Published September 8, 2026
What Pesticide Records Does Your State Require?
Short answer: probably more than the federal minimum, and the specifics depend entirely on where you're licensed. This isn't legal advice — it's a map of how the rule is structured, so you know what to actually go check.
The federal floor (and its real limit)
Under FIFRA, federal recordkeeping rules apply specifically to Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) — not general-use products. For RUP applications, certified applicators are required to:
- Record nine data elements, including product name, EPA registration number, application date, location, and applicator certification details
- Complete the record within 14 days of application
- Retain records for 2 years
- No standard federal form is required — any recordkeeping system that captures the required fields is acceptable
That's the floor. A lot of structural pest control work uses general-use products, which the federal rule doesn't touch at all — which is exactly where the "am I covered?" confusion starts. (And whatever product goes in that record starts with getting the mix right in the first place.)
Where states go further
States regularly impose stricter rules than the federal floor, and they vary in several different directions at once:
- Broader scope. Many states require recordkeeping for general-use applications too, not just RUPs — meaning the federal floor being "RUP-only" doesn't mean you're exempt.
- Shorter completion windows. Florida requires records completed within 2 working days, versus the federal 14-day window.
- Longer retention. New York and Pennsylvania require 3-year retention instead of the federal 2 years.
- Extra data fields. Delaware, Maine, and Maryland require weather conditions (wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity) and equipment details on top of the federal nine elements.
The compliance principle that matters here: when a state rule is stricter than the federal one, you follow the state rule. Meeting your state's requirement satisfies the federal floor by definition, since it's already asking for more.
Quick reference
| Federal floor (RUP only) | What some states add | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Restricted Use Pesticides only | General-use pesticides too, in many states |
| Time to complete | Within 14 days | Florida: within 2 working days |
| Retention | 2 years | New York, Pennsylvania: 3 years |
| Data fields | 9 elements (product, EPA reg. #, date, location, applicator cert.) | Delaware, Maine, Maryland: add weather conditions + equipment used |
This table is illustrative, not exhaustive — it exists to show how much states vary, not to tell you your specific state's rule. State-specific examples last verified September 8, 2026, against each state's own regulatory text where available — state rules change, so confirm current requirements with your own state agency before relying on this table.
How to find your actual state requirement
Don't take this article's word for it, and don't take any third-party summary's word for it — state pesticide law changes, and the agency that regulates you is the only authoritative source. The EPA maintains a directory of state and territorial pesticide regulatory agencies; find yours, and check directly with them or with your state's structural pest control board.
Do the recordkeeping your state actually requires
PCOcalc's compliance record log doesn't assume any single state's template — it records what you enter: product, rate, location, date, target pest, REI, and free-text notes. That means it's built to hold whatever your state requires, but it's on you to know what that is and fill in the fields (including notes, for anything state-specific like weather conditions) accordingly. It's a recordkeeping tool, not a compliance authority — it doesn't validate your entries against any regulation.
See the compliance log in PCOcalc →
FAQ
Does PCOcalc know my state's specific requirement?
No. PCOcalc's compliance log captures whatever you enter — it doesn't apply a state-specific template or validate your records against any rule. Check your actual state requirement and make sure you're recording what it calls for.
If I only apply general-use products, does the federal 2-year/14-day rule apply to me?
The federal FIFRA recordkeeping rule applies specifically to Restricted Use Pesticides. Many states extend similar or stricter requirements to general-use applications too — check your state's rule rather than assuming you're exempt.
Where do I find my state's official rule?
Start with the EPA's directory of state and territorial pesticide regulatory agencies, then go to your state's own agency — that's the authoritative source, not this article or any other summary.