Structural pest control in Tarrant County is regulated by the Texas Structural Pest Control Service under TDA per Occupations Code Ch. 1951. Certified applicators and licensed firms are required for commercial work.
Structural pest control in Tarrant County falls under the Texas Structural Pest Control Service (SPCS), administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1951 and rules at 4 TAC Chapter 7. Any person who, for compensation, applies pesticides in, on, or around a structure must be licensed as either a certified applicator or a technician supervised by a certified applicator, and the business must be licensed as a pest-control firm. Categories include general pest, termites, wood-destroying insects, weed control, and lawn/ornamental. Homeowners treating their own property are exempt but must follow label directions, which are federal law under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Termite treatment in DFW (especially the heavy Eastern subterranean termite pressure typical in Tarrant County) requires a wood-destroying insect report (WDIR) on most real estate transactions and strict adherence to label-required pretreatment during slab construction. Bed bug treatments, rodent control, and mosquito fogging near water sources must comply with TDA and federal EPA rules. Tarrant County Public Health conducts mosquito surveillance under the West Nile virus program and may engage in public-space fogging; private property fogging requires consent. For wildlife (raccoons, bats, snakes), Texas Parks and Wildlife rules apply; some species are protected and require permits for removal.
Unlicensed pest-control work is a violation of TX Occupations Code 1951 and 4 TAC Ch. 7, punishable by administrative penalties up to $5,000 per violation and potential criminal charges. Misuse of a pesticide in violation of label directions is a FIFRA violation, enforced by TDA and EPA, with penalties up to $20,000+. Killing or removing protected wildlife without a Texas Parks and Wildlife permit can result in fines and criminal penalties.
See how Tarrant County's pest control rules stack up against other locations.
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