Florida Pesticide Record-Keeping Requirements (2026)

Attila, founder of PestShiftLast updated: 8 min read
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A Florida pest control licensee must keep its pest control records, including contracts, at the licensed business location (or the Florida address named on its license application) for at least two years, and must keep routine records of restricted-use pesticides showing product brand names, amounts, uses, dates and places of application for at least two years (Fla. Admin. Code R. 5E-14.142(1)). Records of preventive termite treatments for new construction are kept for three years, and so are copies of wood-destroying organism (WDO) inspection reports (s. 482.051(5), F.S.; s. 482.226(1), F.S.).

This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Bureau of Licensing and Enforcement, before you rely on it.

What does Florida require a pest control company to record?

Florida's main records rule is short. Under 5E-14.142(1) (effective May 18, 2026):

  • All pest control records, including contracts, are kept for inspection by department inspectors for at least two years.
  • Restricted-use pesticides need routine operational records with the product brand (name), amount, use, date and place of each application, kept at the licensed business location for at least two years.
  • Fumigation records also carry the identification number of each fumigant cylinder used on a structure.
  • Records kept electronically must be provided to the department on request.

Unlike some states, the rule does not spell out a field-by-field list for every general-use application (target pest, EPA registration number, applicator ID and so on). We did not find one in 5E-14.142, so confirm with FDACS what an inspector expects to see on a general pest service record. Most companies record the same core fields everywhere because it answers any question an inspector or customer asks. Our chemical application record template lists those core fields, and pesticide application record keeping explains the federal baseline.

How long do Florida pest control records have to be kept?

Record Retention Source
Pest control records and contracts At least 2 years 5E-14.142(1)
Restricted-use pesticide application records At least 2 years 5E-14.142(1)
Fumigation records 2 years from the date of fumigation 5E-14.142(3)(b)
New-construction subterranean termite preventive treatment records At least 3 years 482.051(5), F.S.; 5E-14.142(1); 5E-14.106(8)
Copy of each WDO inspection report At least 3 years 482.226(1), F.S.

Where are the records kept, and who can see them?

At the licensed business location or the exact Florida address given in the business license application (5E-14.142(1)). Licensees, certified operators and employees must let authorized department representatives view records on written request, and must supply any information supporting an application or form filed with the department (5E-14.142(2)).

Fumigation records have a firm clock: the licensee or certified operator in charge provides them within three business days of a department request (5E-14.142(3)(b)). For general records the rule says only "upon written request"; confirm the expected turnaround with FDACS. Our pest control record audit guide covers how to get ready.

Florida also requires current product labels (paper or digital) for every pesticide you use to be kept at the licensed business location and available for inspection (5E-14.106(2)).

What termite and WDO records does Florida require?

New-construction termite pretreatment. For each preventive treatment of new construction, keep for three years the date of treatment, address of the property, total square footage of the structure treated, pesticide used, percent concentration of the mixture and total volume applied (5E-14.106(8); see also 482.051(5)). The rule also requires records of termiticides purchased or available for use, total area treated and total number of sites treated. A copy of the label must be in the vehicle at the job site.

WDO inspection reports. For a real estate inspection where a fee is charged or a written report is requested, the findings go on the department's Wood-Destroying Organisms Inspection Report, FDACS-13645, with no added disclaimers (5E-14.142(5)(c)). The licensee keeps a copy for at least three years (482.226(1)).

Reports under WDO contracts. After a contract inspection or treatment, the property owner or agent gets a signed report showing whether covered organisms were present, whether treatment was made, and the common or brand name of the pesticide used (482.226(3)).

Posted notices. After a WDO inspection or treatment, a durable notice (at least 3 by 5 inches) goes next to the attic or crawl space access. A treatment notice shows the licensee's name and address, date of treatment, pesticide used and the organism treated (482.226(4)-(5)).

What fumigation records does Florida require?

The certified operator or special fumigation ID cardholder records each structural fumigation on the Fumigation Log, FDACS-13000, Rev. 03/26, or an alternative form with all the same information. Items marked (B) are filled in before the fumigation starts, items marked (*) on site during the fumigation, and everything is recorded no later than one working day after the application (5E-14.142(3)-(4)). The licensee keeps the original records for two years.

What must Florida customers be told?

Under s. 482.2265, F.S., when a customer asks, you must provide:

  1. Your business name.
  2. The identification card number of the person applying the pesticide.
  3. The common or brand name of the pesticide to be used and the common name of its active ingredient.
  4. Safety information for that product, as given on its label.

When you apply a pesticide to a lawn or exterior foliage, you also post a notice of at least 4 by 5 inches, in rigid weatherproof material, showing your business name. FDACS sets the exact wording by rule; confirm the current sign requirements with FDACS.

For restricted-use pesticides, the old federal rule that required a copy to the customer within 30 days (7 CFR Part 110) was rescinded and removed effective July 11, 2025. Federal rules now set the baseline through the state: 40 CFR 171.303(b)(7)(vi) requires states to make certified commercial applicators keep restricted use records for at least 2 years. Confirm with FDACS whether Florida requires a customer copy.

Checklist: Florida records and where they live in PestShift

Item Florida source Where it lives in PestShift
Date of application 5E-14.142(1) (RUPs) From the job
Place of application 5E-14.142(1) (RUPs) Property on the job, plus application site field
Product brand name 5E-14.142(1) (RUPs) Product field
Amount applied 5E-14.142(1) (RUPs) No dedicated total field: PestShift records rate, so add the total amount to notes
Use (what it was for) 5E-14.142(1) (RUPs) Target pest field
EPA registration number Not listed in 5E-14.142; required on federal RUP records EPA registration number field
Applicator ID card number 482.2265 (on customer request) Not on the record: add to notes or keep it ready
Contracts 5E-14.142(1) Estimates with e-signature; keep WDO contracts on file
Fumigation log FDACS-13000 5E-14.142(3) Not produced by PestShift
Termite pretreatment square footage, concentration, total volume 5E-14.106(8) Rate field for the mix; square footage and total volume in notes
WDO inspection report FDACS-13645 5E-14.142(5)(c) Not produced by PestShift

How does PestShift help with Florida records?

PestShift can require a chemical application record before a job can be closed, on the services you choose. Each record has product, EPA registration number, target pest, rate and application site, and the date, customer, property and technician come from the job. Technicians can fill it in offline in the installable app, and it syncs when they are back in signal. PestShift also tracks applicator licenses and warns you before one expires, and you can export chemical records to CSV if FDACS asks for electronic records.

The gaps matter in Florida. PestShift has no dedicated field for total amount applied, applicator ID card number, square footage or fumigant cylinder numbers, so those go in notes. It does not produce the FDACS fumigation log, the WDO inspection report or the posted notices. The short state profile is at /compliance/florida. If you are moving records over from another tool, see /switch.

Working in other states too? Compare Georgia and Texas.

If you want records that cannot be skipped before a job closes, Try PestShift free for 14 days.

Frequently asked questions

How long must Florida pest control companies keep records?

At least two years for pest control records, contracts and restricted-use pesticide records under 5E-14.142(1). New-construction termite pretreatment records and copies of WDO inspection reports are kept for at least three years.

Where do Florida pest control records have to be kept?

At the licensed business location or at the exact Florida address given in the business license application, under 5E-14.142(1). Records kept electronically must be provided to FDACS on request.

Does Florida require the EPA registration number on every record?

We did not find a general field list in 5E-14.142 that names it. Federal rules require it on restricted-use records, and recording it on every application is the safe habit. Confirm with FDACS what they expect on general-use records.

What do I have to tell a Florida customer about the pesticide used?

On request, your business name, the ID card number of the applicator, the common or brand name of the pesticide and its active ingredient, and label safety information, under s. 482.2265, F.S.

How fast must fumigation records be produced?

Within three business days of a department request, under 5E-14.142(3)(b). The fumigation log itself must be completed no later than one working day after the application.

Does PestShift create Florida WDO inspection reports or fumigation logs?

No. PestShift keeps chemical application records for each job. The FDACS-13645 WDO report and the FDACS-13000 fumigation log are completed outside PestShift.

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