STATE LICENSE
RequiredGeorgia Department of Agriculture — Struc…
Pest control is one of Georgia's most tightly regulated trades. The Structural Pest Control Act requires three credentials at once: the company itself must be licensed, at least one certified operator must direct the work in each category, and every employee who performs or solicits pest control must be individually registered with the Commission.
Insurance is statutory, not optional: coverage minimums are written into O.C.G.A. § 43-45-9, and a lapse suspends the license automatically by operation of law. Cities and counties cannot issue a business license to a pest control company without proof of state compliance.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
No city or county may issue a business license for structural pest control without proof of state compliance (O.C.G.A. § 43-45-15). Licensees still owe local occupation taxes where they are based; pesticide rules themselves are exclusively state-level.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Georgia 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 September 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
All fees double if renewed after expiration; registrations paid July 1–September 30 pay the $20 late rate.
Under § 43-45-9, the license suspends automatically when coverage lapses and is revoked after three months.
Everything — licenses, certifications, registrations — expires June 30 of odd-numbered years, not prorated.
A practical sequence for a new pest control contractor in Georgia. 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.
Operating a structural pest control business without a company license is a misdemeanor; second and subsequent offenses are misdemeanors of a high and aggravated nature.
The Commission may impose civil penalties per violation, in addition to or in lieu of other enforcement.
Coverage below the statutory minimums suspends the license by operation of law; three months uninsured and it is revoked.
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 September 2026.
Pending verification: Operator exam approval timing (up to 45 days) and the 90-day certification window, per the GDA page but not re-verified in rule text
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.