Cal. Civ. Code § 1940.8.5

California Civil Code

In Force
Verified 6/11/2026 · Next check 7/11/2026
effective 1/1/2016CaliforniaPests & Bedbugs

Operative Text

Cal. Civ. Code § 1940.8.5
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Adjacent dwelling unit” means a dwelling unit that is directly beside, above, or below a particular dwelling unit.
(2) “Authorized agent” means an individual, organization, or other entity that has entered into an agreement with a landlord to
act on the landlord’s behalf in relation to the management of a residential rental property.
(3) “Broadcast application” means spreading pesticide over an area greater than two square feet.
(4) “Electronic delivery” means delivery of a document by electronic means to the electronic address at or through which a tenant, landlord, or authorized agent has authorized electronic delivery.
(5) “Landlord” means an owner of residential rental property.
(6) “Pest” means a living organism that causes damage to property or economic loss, or transmits or produces diseases.
(7) “Pesticide” means any substance, or mixture of substances, that is intended to be used for controlling, destroying, repelling,
or mitigating any pest or organism, excluding antimicrobial pesticides as defined by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 136(mm)).
(8) “Licensed pest control operator” means anyone licensed by the state to apply pesticides.
(b) (1) A landlord or authorized agent that applies any pesticide to a dwelling unit without a licensed pest control operator shall provide a tenant of that dwelling unit and, if making broadcast applications, or using total release foggers or aerosol sprays, any tenant in an adjacent dwelling unit that could reasonably be impacted by the pesticide use with written notice that contains the following statements and information using words with common and everyday meaning:
(A) The pest or pests to be controlled.
(B) The name and brand of the pesticide product proposed to be used.
(C) “State law requires that you be given the following information:
CAUTION - PESTICIDES ARE TOXIC CHEMICALS. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency allow the unlicensed use of certain pesticides based on existing scientific evidence that there are no appreciable risks if proper use conditions are followed or that the risks are outweighed by the benefits. The degree of risk depends upon the degree of exposure, so exposure should be minimized.
If within 24 hours following application of a pesticide, a person experiences symptoms similar to common seasonal illness comparable to influenza, the person should contact a physician,
appropriate licensed health care provider, or the California Poison Control System (1-800-222-1222).
For further information, contact any of the following: for Health Questions - the County Health Department (telephone number) and for Regulatory Information - the Department of Pesticide Regulation (916-324-4100).”
(D) The approximate date, time, and frequency with which the pesticide will be applied.
(E) The following notification:
“The approximate date, time, and frequency of this pesticide application is subject to change.”
(2) At least 24 hours prior to application of the pesticide to the dwelling unit, the landlord or authorized agent shall provide the notice to the tenant of the
dwelling unit, as well as any tenants in adjacent units that are required to be notified pursuant to paragraph (1), in at least one of the following ways:
(A) First-class mail.
(B) Personal delivery to the tenant, someone of suitable age and discretion at the premises, or under the usual entry door of the premises.
(C) Electronic delivery, if an electronic mailing address has been provided by the tenant.
(D) Posting a written notice in a conspicuous place at the unit entry in a manner in which a reasonable person would discover the notice.
(3) (A) Upon receipt of written notification, the tenant may agree in writing, or if notification was electronically delivered,
the tenant may agree through electronic delivery, to allow the landlord or authorized agent to apply a pesticide immediately or at an agreed upon time.
(B) (i) Prior to receipt of written notification, the tenant and the landlord or authorized agent may agree orally to an immediate pesticide application if a tenant requests that the pesticide be applied before 24-hour advance notice can be given. The oral agreement shall include the name and brand of the pesticide product proposed to be used.
(ii) With respect to a tenant entering into an oral agreement for immediate pesticide application, the landlord or authorized agent, no later than the time of pesticide application, shall leave the written notice specified in paragraph (1) in a conspicuous place in the dwelling unit, or at the entrance of the unit in a manner in which a reasonable person would discover
the notice.
(iii) If any tenants in adjacent dwelling units are also required to be notified pursuant to this subdivision, the landlord or authorized agent shall provide those tenants with this notice as soon as practicable after the oral agreement is made authorizing immediate pesticide application, but in no case later than commencement of application of the pesticide.
(4) (A) This subdivision shall not be construed to require an association, as defined in Section 4080, to provide notice of pesticide use in a separate interest, as defined in Section 4185, within a common interest development, as defined in Section 4100.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), an association, as defined in Section 4080, that has taken title to a separate interest, as defined in Section 4185, shall provide
notification to tenants as specified in this subdivision.
(c) (1) A landlord or authorized agent that applies any pesticide to a common area without a licensed pest control operator, excluding routine pesticide applications described in subdivision (d), shall post written notice in a conspicuous place in the common area in which a pesticide is to be applied that contains the following statements and information using words with common and everyday meaning:
(A) The pest or pests to be controlled.
(B) The name and brand of the pesticide product proposed to be used.
(C) “State law requires that you be given the following information:
CAUTION -
PESTICIDES ARE TOXIC CHEMICALS. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency allow the unlicensed use of certain pesticides based on existing scientific evidence that there are no appreciable risks if proper use conditions are followed or that the risks are outweighed by the benefits. The degree of risk depends upon the degree of exposure, so exposure should be minimized.
If within 24 hours following application of a pesticide, a person experiences symptoms similar to common seasonal illness comparable to influenza, the person should contact a physician, appropriate licensed health care provider, or the California Poison Control System (1-800-222-1222).
For further information, contact any of the following: for Health Questions - the County Health Department (telephone number) and for Regulatory Information - the Department of Pesticide Regulation
(916-324-4100).”
(D) The approximate date, time, and frequency with which the pesticide will be applied.
(2) (A) The notice shall be posted before a pesticide application in a common area and shall remain posted for at least 24 hours after the pesticide is applied.
(B) Landlords and their authorized agents are not liable for any notice removed from a common area without the knowledge or consent of the landlord or authorized agent.
(C) If the pest poses an immediate threat to health and safety, thereby making compliance with notification prior to the pesticide application required in subparagraph (A) unreasonable, a landlord or authorized agent shall post the notification as soon as
practicable, but not later than one hour after the pesticide is applied.
(3) If a common area lacks a suitable place to post a notice, then the landlord shall provide the notice to each dwelling unit in at least one of the following ways:
(A) First-class mail.
(B) Personal delivery to the tenant, someone of suitable age and discretion at the premises, or under the usual entry door of the premises.
(C) Electronic delivery, if an electronic mailing address has been provided by the tenant.
(D) Posting a written notice in a conspicuous place at the unit entry in a manner in which a reasonable person would discover the notice.
(4) This subdivision shall not be construed to require any landlord or authorized agent, or an association, as defined in Section 4080, to provide notice of pesticide use in common areas within a common interest development, as defined in Section 4100.
(d) (1) A landlord or authorized agent that routinely applies pesticide in a common area on a set schedule without a licensed pest control operator shall provide a tenant in each dwelling unit with written notice that contains the following statements and information using words with common and everyday meaning:
(A) The pest or pests to be controlled.
(B) The name and brand of the pesticide product proposed to be used.
(C) “State law requires that you be given the
following information:
CAUTION - PESTICIDES ARE TOXIC CHEMICALS. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency allow the unlicensed use of certain pesticides based on existing scientific evidence that there are no appreciable risks if proper use conditions are followed or that the risks are outweighed by the benefits. The degree of risk depends upon the degree of exposure, so exposure should be minimized.
If within 24 hours following application of a pesticide, a person experiences symptoms similar to common seasonal illness comparable to influenza, the person should contact a physician, appropriate licensed health care provider, or the California Poison Control System (1-800-222-1222).
For further information, contact any of the following: for Health Questions - the County Health
Department (telephone number) and for Regulatory Information - the Department of Pesticide Regulation (916-324-4100).”
(D) The schedule pursuant to which the pesticide will be routinely applied.
(2) (A) The landlord or authorized agent shall provide the notice to both of the following:
(i) Existing tenants prior to the initial pesticide application.
(ii) Each new tenant prior to entering into a lease agreement.
(B) The landlord or authorized agent shall provide the notice to the tenant in at least one of the following ways:
(i) First-class mail.
(ii) Personal delivery to the tenant, someone of suitable age and discretion at the premises, or under the usual entry door of the premises.
(iii) Electronic delivery, if an electronic mailing address has been provided by the tenant.
(iv) Posting a written notice in a conspicuous place at the unit entry in a manner in which a reasonable person would discover the notice.
(C) If the pesticide to be used is changed, a landlord or authorized agent shall provide a new notice pursuant to paragraph (1).
(D) This subdivision shall not be construed to require any landlord or authorized agent, or an association, as defined in Section 4080, to provide notice of pesticide use in common areas within a
common interest development, as defined in Section 4100.
(e) Nothing in this section abrogates the responsibility of a registered structural pest control company to abide by the notification requirements of Section 8538 of the Business and Professions Code.
(f) Nothing in this section authorizes a landlord or authorized agent to enter a tenant’s dwelling unit in violation of Section 1954.
(g) If a tenant is provided notice in compliance with this section, a landlord or authorized agent is not required to provide additional information, and the information shall be deemed adequate to inform the tenant regarding the application of pesticides.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Cal. Civ. Code § 1940.8.5 establishes notice requirements when a landlord or authorized agent—rather than a licensed pest control operator—applies pesticides at a residential rental property. Tenants in the affected unit must receive written notice at least 24 hours before application to their unit, and tenants in adjacent units must be notified when broadcast applications, foggers, or aerosol sprays are used. Common areas require posted notices before application, and landlords who follow a routine schedule must notify all tenants in advance of the first application and before any new tenant signs a lease.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on September 11, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1940.8.5, compliant operators document the pest targeted, the pesticide name and brand, and the approximate application schedule in every required notice. They deliver unit-level notices at least 24 hours in advance by mail, personal delivery, electronic means, or conspicuous posting, and they extend that notice to adjacent-unit tenants whenever broadcast methods, foggers, or aerosol sprays are planned. For routine common-area applications, compliant operators provide the required written notice to existing tenants before the first application and to each new tenant before a lease is signed.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Cal. Civ. Code § 1940.8.5 gives you the right to receive advance written notice—including the pesticide name, target pest, and application schedule—before a landlord or authorized agent applies pesticides to your unit or, in certain broadcast situations, to a neighboring unit. If you believe proper notice was not provided, you may raise that as a concern with a local tenant-rights organization or a local rent board if one has jurisdiction over your tenancy. You may also contact the California Department of Pesticide Regulation at 916-324-4100 or your County Health Department with questions about the pesticide itself.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated September 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Jan 1, 2016
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References Out

No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

Cal. Civ. Code § 827
Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.13
Cal. Civ. Code § 1954.50

Related Rules

§ 8.20.060
Maintenance of accessory structures
§ 1940.8
§ 17995.1

Source Information