Any commercial applicator who holds him/herself out to the public as being in the business of applying pesticides within this state for compensation, EXCEPT:

1. Any person who applies pesticides onto premises he/she owns, leases, or operates, without compensation.
2. Veterinarians or physicians in their professional services.
3. Persons applying pesticides for private agricultural purposes, on property owned or rented by that person or his or her employer applied without compensation other than trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities.

To qualify for a license, the following requirements must be met (Please allow enough time for MDARD to process both the certification credential(s) plus four to six weeks to process your business license.):

• Submit a signed application on the Department's form.
• Submit a certificate of liability insurance. (See Insurance Liability Requirements)
• Submit the $100 application fee by check or money order made payable to the State of Michigan.
• The applicant must be a certified applicator or have a certified applicator in their employ. The certified applicator's credentials must cover the category(s) of licensing applied for.

Note: If all categories indicated on certification application(s) have not been completed, a business license will not be issued for any category.  If you or your employees have recently taken certification exams, please attach copies of your receipt(s) that show the exam scores and dates. 

Any employee of a licensed commercial pesticide application firm that applies pesticides must be a certified applicator or registered technician. For all pesticide applications other than sanitizers, germicides, disinfectants or anti-microbial agents made in schools, public buildings and health care facilities, the pesticide applicator shall have participated in a verifiable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Training Program approved by the director and a verifiable IPM program shall be in place for the building where the application is to occur.

• Any new, previously unlicensed firm, and any firms adding new license categories, must complete the Notarized Letter of Experience Form (PI-217). This form must be Notarized by a Notary Public.
• For sole proprietorships or partnerships, submit a copy of each DBA Certificate issued from county clerk offices. A DBA Certificate is required in each county where the firm operates. See MDARD's Guidance for Registering Your Company Name When Applying for a Pesticide Application Business License.
• For corporations and limited liability companies, submit a Corporation ID number and any associated Certificates of Assumed Names filed with LARA. Contact LARA, Corporations Division, Phone: 517-241-6470, Fax: 517-334-8329. For more information, visit LARA’s website at Michigan.gov/Corporations or see MDARD's Guidance for Registering Your Company Name When Applying for a Pesticide Application Business License.
• For out-of-state firms (also known as “foreign corporations”), submit Certificate of Authority to do business in the State of Michigan. Apply for this authorization at LARA, Corporations Division, Phone: 517-241-6470, Fax: 517-334-8329. For more information, visit LARA’s website at Michigan.gov/Corporations or see MDARD's Guidance for Registering Your Company Name When Applying for a Pesticide Application Business License.

All firms

Commercial applicator's required to be licensed by Sec. 8313(1) shall be certified under section 8312 and shall have at least 1 of the following in order to qualify for a license under this section:

• Service for not less than 2 application seasons as an employee of a commercial applicator, or comparable education and experience as determined by the director.
• A baccalaureate degree from a recognized college or university in a discipline that provides education regarding pests and the control of pests, and 1 application season of service as an employee of a commercial applicator.

As a new applicant, prior to consideration of a commercial pesticide applicator's license you may call or submit your experience requirements for tentative approval.

This information must be supplied at the time of application, on the Notarized Letter of Experience Form, signed by the person with the qualifying experience, and NOTARIZED by a Notary Public.

Additional requirements for Aerial Applicators

Commercial applicator, in addition to complying with the other requirements of Act451, shall meet 1 or more of the following requirements per sec.8315(1) before engaging in the aerial application of pesticides:

• Attainment of at least 3 years of experience with not fewer than 200 hours of agricultural aerial application under the supervision of a commercial aerial applicator.
• Be previously licensed as a commercial aerial applicator before December 27, 1988.
• Successfully complete an aerial applicator training program recognized by the director as sufficient to assure the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare, and the environment.

Proof of financial responsibility must be submitted in the form of a certificate of comprehensive general liability insurance.

• Certificate of insurance must show the current legal name and address of the licensee as the insured.
• Certificate of insurance must show the effective date and expiration date.
• Certificate of insurance must show the limits of liability. Insurance liability requirements are:
  

  For Aerial Application, Fumigation and Right-of-Way Pest Control:

  • Not less than $100,000 for bodily injury for each occurrence.
  • Not less than $25, 000 for property damage for each occurrence.
  • A combined single limit of $300,000 for bodily injury and property damage.

  All other license categories

  • Not less than $100,000 for bodily injury for each occurrence.
  • Not less than $25,000 for property damage for each occurrence

• If a licensee is qualified in 2 or more license categories with different minimum liability requirements, the greater requirement shall apply.
• A single comprehensive liability insurance policy may be written to provide financial responsibility coverage for more than one licensed place of business owned and operated by the same person.

1. The licensee is required to notify the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development of any change in status of a certified applicator named on a license application. The licensee must notify the Department of any change in business name or address.
2. The licensee must maintain insurance during the licensing period, or during the period of time necessary to span a seasonal operation.
3. The licensee is responsible for seeing that a current certificate of insurance is sent to the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development when the previous certificate has expired.

Forms & Applications

• PI-079: Pesticide Application Business License 
• PI-079c: Pesticide Application Business License Renewal 
• PI-217: Notarized experience form

Completing the Application

Please do download and use the MDARD Checklist for Submitting Your Pesticide Application Business License (PABL) Application Form

1. Fill in all parts of the application form. (Indicate "N/A" if not applicable.)
2. Print or type where requested to do so.
3. Indicate categories in which you are applying for a license.
4. Complete signature portion.
5. Submit appropriate fee with the application. (Make checks payable to "State of Michigan.")
6. Submit certificate of current liability insurance for bodily injury, property damage, including effective and expiration dates.
7. Each license expires annually on December 31.
8. The license may be renewed by meeting the same requirements as for a new license.
9. Please allow enough time for MDARD to process both the certification credential(s) plus four to six weeks to process your business license.

License Renewal

The license may be renewed by meeting the same requirements as for a new license.

Cost: A $100 license fee submitted to the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development along with:

1. A Pesticide Application Business License renewal form.
2. Proof of required insurance coverage.
3. A notarized letter verifying pesticide application experience (only for businesses adding new license categories).
4. A copy of the business' Assumed Name Certificate(s) (DBA) or, the date of incorporation

PABL Application Business License Renewal Instructions for a Blank Renewal

To ensure continuity of your Pesticide Application Business License, the renewal application must be submitted to MDARD by December 31 when the current license expires.

If (and only if) you're adding a new category, please complete the Notarized Statement of Experience (PI-217). The new category will not be added to your license unless this form is NOTARIZED by a notary public and returned with the renewal application. Please check the boxes for all of the additional categories that you want added to your license. In addition, on the renewal form we sent you via US post, we have placed on your renewal application (Box #8), the names of your business applicators, their certification number, and expiration date of certification. Please review this information and have any expired/expiring applicators re-certify. If you no longer have or did not receive your renewal form in the mail, please contact us at 517-284-5771.

The following deficiencies may delay or prevent your license from being issued; please read the checklist instructions carefully:

• Applicators with expired certification credentials: The licensing system is unable to issue your business license until the certification system has issued your certification card.
• Expired insurance coverage.
• Missing and/or expired corporation, partnership, or assumed name documents.

Please allow enough time for MDARD to process both the certification credential(s) plus four to six weeks to process your business license. If you have any questions, please contact Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division at 517-284-5653.

Business license application forms and other information forms can be found under General Information and Forms dropdown.

Compliance Reminders!

• It is a violation to continue to offer pesticide services after 12/31 until you have complied with the renewal requirements. This includes bidding on contracts and advertising in the new year. If such violations occur, MDARD will initiate enforcement action.
• It is a violation for applicators to make applications without carrying their certification card/temporary credential (paperwork) with them.
• Application records are now required to list the EPA Registration number of the product(s) applied.
• If you will not be renewing the license, please return the renewal application marking “DECLINE” in Box #2.

For additional information or to have forms mailed to you, please contact:

Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division
P.O. Box 30017
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Phone: 800-292-3939

or

Central Licensing Unit
Phone: 517-284-5771

Click here for information regarding Pesticide Application Certification, or call Lisa Graves at 517-284-5653.