Enforcement
Enforcement of Pesticide Use Laws and Regulations
Enforcement Data Dashboard – English
Accessible Excel and PDF versions of dashboard tabs below:
Enforcement Data Dashboard – Spanish
Accessible Excel and PDF versions of dashboard tabs below:
County Agricultural Commissioner Resources
Local Enforcement Actions – County Agricultural Commissioner Actions
CACs take enforcement actions to address violations of pesticide use laws and regulations. Penalties for violations can include:
- The assessment of agricultural and structural civil penalties; and
- The suspension or revocation of county registrations, private applicator certificates, and restricted materials permits.
State Enforcement Programs
In addition to overseeing local pesticide use enforcement programs administered by CACs, we also monitor pesticide products sold and used in California to confirm they are registered by DPR and U.S. EPA and are correctly labeled.
We conduct two types of inspections:
- Inspections at facilities where pesticide products are manufactured, prepared, processed, packaged, repackaged, labeled, or relabeled to confirm they are registered and labeled correctly and in alignment with state and federal pesticide use laws and regulations.
- Marketplace surveillance to enforce compliance with pesticide product registration, formulation, packaging and label requirements. Marketplace surveillance occurs anywhere pesticides are sold, including retail nurseries, hardware stores, home-and-garden centers, landscape material suppliers, pesticide dealers, feed, farm, and pet stores, medical, dental, and veterinary suppliers, restaurant and hospital suppliers, grocery and drugstores, as well as pool and spa centers.
Food Safety
We collect and test fresh produce sold to the public as part of our residue monitoring program. If a produce sample contains illegal residues, we may trace forwards or backwards through the lines of trade as appropriate to stop future sales to protect Californians. More information can be found on our Residue Monitoring webpage.
Through the full cycle of our enforcement programs and our oversight of local pesticide use enforcement by CACs we track and monitor where pesticides are sold, how they are used and the impact on our produce as part of our ongoing work to protect people and the environment.
DPR Enforcement Actions
DPR takes enforcement actions to address violations of pesticide use laws and regulations. Those actions and related penalties can include:
Civil Actions
We can levy civil sanctions for violations related to licensing requirements and licensing examinations.
Licensing Actions
We can revoke or suspend the licenses of companies and individuals that do pest control work, sell pesticides, or advise on pest control in California.
Administrative Actions
We can levy administrative penalties on companies and individuals who sell unregistered or misbranded pesticide products, fail to pay required fees on pesticide sales, or pack, ship, or sell produce with illegal pesticide residue.
DPR Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) Policy
Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) are environmentally beneficial projects that a respondent agrees to voluntarily undertake in settlement of an enforcement action.
Court Action
We can also take civil court enforcement actions through the California Attorney General’s Office for any violation of pesticide laws. We can also refer pesticide use violations for criminal prosecution.
For information on settlements, licensing, administrative or other enforcement actions, visit News and Announcement.
Enforcement Actions: Illegal Pesticide Residues
Cases and fines related to produce with illegal pesticide residue.
Enforcement Actions: Unregistered and Misbranded Pesticides and Failure to Pay Mill
The department tracks the fines and settlements related to unregistered and misbranded pesticides and failure to pay the mill assessment on pesticide sales.
DPR’s Regional Enforcement Offices
DPR has regional enforcement offices in Northern, Central, and Southern California. Regional Offices provide local support for pesticide use compliance and enforcement alongside County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs).
Enforcement Regional Boundaries Map
Find DPR regional enforcement and CAC office information by location using the map, or the map’s accessible text alternative, below:
Reach DPR’s regional enforcement offices directly at the following addresses, phone numbers, and emails:
Northern Regional Office (NRO)
Email: ENF.NRO@cdpr.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 603-7700
Address: 3077 Fite Circle, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95827
Central Regional Office (CRO)
Email: ENF.CRO@cdpr.ca.gov
Phone: (559) 297-3511
Address: 395 W. Spruce Avenue, Suite 103
Clovis, CA 93611-8706
Southern Regional Office (SRO)
Email: ENF.SRO@cdpr.ca.gov
Phone: (714) 279-7690
Address: 2 MacArthur Place, Suite 910
Santa Ana, CA 92707- 5924
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Still have a Question or Need More Information?
Please contact us with questions or visit the Contact Us page on our website to connect with other programs at DPR.
Email: ENF.HQ@cdpr.ca.gov