What the statute asks of a fumigator
Fumigation is one of the four operator certificate categories in s. 482.111, alongside general household, lawn and ornamental, and termites and other wood-destroying organisms. Anyone who fumigates holds a special identification card or is a certified operator certified in fumigation, under s. 482.151.
Section 482.211 exempts a person doing pest control on his or her own residential property, and it carves fumigation out of that exemption. A homeowner can't treat the house with gas as an own-property job.
Fumigation cost in Florida: what our model says
Fumigating a home of about 2,000 square feet comes to $1,700 to $9,125 in our model, and a per-square-foot row sits in the table. Both are one national source, widened 15 percent each side and scaled by Florida's wage ratio of 0.99; neither is a quote.
No Florida company fumigation price was counted. Ask what the price includes: the notice, the sealing, the clearance reading and any re-treatment.
| Item | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range, not a quote | $1,700 to $9,125 per home, about 2,000 square feet | Built from one national published range, adjusted by the Florida pest control worker wage ratio (0.99). Four Florida pest control companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (no counted Florida company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Estimated range per square foot, not a quote | $1 to $5 per square foot | Built from one national published range, adjusted by the Florida pest control worker wage ratio (0.99). Four Florida pest control companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (no counted Florida company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Pest control pay, Florida | $22.15 an hour | Florida mean pay for pest control workers (BLS, May 2025), not a fumigation price. |
| Insurance floor for a fumigating business | $1 million per person, $2 million per occurrence | Bodily injury limit in s. 482.071 for a licensee that fumigates, with property damage at $1 million and $2 million. |
Estimated range. Built from national published ranges (1 source), adjusted by Florida's pest control worker wage ratio to the US (0.99, BLS May 2025), with no permit fee added because pest control has no city permit. Not a quote. Four Florida pest control companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. We have no counted Florida company price for this job, so the range is our national estimate alone. Full method. Prices as of Oct 24, 2026.
The written notice and the stop-work order
The written notice to FDACS gives the location and arrives at least 24 hours before a general fumigation. FDACS can issue an immediate stop-use or stop-work order for fumigation done against the label or the rules, with the statute's examples being a missing warning agent, missing signs and entrances left unsecured.
FDACS may also require clearance procedures before residents re-occupy. Section 482.051 prints no re-entry hours, so ask the company which clearance reading it'll take before you go back in.
Credentials, cards and insurance
A fumigating company carries more insurance than other pest control businesses: bodily injury of $1 million per person and $2 million per occurrence, and property damage of $1 million and $2 million, or $2 million combined. Other businesses need $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury.
The special identification card has its own fees. The statute allows $100 to $200 for the examination and $50 to $100 for the card and for renewal. Rule 5E-14.123(2) and FDACS's fee page, with fees as of July 1, 2016, put the examination at $200.
What to ask for in the proposal
A proposal for gas treatment should name the organism the company found. Ask for that written finding, the date and time the notice goes to FDACS, the clearance step and who holds the fumigation certificate for the job.
Does fumigation need a same-day call?
- A tented house with no warning signs or an unsecured entrance, which s. 482.051 lists among the grounds for a stop-work order. FDACS listed (850) 617-7996 for complaints as of August 29, 2026.
- Comparing proposals line by line for the finding, the notice date and the clearance step.
- Choosing a date, since the written notice only has to reach FDACS 24 hours ahead.
Steps before the visit
- Ask for the written finding that names the organism.
- Ask for the date and time the notice reaches FDACS.
- Ask which clearance step must pass before you go back in.
- Ask who on the crew holds the fumigation certificate or special card.
- Ask what the price includes if a second treatment is needed.
Fumigation licensing in Florida
Fumigation needs the business license for the location, an operator in charge certified in fumigation, and a special identification card or fumigation certificate for each person using the gas. No city or county fumigation permit exists; a local business tax receipt is the only local charge. Ask for the business license number and the name of the operator in charge.
Ask for the company's FDACS business license number and the name of its certified operator in charge, and check the license with FDACS before any work starts.
Questions people ask
How much does home fumigation cost in Florida?
Our model's range is $1,700 to $9,125 for a home of about 2,000 square feet, an estimate and not a quote. The table adds a per-square-foot estimate. Ask what the price includes before you compare bids.
Do I have to tell the state before fumigation?
The company does: it notifies FDACS in writing, received at least 24 hours before a general fumigation. The notice gives the location. Section 482.051(4) sets the rule.
Can FDACS stop a fumigation?
Yes: it may issue an immediate stop-use or stop-work order for fumigation done against the label or the rules. The examples in s. 482.051 include no required warning agent, missing signs and entrances not secured.
When can I go back into a fumigated house in Florida?
After clearance: s. 482.051 lets FDACS require clearance procedures before residents re-occupy. Ask the company which clearance step it uses and who tells you the house is clear.
Can I fumigate my own house in Florida?
No: s. 482.211 exempts pest control on your own residential property but excludes fumigation. Anyone who fumigates needs a fumigation certificate or a special identification card under s. 482.151.
What insurance does a Florida fumigator carry?
At least $1 million per person and $2 million per occurrence for bodily injury, with property damage at $1 million and $2 million. The limits are in s. 482.071. Other pest control businesses carry lower limits.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Pest Control Workers (SOC 37-2021), Florida, mean hourly wage Read Oct 24, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Pest Control Workers (SOC 37-2021), United States, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- PestControlMatch: how we estimate costs, Florida (editorial policy) Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Florida Statutes 2026 (Online Sunshine), chapter 482 Pest Control, page header "The 2026 Florida Statutes", s. 482.071 (history line cites s. 15, ch. 2026-3) Read Oct 24, 2026.
- FLRules 5E-14.132, 5E-14.123, 5E-14.136 (Word files read) Read Oct 24, 2026.
- FDACS: What are the pest control licensing fees? (Wayback 2026-09-29) Read Oct 24, 2026.
- FDACS Termites page (Wayback 2026-08-29); FDACS licensing portal footer Read Oct 24, 2026.