District of Columbia pesticide application records: what the rule requires (20 DCMR §2516)

Not legal advice. This summarizes our research of the official rule, checked October 2, 2026. Rules change and may require more than what is listed here: confirm with the official text or with the agency (DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE)).

What the record must include

Applicator name or ID and certification number
Supervising certified applicator's name and certification number, if applicable
Address of the treated property and name of the customer
Date of application
Time of application
Type of structure (or plant/animal) treated and target pest
Description or square/cubic footage of the structure treated
Wind direction, estimated speed and weather conditions
Brand name of the pesticide and type of formulation
Pesticide classification (restricted use, District restricted use, or non-essential)
Dilution rate as applied (percent active ingredient)
Amount of diluted material applied
Type of equipment used
EPA registration number

How long to keep it

2 years. Invoices given to customers are kept 3 years (§2516.6).

What the customer gets

Before applying, give the customer written information (§2211.1): operator name and license, phone, the National Capital Poison Control Center line, re-entry interval, target pest, pesticide or active ingredient, and a fixed statement headed "Notice of Pesticide Application" that includes a HAS / HAS NOT box on reduced-risk pesticides.

Termites, fumigation and other cases

On request, notice at least 24 hours before the application (if requested at least 48 hours ahead).
Multifamily buildings: information to the customer at least 48 hours before; the owner notifies tenants 24 hours to 7 days before and posts in common areas.
RUP applied outside an enclosed structure: notice to adjoining properties.

Recent changes

Final Rulemaking 73 DCR 001173 (effective February 6, 2026) renumbered the rules: the record rule is now §2516 with 2-year retention (the old §2508 with 3 years and DOEE's "Chapters 22-25" PDF are outdated), and weather is now listed for every application (the prior text said "where applicable").

How PestSheet covers it in District of Columbia

Before you complete a visit for a client in District of Columbia, PestSheet checks that these fields are filled in:

Applicator license or certification number
EPA registration number
Amount applied
Rate or dilution
Target pest
Areas or sites treated
Application method
Size of the area treated
Weather (wind, temperature)

Also:

Reminds you to keep records at least 2 years.
Export the records of any period as PDF or CSV for an inspection (Pro).

The client's name and address, the service date and start time, and the applicator's name are always recorded. The app uses the 20 DCMR §2516 template. It doesn't check items the app doesn't record (for example active ingredients or equipment); those remain your responsibility.

What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the details of the non-essential pesticide restrictions for schools and child care centers (D.C. Law 19-191).

Sources

Checked October 2, 2026.

Pesticide application records in District of Columbia