STATE LICENSE
RequiredArkansas Department of Agriculture — Pest…
The Arkansas Pest Control Law (Act 488 of 1975, Ark. Code Ann. § 17-37-101 et seq.) requires a license or certificate for anyone who, for compensation, controls insects, rodents, birds, wood-destroying organisms, or weeds and plant diseases on lawns, turf, shrubs, and shade trees. A business needs a License Holder license (fee $100–$500 a year by agent count) and must employ commercial operators who pass a Basic Core exam plus a classification exam ($100 each); structural classifications 1 and 2 also require one year of experience or two years of college with entomology.
Unlicensed employees must pass a $30 agent exam and be registered; one operator may supervise no more than 20 agents. Termite (Class 1) and household pest (Class 2) License Holders must post a surety bond — $100,000 and $50,000 under the 2012 law text — and carry liability insurance; fumigation (Class 3) requires insurance. Licenses run on the state fiscal year and must be renewed before July 1.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Pest control licensing is state-only through the Arkansas Department of Agriculture; there is no local pest control license layer. Restricted-use pesticides require certification regardless of setting.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Arkansas county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
Arkansas's definition of pest control service covers weeds and plant diseases on lawns, turf, shrubs, and shade trees — lawn treatment companies need classifications 4 or 5.
A licensed operator may supervise no more than 20 registered agents.
If required bond or insurance lapses, the license becomes void until satisfactory coverage is filed (§ 17-37-210(c)).
A practical sequence for a new pest control contractor in Arkansas. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Violating the Pest Control Law or the board's rules is a misdemeanor with escalating minimum fines and no suspension.
The board may obtain an injunction, without bond, against violations.
The board may invalidate or refuse to renew a license for violations; a lapse in bond or insurance voids it automatically.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Bond ($100,000 / $50,000) and insurance amounts come from the December 2012 text of § 17-37-210; later amendments were not checked against a current official compilation · Recertification / continuing-education hours for commercial operators · Penalty amounts in § 17-37-103 as of 2026 (2012 text used)
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.