All Phase Plus Backflow and Irrigation Plus Backflow Prevention (OAR 808-003-0035). A residential general contractor's exception for small landscaping jobs on a new home doesn't cover irrigation work (ORS 671.540).^110-111
Rhode Island	Irrigation as a business takes a master irrigator license (R.I. Gen. Laws 5-20-8), and a master plumber doesn't need a separate license for master irrigation work (5-20-3). The rules define irrigation as a permanently installed system for watering any landscape vegetation (260-RICR-30-15-9.2).^112-114
South Dakota	Underground irrigation installation needs a special underground irrigation license from the State Plumbing Commission, unless the installer is a licensed plumbing contractor, plumber or plumber apprentice (ARSD 20:53:08:02). Underground irrigation means any nonagricultural, landscape irrigation system (SDCL 36-25-24.1).^115-116
Tennessee	The Board for Licensing Contractors has a BC-33 Irrigation classification, and a contractor's license is required for projects of $25,000 or more when contracting directly with the owner, among other cases.^117-118
Texas	Nobody may sell, design, install, maintain, alter, repair, service or inspect an irrigation system, or consult on one, without a license from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.¹¹⁹
Virginia	The Board for Contractors' Landscape Irrigation Contracting (ISC) specialty covers installing, repairing, improving and removing irrigation and outdoor sprinkler systems, and the plumbing (PLB) and HVAC (H/H) classifications cover it too (18VAC50-22-30).¹²⁰
Washington	Contractors register under the Irrigation sprinkler systems specialty, and the Landscaping specialty includes residential lawn sprinklers without pumps. Pumps on a residential sprinkler system take plumber certification (RCW 18.106) or an electrical license (RCW 19.28), or both (WAC 296-200A-016).¹²¹

Backflow preventers

Where a sprinkler system connects to the water supply, several states say who may install or work on its backflow preventer:

Colorado Installing or removing a backflow prevention device is licensed plumbing work, except on a stand-alone fire suppression system. A 2025 law took away the license requirement for people who inspect, test or repair the devices (HB25-1077, C.R.S. 12-155-118(4)).¹²²
Illinois A licensed plumber inspects every sprinkler system an irrigation contractor installs, makes the physical connection to the backflow prevention device and tags the device (225 ILCS 320/2.5).¹⁰⁰
Louisiana A landscape irrigation contractor needs a water supply protection specialist endorsement from the State Plumbing Board before connecting to a public or private water supply.¹⁰²
North Dakota Hooking a backflow preventer up to the main water supply takes a plumbing license.¹⁰⁹
Ohio Installing, testing or repairing an isolation backflow prevention device takes a backflow technician certification (ORC 3703.21), and for a device in a lawn irrigation system that's a Class A or Class B certification (OAC 1301:3-7).^123-124
Rhode Island The rules define irrigation work as the connection to the backflow prevention devices.¹¹⁴
Texas While connecting an irrigation system to a water supply, a licensed irrigation technician has to be under the direct supervision of a licensed landscape irrigator.¹¹⁹
Virginia An ISC irrigation contractor may install backflow prevention devices incidental to its work when the installer has had board-approved vocational training that covered installing them (18VAC50-22-30).¹²⁰
Washington An Irrigation sprinkler systems contractor may connect to potable water lines and install backflow prevention devices for nonpotable water only as an integral part of the sprinkler system and outside a building (WAC 296-200A-016).¹²¹

Your water utility or town may have its own permit or backflow rules, so ask the installer who handles them.

Rain sensors and smart controllers

EPA's WaterSense program suggests asking an irrigation contractor about fitting water-saving technology, such as a WaterSense labeled controller, a rainfall sensor or high-efficiency nozzles. It also suggests confirming the contractor is licensed and bonded before asking about training and certifications.¹²⁵ A WaterSense labeled controller uses local weather or soil moisture to water only when plants need it, in place of a clock timer.¹²⁶

This guide doesn't cover watering days or drought stages. Check your water utility for the rules where you live.

What to ask before work starts

Which state pesticide license or certification does the person spraying hold, and does the business hold its own license where the state asks for one?
Which products will you use, and are any restricted use?
Will you post the lawn or leave a notice after each treatment?
For a sprinkler system: which state or local license covers the work, who connects it to the water supply, and who installs the backflow preventer?

Pesticide, fertilizer and irrigation rules from state agriculture departments, licensing boards and legislatures, federal context from the US Environmental Protection Agency, checked November 2026.

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