Each commercial business license holder must designate a commercial certified applicator, registered with the business, as the responsible certified  applicator for the business. The commercial certified applicator designated may not be serving as a responsible certified applicator for any other business licensee or any other business license location.

A business or person cannot advertise to provide pest control services or solicit business without first obtaining a business license and having an applicator certified in each license category in which business is to be conducted.

Each noncommercial/noncommercial political business license holder must designate a noncommercial or noncommercial political certified applicator to serve as the responsible certified applicator if the business employs noncommercial/noncommercial political Apprentices or noncommercial/noncommercial political technicians. The designated responsible certified applicator may not serve as a responsible certified applicator for any other noncommercial/noncommercial political business; or any other noncommercial/noncommercial political business license location.

 

Insurance Requirements

An applicant for a commercial or noncommercial business license must submit proof of insurance on the ALS-1101 form. No other insurance form will be accepted. All current commercial business licensees and noncommercial certified applicators via their noncommercial business license are required to maintain insurance of not less than $500,000 bodily injury and property damage coverage with a minimum total aggregate of $1,000,000 for all occurrences, insuring against liability for damage to persons or property under his care, custody or control. Your insurance agent must be informed that the care, custody, and control exclusion must be deleted to conform to Chapter 1951.312 of the Texas Occupational Code. Please see the Important SPCS Updates on the SPCS main page for information related to the transition in insurance minimums adopted by rule in 2023.



Fee

A commercial  business license fee is $300. You may not conduct any business or advertise until your business license is issued.

There is no fee for a noncommercial or noncommercial political business license; however, a complete form SPC-402: Noncommercial business license application is required. Noncommercial business licenses may not be used to provide services for hire. The SPC-402, when complete, may be emailed to SPCSLicensing@TexasAgriculture.gov. All noncommercial businesses are required to provide proof of insurance on the SPCS Insurance Certificate: ALS-1101. Noncommercial Political Businesses, established for governmental entities, are exempt from the insurance requirement. 
 

Resident Agent

A business license holder who resides outside of the state of Texas must include a resident agent form, designating a resident agent for services of process in actions taken in the administration and enforcement of the Texas Structural Pest Control Act.  

Register Employees

Employees must be registered with their employer’s business license within ten (10) days of hire. If the employee is a currently licensed technician or certified applicator, please use the SPC-002: SPCS Individual License Change form. A fee may be required. If the employee does not hold a technician or certified applicator license, they will need to begin as an registered apprentice unless they qualify for the certified applicator license in another way (see Certified Applicator Licensing Information page).

Termination of Employees

Commercial and noncommercial/noncommerical political businesses must inform the SPCS within 10 days of when an employee is terminated.  The notice must be submitted on the SPC-003: Employee Termination form.

Change of Address

Must be submitted within 10 days of the effective date. To make updates to the business license address information, please submit a SPC-001: Business License Information Change form. 



SPCS Jurisdiction Statement

Please use the following jurisdiction statement on your printed contract, warranty, service agreement, termite disclosure document, guarantee and customer information sheet:



Licensed and Regulated by:

   Texas Department of Agriculture
   P.O. Box 12847
   Austin, TX 78711-2847
   Phone (866) 918-4481
   Fax (888) 232-2567



Important Note for business license renewals: Current insurance information on the ALS-1101: SPCS Insurance Certificate and a renewal fee must be received by the license expiration date to avoid a business license lapse. If the fee and/or insurance is received after the expiration date, the business license will be expired. Licenses are renewable until the anniversary of the expiration date a year later (ex: expiration 12/31/2024 renewable until 12/31/25). Paying a late fee penalty does not allow the business to operate until the license is renewed and issued.