Reporting Pesticide Problems
If this is an emergency and pesticides endanger people's health, call 911.
California's 55 county agricultural commissioners work closely with DPR, enforcing pesticide laws and regulations and investigating pesticide incidents. Witness a pesticide incident? Be sure to report it to you commissioner.
Los 55 comisionados de agricultura de los condados de California trabajan estrechamente con el DPR, haciendo cumplir las leyes y regulaciones sobre pesticidas e investigando incidentes con pesticidas. ¿Ha sido testigo de un incidente con pesticidas? Asegúrese de reportarlo a su comisionado.
In non-emergency situations, you can file a complaint with state or local officials, who will follow up on your concerns:
Complaints about pesticide use, illegal applications
In non-emergency situations, you should call in pesticide complaints to your County Agricultural Commissioner, who handles local pesticide use enforcement. You can get the number online (California Department of Food and Agriculture page opens in a new window) or by calling 1-87PestLine (1-877-378-5463). This free call will also connect you directly to the Commissioner's office. A DPR handout, PDF has more information about how to file a complaint. (Español, PDF)
If you cannot reach your County Department of Agriculture to file a complaint or you feel your complaint was not adequately investigated, ask to speak directly to your County Agricultural Commissioner, or you can call the Department of Pesticide Regulation, (916) 324-4100 or E-mail to CDPRWeb@cdpr.ca.gov.
How to Report Pesticide Incidents, PDF
Illness complaints
Here's what to do if you think pesticide exposure has made you ill.
Complaints about licensees
DPR licenses professional applicators and companies that apply pesticides in most agricultural and nonagricultural settings. However, businesses and professionals that apply pesticides to structures are licensed by the Structural Pest Control Board.
If you have a question or complaint about a person or business that applied a pesticide, you can call your County Agricultural Commissioner to ask questions or file a complaint. If the applicator is a DPR licensee, you can also call DPR's Licensing and Certification Unit, at (916) 445-4038 or E-mail to LicenseMail@cdpr.ca.gov. You can find out if a person or company has a valid DPR license by downloading these lists.
To contact the Structural Pest Control Board, call (916) 561-8708, or E-mail to pestboard@dca.ca.gov.
Complaints about unregistered or misbranded pesticide products
If you believe someone is selling or distributing pesticides illegally–including pesticides that are unregistered or misbranded–call DPR's Enforcement Branch, Product Compliance Unit at (916) 324-4100, or E-mail to: productcompliance@cdpr.ca.gov.
File a complaint with CalEPA
Use this online form (Opens in new window) to file an environmental complaint with the California Environmental Protection Agency.
Community Guide to Recognizing and Reporting Pesticide Problems (En Español)
What to do in a pesticide emergency, about pesticide drift and odor, potential health effects of pesticides, how to report problems and a form for recording notes on an incident.