About pesticide licensing

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks regulates the sale, storage, use, transportation and disposal of pesticides in Ontario by placing appropriate education, licensing or permit requirements on their use.  

Ontario’s Pesticides Act and Ontario Regulation 63/09 provide the province’s framework for regulating pesticides to protect human health and the natural environment.

There are 5 classes of pesticides in Ontario. The class of pesticides determines who can sell or use the pesticide products and what restrictions are placed on its use (for example, requires a licence or permit).

Types of pesticide licences

You or your business may require more than 1 type of pesticide licence, depending on your activity.

Exterminator licence

Unless exempt, you need a pesticide exterminator licence to apply pesticides commercially on any property that you or your employer do not own or farm. This licence allows you to use pesticides according to specific terms and conditions.

There are 3 types of exterminator licences. The exterminator licence you require depends on the type of extermination you are doing:

Each type of exterminator licence authorizes the types of pesticide authorized for use and the corresponding condition for use. Review the Guide to pesticide licensing and O. Reg 63/09 for more information on the types of exterminator licences and the corresponding conditions for use.

Exterminator licences are valid for 5 years from the date of issue.

Certain types of exterminations require both a pesticide licence and a permit. Learn more about pesticide permits.

An exterminator licence is not required under certain conditions. For exemptions, consult O. Reg. 63/09.

Supervisees and assistants

There are certain exemptions and conditions relating to persons who are appropriately supervised and trained in accordance with O. Reg. 63/09. Review the Guide to pesticide licensing for more information on trainees, technicians and conditions relating to supervised exterminations.

Operator licence

Unless exempt, you or your business require a pesticide operator licence if you operate a pesticide extermination business in Ontario or employ people who apply pesticides commercially.

There are certain requirements that you must meet if you are required to hold an operator licence, such as having the necessary insurance coverage. Refer to O. Reg. 63/09 for a complete list of all requirements.

An operator licence expires on December 31 of the year it was issued.

An operator licence is not required under certain conditions. For exemptions, consult O. Reg. 63/09.

Vendor licence

Unless exempt, you must hold a pesticide vendor licence if you or your business sells, offers to sell or transfers pesticides in Ontario.

There are 3 types of vendor licences. The type of vendor licence you require depends on the class of pesticides you sell:

  • Limited class vendor licence (may sell Class D and controlled sales pesticide products)
  • General class vendor licence (may sell Class A, B, C and D pesticide products whether wholesale or retail)
  • Treated Seed class vendor licence (may sell Class E neonicotinoid-treated corn or soybean seed)

The General and Limited class vendor licences are valid for 5 years from date of issue. The Treated Seed class vendor licence does not expire.

A vendor licence is not required under certain conditions. For exemptions, consult O. Reg. 63/09.

Understand the pesticide licensing process and apply

How to apply for a pesticide licence

You need to apply online for a pesticide licence in Ontario. To apply for a pesticide licence, you will need to:

Learn more about online services for environmental permissions including setting up your My Ontario Account and ministry profile.

Access Environmental Permissions

Once you have set up your ministry profile, you will:

You will receive an email confirmation and a digital copy of your pesticide licence once your application has been submitted and payment has been received. You can log into your ministry profile at any time to access a digital copy of your licence.

To obtain a copy of your licence through your ministry profile, go to the ‘Manage Permissions’ tab and select the licence number under the ‘Permissions’ section. This will load another window. Select the ‘Download Licence” button to download a PDF copy of your licence.

In certain cases, your application may require ministry review and you will not receive your digital copy of your licence automatically. Following the review of your application, the ministry will issue a decision. If approved, you will receive the email confirmation with the digital copy of your pesticide licence.

If you need assistance during the application process, you can contact us.

Fees

The fee for a pesticide licence depends on the licence type:

  • Exterminator licence: $90
  • Operator licence: $200
  • Limited class vendor licence: $110
  • General class vendor licence: $200
  • Treated Seed class vendor licence: $200

Learn more about what payment methods are accepted and how to pay online for your pesticide application.

How to renew or update your licence

Update your licence

You must update inaccurate information on an existing pesticide licence within 10 days of the change. To update your licence:

  • Sign-in through your My Ontario Account to access environmental permissions online services
  • Provide your existing pesticide licence number and expiry date and follow the steps to update the applicable information
  • You will receive an email confirmation and a digital copy of your updated pesticide licence. You can log into your ministry profile at any time to access a digital copy of your licence.

There is no charge to update an existing pesticide licence.

Renew your licence

You must complete the renewal of an existing pesticide licence online. The renewal period for all licences opens 90 days before the stated expiration date on the licence. To renew your licence:

  • Pay the application fee.
  • You will receive an email confirmation and a digital copy of your pesticide licence. You can log into your ministry profile at any time to access a digital copy of your licence.

Qualifications and application requirements

Exterminator licence

To apply for an exterminator licence, you must:

  • be at least 16 years old
  • complete and pass a ministry approved pesticide certification course within the last 12 months

The course requirement does not apply in certain circumstances, for example, if you are:

  • exempt from requiring a licence
  • renewing an existing licence prior to the expiry date
  • applying for a licence of the same class within 2 years of its expiry

For more information on training courses for exterminators, refer to Ontario Pesticide Training and Certification, or contact University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus:

You must provide the following information when completing the exterminator licence application online:

  • your employer information (if applicable)
  • a copy of your pesticide exam certificate (for new applications only)

Exterminators (applicators) from outside of Ontario

If you are already licensed in another province or territory, you need to become licensed in Ontario before you can commercially apply pesticides in Ontario.

If you hold an exterminator or applicator licence or certificate from outside Ontario, your out-of-province licence or certificate may be considered equivalent to an Ontario exterminator licence. As such, exterminator training in Ontario may not be required.

You must apply for equivalency through the ministry’s online system. To do this, you will need to provide the following under the “Licence Information” tab of the application form:

  • provide your out-of-province authorizing certificate number and expiration date
  • indicate where your out-of-province authorizing certificate was issued and the category or class
  • provide a copy of receipt or proof of purchase for Ridgetown Training Materials

If your out-of-province certificate is not considered equivalent to an Ontario exterminator licence, your application will be flagged for ministry review and you will not receive your digital copy of your licence automatically. Once the ministry reviews your application, you will receive the email confirmation with your digital copy of your pesticide licence.

For more information about pesticide licence equivalency in Ontario, contact the Technical Assessment and Standards Development Branch (TASDB):

416-327-5519

Email: SDB-PesticideApproval@ontario.ca

As per O. Reg. 230/18, if you have an out-of-province licence that is considered equivalent to an Ontario exterminator licence, then your Ontario licence will be pro-rated to the date that your current licence expires.

Operator licence

To apply for an operator licence, you must:

  • be a licensed exterminator or hire employees that are licensed exterminators
  • carry appropriate insurance for the pesticide business

You must provide the following when completing the operator licence application online:

  • A copy of the insurance policy confirming coverage for the business. A complete list of physical business locations and the licence details of at least 1 licensed exterminator in charge for each location.
  • A complete list of the licensed exterminators you employ (including licence details) and a list of officers and directors.
  • A list of vehicles used in the operator business. The following information must be included for each vehicle: year, make, model, licence plate number and province or state of registration.

Your official vehicle identification  sticker will be sent by mail. The operator licence will act as a temporary identification marker until the sticker is received in the mail. You can request additional stickers online through your ministry profile.

Vendor Licence

You must provide the following when completing the vendor licence application online:

  • proof of certification for the Ontario Certified Outlet Representative (General vendor applicants only)
  • a list of the applicant’s treated seed sales representatives, including the name, email address (if any) and mailing address (Treated Seed vendor applicants only)

You need to complete a separate vendor licence application for each facility.

Additional Resources

Pesticide permit resources

Report non-compliance and spills

Contact your local ministry district office during regular business hours to report non-compliance of pesticide use, such as:

  • the use of a banned pesticide
  • unauthorized spraying of pesticides
  • other environmental concerns

After business hours, call the ministry’s Pollution Hotline at Toll-free: 1-866-MOETIPS (6638477) (6638477 (6638477)) or Toll-free: 1-866-663-8477 .

In the event of any fire, accident, spill or theft that may result in the release of a pesticide into the environment, you must immediately notify:

Spills Action Centre

1-800-268-6060

Report pollution and spills.

Contact us

For more information about pesticides licensing, or assistance with the ministry’s online system, you can contact the Client Services and Permissions Branch:

You can contact your local ministry regional office if you have additional questions about:

  • the use of specific pesticides
  • the conditions of a licence
  • rules about exterminations, storage requirements, or reporting requirements