How to Verify a California Pest Control License in Two Minutes
The records are public and free. Here is how to read one, and why the branch on the license matters more than the logo on the truck.
Go to the California Department of Consumer Affairs license search at search.dca.ca.gov, choose Structural Pest Control Board as the license type, and search by company name, person or license number. The record shows whether the registration or license is current, expired, or subject to disciplinary action. Check that the company registration is current, that the operator is connected to that company, and that termite work is done under Branch 3, since state law bars any termite opinion until a licensed Branch 3 inspection has been made.
Local help: Want to check us first? Company Registration 8828, Operator License 13694. Then call or text (626) 409-1584 or get a free quote.
Every termite and pest control company working in California has to be registered with the Structural Pest Control Board, and every person who inspects or applies has to hold a license from it. The records are public and take two minutes to check. Here is how, and what the record actually tells you.
Step by step
- Go to the Department of Consumer Affairs license search at search.dca.ca.gov.
- Under license type, choose Structural Pest Control Board.
- Search by the company name, the person's name, or the number printed on the estimate, the truck or the invoice.
- Open the record. The DCA page states that each record shows whether the license is current, expired, or has been subject to disciplinary action such as suspension or revocation.
Ours are Company Registration 8828 and Operator License 13694. If a company will not give you its number, that is the answer.
What the record shows, and what to look for
| Field | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Company registration | The business itself is registered with the Board. | Status current, and the name matches the estimate. |
| Operator license | The person legally responsible for the company's work. | Held by someone actually connected to the company you are hiring. |
| Field representative license | A licensed inspector or applicator working under a registered company. | The person who inspects your house holds one, or is an operator. |
| Branch | Branch 1 fumigation, Branch 2 general pests, Branch 3 termites and wood-destroying organisms. | Termite inspections and reports require Branch 3. |
| Status | Current, expired, or subject to discipline. | Anything other than current is a stop. |
Why the branch matters
Branch 2 covers general pests: ants, cockroaches, rodents, spiders. Branch 3 covers termites and other wood-destroying organisms, and it is the one that matters when someone is about to write a termite report or treat your framing. Under Business and Professions Code section 8516, a company may not issue any opinion about the presence or absence of wood-destroying pests until an inspection has been made by a licensed Branch 3 field representative or operator, and the property address is filed with the Board. A general-pest company can be perfectly good at ants and still not be licensed to tell you about termites. Fumigation itself is Branch 1 work, which is why a fumigation is performed by a licensed fumigator even when your termite company coordinates it.
Two more checks that take a minute
- The written notice. Before any pesticide application, a registered company must give the owner and any tenant a written notice naming the pest, the product and its active ingredients (Business and Professions Code section 8538). A company that does not know what that notice is has not been doing this by the book.
- Insurance. Ask for the certificate. The Board record does not show it.
ExterMetro is registered for Branch 2 and Branch 3, and the owner holds the operator license, so the person who inspects your house is the person responsible for the work. Our about page has the details.
Sources
- California DCA License Search (Structural Pest Control Board records)
- California Structural Pest Control Board
- California Business and Professions Code § 8516 (inspection by a licensed Branch 3 inspector before any opinion or work; reports filed with the Board)
- California Business and Professions Code § 8538 (written pesticide notice by the registered company to owner and tenant)
Common Questions
Quick Answers.
How do I check if a pest control company is licensed in California?
Use the Department of Consumer Affairs license search at search.dca.ca.gov, choose Structural Pest Control Board as the license type, and search by company name, person or number. The record shows whether the license is current, expired or subject to discipline.
What is the difference between a company registration and an operator license?
The company registration belongs to the business; the operator license belongs to the person legally responsible for its work. Field representatives hold their own license to inspect and apply under a registered company. Check that the operator is actually connected to the company you are hiring.
Does a pest control company need a special license for termites?
Yes. Termite and wood-destroying organism work is Branch 3. A company licensed only for Branch 2 (general pests) is not licensed to inspect for termites or write a termite report, and section 8516 bars any termite opinion until a licensed Branch 3 inspection has been made.
What does it mean if the license is expired?
The company or person is not currently authorized to do structural pest control work in California. Do not sign. A lapse can be a paperwork issue, but the burden is on them to show a current record, not on you to guess.
Is the license number required on the estimate?
Ask for it regardless. A registered company knows its number and has no reason to withhold it. Ours is Company Registration 8828, and the owner's Operator License is 13694; both are on our site and searchable at the DCA.
About the Author
Joshua A. Westad is the owner and licensed operator of ExterMetro Termite and Pest Control in Arcadia, CA. He holds California SPCB Company Registration #8828 (Branch 2 & 3), is a licensed WDO inspector, and has worked San Gabriel Valley homes and businesses for over twelve years — hands-on in the field on every kind of job the valley throws at him.
Think you just found termite evidence?
Bag a few wings or pellets, snap a photo, and text it to (626) 409-1584 — quotes from photos are free, and your job stays under licensed ExterMetro oversight from inspection through follow-up.