STATE LICENSE
RequiredMassachusetts Department of Agricultural …
Pesticide use is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources under M.G.L. c. 132B, § 10, which caps every certification, license, and permit at one year and requires applicators in places of human habitation — except residential properties of three or fewer units — to hold the appropriate credential. MDAR's bulletin says anyone applying general-use pesticides for hire, as in exterminating, needs the Applicator (core) License, and anyone applying restricted-use pesticides for hire needs a Commercial Certification after passing the core exam and documenting two years of experience.
Fees: core exam registration $75 and license $100; commercial certification exam $125 and license $150; plus a $28 online exam fee to Everblue Training. All credentials expire December 31. Applicators must carry comprehensive general liability with an endorsement modifying the pollution exclusion, and complete 6 (core) or 12 per category (commercial) contact hours every three years.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Pesticide licensing is statewide and exclusive to MDAR; cities and towns add only general business requirements such as a business certificate for a trade name.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Massachusetts 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.
Every MDAR applicator credential expires December 31; late renewals (January 1 – June 30) pay the license fee plus the exam fee.
Core licensees and commercial certification holders must carry CGL with a pollution-exclusion endorsement; government employees are exempt.
MDAR's licensing page now lists a $28 Everblue online exam fee, separate from the ePLACE registration fee.
A practical sequence for a new pest control contractor in Massachusetts. 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 c. 132B, §§ 6A–6I, 7A, or MDAR regulations, including applying for hire without the required credential.
MDAR may suspend or revoke certifications, licenses, and permits and impose administrative penalties.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
| County · City | Permit office | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Hampden County Springfield (consolidated gov.) | City of Springfield Department of Code Enforcement — Building Division ↗ | Springfield Building Permit Lookups (OpenGov) ↗ |
| Suffolk County Boston (consolidated gov.) | City of Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD) ↗ | ISD Online Permits and Licenses ↗ |
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Text of 333 CMR 10.00 (the for-hire licensing regulation) — requirements here come from MDAR's bulletin, fee pages, and c. 132B · Current category numbering for structural pest control (the bulletin's manual list shows 'Termite & Structural Pest Control (cat. 43)'; a general industrial/institutional/structural category may also apply) · Whether MDAR requires a separate business-level registration for pest control companies (none found)
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.