ACTION: Notice of Intent to Amend the Structural Pest Commission Rules
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES:
Pursuant to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, O.C.G.A. § 50-13-4 and § 43-45-16, notice is hereby given that the Georgia Department of Agriculture (the “Department”) will be accepting written comments regarding the proposed amendments of GA. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 620-1-.01 through 620-11-.01 (the “SPCC Rules”). The Department will be accepting written comments from January 3, 2026, to close of business (4:30 p.m. ET) on February 2, 2026.
SYNOPSIS AND MAIN FEATURES:
Synopsis:
Statement of Purpose.
The Department is proposing to amend the SPCC Rules in order to reflect updates to Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, clarify language and compliance requirements, and better reflect the realities of current practices of professional pest management. These amendments also seek to provide a path for registered employees to obtain certification to be able to apply and purchase federal and state restricted use pesticides.
Rule 620-2-.01 Definitions
The proposed amendments:
- Define “certified registered employee.” Rule 620-2-.01(j).
- Define “general examination.” Rule 620-2-.01(t).
- Incorporate the EPA’s required minimum age for certification and make grammar updates. Rule 620-2-.01(k).
- Clarifies what is not considered a service container. Rule 620-2-.01(ak).
- Update the numbering of cross-referenced rules and implement grammatical corrections. Rule 620-2-.01.
Rule 620-3-.01 Qualifications and Procedures
The proposed amendments:
- Update the Department’s mailing address by incorporating by reference the address posted on the Department’s website. Rule 620-3-.01(1).
- Include language reflecting Commission policy regarding the length of time passing General Examination scores are honored and the requirement that an applicant wait six months before retaking the certified operator examination if they fail an exam twice within a 12-month period. Rule 620-3-.01(3)(e).
- Add language specifying the requirements to become a certified registered employee and a certified operator. Rules 620-3-.01(3) and 620-3-.01(4).
- Include cross-references to the new federal regulations and implement grammatical corrections. Rule 620-3-.01.
Rule 620-3-.02 Responsibilities of the Licensee; Certified Operator; and Employee
The proposed amendments:
- Implement grammatical edits. Rules 620-3-.02(1)(b), 620-3-.02(1)(c), 620-3-.02(1)(d)(1), 620-3-.02(1)(e)(4), 620-3-.02(1)(e)(8), and 620-3-.02(1)(j).
- Add certified registered employee to the list of individuals who are allowed to supervise employees soliciting business or performing pest control work. Rule 620-3-.02(1)(e).
- Add integrated pest management for the classroom training requirement for the registration or reregistration of noncertified employees. Rule 620-3-.02(1)(e)(1).
- Add language including certified registered employees as acceptable providers and documenters of on-the-job training of registered employees. Rules 620-3-.02(1)(e)(2) and 620-3-.02(1)(e)(3).
- Add language consistent with Notice 18-05: Employee Registration detailing the length of time that training documentation must be retained. Rule 620-3-.02(1)(e)(3).
- Clarify that a licensee must register employees who are certified only in Honey Bee Control and Removal and who are also involved in the solicitation or performance of pest control work in Household Pest Control, Wood Destroying Organism Control and/or Fumigation. Rule 620-3-.02(1)(e)(9).
- Add a standardized Electronic Communication Acknowledgment Statement, consistent with Notice 14-02: Pesticide Use Records. Rule 620-3-.02(1)(g).
- Add requirements that must be met before a noncertified applicator can lawfully apply a restricted use pesticide or State restricted use pesticide. Rule 620-3-.02(1)(k).
- Remove the requirement that an outdoor application be associated with an interior structural application of pesticides in order to reflect the realities of current practices in professional pest management and current integrated pest management practices. Rule 620-3-.02(1)(l).
- Clarify when a service container may not be used in order to improve compliance. Rule 620-3-.02(1)(m).
Rule 620-3-.03 Recertification
The proposed amendments:
- Include cross-references to the new federal regulations. Rule 620-3-.03(1).
- Implement grammatical edits. Rules 620-3-.03(1)(a) and 620-3-.03(2)(a).
- Enumerate the recertification requirements for certified operators who add operational categories prior to their certification expiration. Rule 620-3-.03(1)(c).
- Enumerate the recertification requirements for certified registered employees. Rule 620-3-.03(2).
Rule 620-3-.04 Revocation of License, Certification or Registration
The proposed amendments:
- Implement a grammatical edit. Rule 620-3-.04(1)(d).
- Add language explaining that the certification of any certified registered employee who fails to renew their certification pursuant to Rule 620-3-.03 is revoked through operation of law on the expiration date of the certification. Rule 620-3-.04(2).
Rule 620-6-.01 Definitions – Wood Destroying Organisms
The proposed amendment clarifies that pesticides need to be registered with the EPA and the Department. Rule 620-6-.01(1).
Rule 620-6-.02 Contracts
The proposed amendment implements a grammatical edit. Rule 620-6-.02(1)(h).
Rule 620-6-.03 Official Georgia Wood Infestation Inspection Report
The proposed amendments:
- Update the numbering of cross-referenced rules. Rules 620-6-.03(1)(a), 620-6-.03(1)(b), 620-6-.03(1)(c), and 620-6-.03(1)(d).
- Correct a typographical error. Rule 620-6-.03(2).
- Add language to the Official Georgia Wood Infestation Inspection Report to make it consistent with Notice 14-09 Official Waiver. Rule 620-6-.03(2).
- Update the revision date of the Official Georgia Wood Infestation Inspection Report. Rule 620-6-.03(2).
Rule 620-6-.04 Control Measures
The proposed amendment increases the percentage of exposed soil surface that must be covered from 70 percent to at least 90 percent, consistent with the International Building Code and Notice 14-08: Under-Floor Space Ventilation Fact Sheet. Rule 620-6-.04(5)(a).
Rule 620-6-.05 Inspection
The proposed amendment indicates that cores shall be composited in any suitable container, not just polyethylene bags. Rule 620-6-.05(c)(5).
Rule 620-6-.07 Correction of Deviations
The proposed amendments add language to make the Official Waiver Form consistent with Notice 14-09 Official Waiver and correct a typographical error. Rule 620-6-.07.
Rule 620-7-.02 General Requirements
The proposed amendments:
- Provide consistency with the contract requirements of Rule 620-6-.02 and improve conformity with the legality of a contract for the purposes of consumer protection. Rule 620-7-.02(3).
- Add language establishing the length of the retention period that a licensee must maintain copies of all Household Pest Control contracts. Rule 620-7-.02(4).
Rule 620-9-.01 Definitions
The proposed amendments:
- The proposed amendments correct various grammatical and typographical errors. Rule 620-9-.01.
- Define “reentry point.” Rule 620-9-.01(11).
Rule 620-9-.02 General Requirements
The proposed amendments:
- Provide consistency with the contract requirements of Rule 620-6-.02 and improves conformity with the legality of a contract for the purposes of consumer protection. Rule 620-9-.02(2).
- Clarify the necessary elements for a honey bee control and removal job that involves a cut-out or open-air hive in a structure. Rule 620-.02(3).
- Implement grammatical corrections. Rule 620-9-.02.
Rule 620-9-.03 Exceptions
The proposed amendment implements grammatical corrections. Rule 620-9-.03(1).
COMMENT PERIOD AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Department will be accepting written comments from January 3, 2026, to close of business (4:30 p.m. ET) on February 2, 2026. The proposed amendments will be considered at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 47 Trinity Avenue, Room G-07, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334. Please submit written comments to:
Derrick Lastinger
Vice Chairman
Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission
Georgia Department of Agriculture
254 Washington Street, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
E-Mail: spcc@agr.georgia.gov
Interested persons may call or submit a written request to obtain a copy of the proposed rules. A copy of the synopsis and the proposed rules may be downloaded from the Georgia Department of Agriculture website at www.agr.georgia.gov.
This notice is given in compliance with the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-13-4.
