Applicators who want to apply any pesticide (regardless of classification and including general-use) to ornamental plants, trees, lawns, or weeds for hire must be licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Applicators can obtain an Agricultural Pesticide (Ag Pest) license or a Structural Pest Control Service (SPCS) license. Applicators who apply only fertilizer do not need to be licensed by TDA.

Applicators who obtain the Ag Pest license will need to certify in the 3A Landscape Maintenance category and/or the 5 Vegetation Management category. Applicators who obtain the SPCS license will need to certify in the Lawn and Ornamental category and/or the Weed Control category. The license category will depend on what and where you are making applications to. Please visit the Ag Pest or SPCS category description pages for more information.

Each motor vehicle used by an employee of an applicator business that makes applications in the Ag Pest 3A Landscape Maintenance category must affix an applicator business vehicle identification decal issued and provided by the department to the rear window, front fender, or front door panel of each vehicle. Decals can be obtained by contacting your local TDA regional office.

Region 1 – Lubbock: (806) 799-8555

Region 2 – Dallas: (214) 631-0265

Region 3 – Houston: (713) 921-8200

Region 4 – San Antonio: (210) 820-0288

Region 5 – San Juan: (956) 787-8866

Information on Ag Commercial/Noncommercial licenses

Information on Structural Pest Control licenses