How to check a Tennessee pest control license

The charter

Tennessee calls a pest control business's permit a charter, and one is required for each office doing commercial pest control. It comes from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Licenses and charters expire on June 30 of odd-numbered years, and a charter holder must keep current insurance and a bond.

What to look for

These come from the department's consumer tips:

• The vehicle. A company may do business legally in Tennessee only if the charter number is visible on its vehicle.
• The applicator's card. Ask to see the Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification card or Commercial Pesticide License card.
• The solicitor's card. A representative soliciting business should have one issued by the department. This matters for door-to-door sales.
• The label. You have the right to ask for a copy of the product label and safety data sheet for what will be used.

Where to check

The department's tips point you to its website for a list of chartered companies, and its pesticide charters page is the place to start. If you can't find a company, ask it for its charter number and contact the department's pesticide section.

EPA also suggests calling the state agency or a local consumer office to ask about complaints, and asking neighbors about their experience.

If something goes wrong

The department can look into alleged pesticide misuse, substandard termite treatments under a current contract, failure to issue a termite contract, and unlicensed applicators. It says it has no authority over prices, payment disputes, non-pesticide services, or personal or property damage disputes. For those, look to the contract, your insurer or a lawyer.

Oak Grove is a different state

Kentucky has its own rules. See the Oak Grove page for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture branch that licenses companies there.