Fumigation (tenting) in California: the 48-hour notice and other rules

What counts as fumigation, why only Branch 1 companies may tent, the supervising licensee's duties, the pesticide notice, subcontracting consent and returning home.

Fumigation, often called tenting, is the most heavily regulated service a California pest control company offers. It uses lethal gases inside a sealed structure, so the Structural Pest Control Act restricts who may do it, when you must be told, and who must be on site. This guide covers the rules every homeowner and tenant should know before a tent goes up.

What counts as fumigation

Section 8505.1 of the Business and Professions Code defines fumigation as the use, within an enclosed space, of a substance with a vapor pressure above 5 millimeters of mercury at 25 degrees centigrade, labeled to destroy plant or animal life. The statute names three lethal fumigants: methyl bromide, sulfuryl fluoride and aluminum phosphide, and names chloropicrin as a warning agent, a chemical added because some fumigants have no smell. Simple asphyxiants such as liquid nitrogen and carbon dioxide are not fumigants under the Act.

Whole-structure fumigation is commonly used for drywood termites, which live inside wood above ground, and for some bed bug and stored-product infestations. Many companies also offer localized treatments, heat or other methods; ask what is appropriate for your infestation and why.

Only Branch 1 companies may fumigate

Fumigation is Branch 1 under section 8560. A company may perform it only if it is registered for that branch, and section 8505.2 requires the work to be done "only under the direct and personal supervision" of an operator or field representative licensed in Branch 1. Section 8505.3 defines that supervision strictly: the Branch 1 licensee must be present at the site during the entire time the fumigant is being released, when ventilation begins, and when the property is released for occupancy.

Many termite companies are not Branch 1 registered and subcontract tenting to a fumigation company. That is allowed, but section 8514(e) says the company may not subcontract structural fumigation without your written consent; you must be told in advance and in writing about the proposed subcontract and of your right to choose another company. Every listing on this site shows whether the office itself is registered for fumigation.

The 48-hour notice

Section 8538 requires a registered company to give the owner (or owner's agent) and any tenant a clear written notice that names the pest, the pesticide and its active ingredient, and includes the state's caution statement that "pesticides are toxic chemicals", with phone numbers for the company, the county health department, the county agricultural commissioner and the Structural Pest Control Board. For Branch 1 fumigation the notice must be given at least 48 hours before the application, unless the fumigation follows the inspection by less than 48 hours. It may be delivered by first-class mail or email, posted conspicuously on the property, or handed over in person; commercial and industrial buildings also need a posted notice unless the owner objects.

The statutory notice also tells you that if, within 24 hours after the application, you experience flu-like symptoms, you should contact your physician or poison control center and your pest control company immediately.

Preparing for a tent

Your fumigator will give you a preparation checklist; follow it exactly. Typical instructions cover leaving the building with all people and pets, removing or double-bagging food, medicines and other consumables in special bags, removing plants, opening interior doors and cabinets, and arranging for gas service to be shut off where pilot lights are present. Ask the company who will hold the keys, how the building will be secured while it is vacant, and how they will confirm it is safe to return.

Returning home

Because the Branch 1 licensee must be present when the property is released for occupancy, you should not re-enter until the fumigation company has ventilated the building and formally released it. Ask what monitoring the company does before release, and keep the paperwork. If anyone falls ill, follow the instructions on the notice and seek medical help.

Tenants

Section 8538 requires the notice to go to the tenant as well as the owner. If you rent, your landlord's lease and California landlord-tenant law govern access, relocation and costs during a tent; the Structural Pest Control Board does not handle landlord-tenant disputes, but it does investigate pest control companies that fail to give the required notices.

Questions to ask before you agree to tent

• Is your office registered for Branch 1, or will you subcontract the fumigation? If you subcontract, to whom, and may I choose another company?
• Which fumigant and warning agent will be used, and what is the active ingredient? (This must be on the written notice.)
• Who is the Branch 1 licensee who will be on site during release, ventilation and release for occupancy?
• How long will we need to stay away, and how will you confirm the building is safe before we return?
• Does the price include the tent, security, gas shut-off and restart, and the follow-up inspection or warranty? What does the warranty cover and for how long?
• Is there an alternative to whole-structure fumigation for this infestation, and what are its limits?

Choosing a fumigation company

1. Filter this site for fumigation companies in your city. Each listing shows the Structural Pest Control Board registration and whether the office is registered for Branch 1.
2. Confirm the registration and the Branch 1 license of the supervising operator on the DCA License Search.
3. Get the 48-hour notice, the preparation checklist and the contract in writing, and make sure any subcontracted fumigation was approved by you in writing.
4. Ask for a certificate of insurance. Registered companies must carry liability insurance of at least $500,000 per loss for bodily injury and $500,000 for property damage (section 8692).

If something goes wrong, file a complaint with the Structural Pest Control Board within two years, or four years for fraud or gross negligence (section 8621).

Updated 2026-10-16.

General information only, current as of the date above. The information on California Pest Check is not a recommendation or a guarantee of anyone's work. A license record shows registration status on the date shown, not workmanship, insurance coverage at the time of your job, or suitability for your project. Confirm license, insurance and permits directly before you hire. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.