Texas Pest Control Licensing Rules

In Texas, structural pest control is regulated by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) under the Texas Structural Pest Control Service (SPCS). All commercial pest control businesses must hold a valid TPCL (Texas Pest Control License).

Who Needs a License?

Any business that offers pest control services for hire — including termite treatment, general household pest control, and wood-destroying insect inspections — must hold a TPCL. Individual applicators must also be licensed, but the business license (TPCL) is what identifies the company.

License Categories

Texas pest control businesses are licensed by pest category. Common categories include:

• GA — General Household Pest (ants, cockroaches, spiders, etc.)
• WI — Wood-Destroying Insects (termites)
• OP — Ornamental and Turf
• NE — Nuisance Pest (rodents, wildlife)
• FO — Fumigation
• PA — Public Health

A contractor's license will list which categories they are authorized to work in. Many companies hold multiple categories.

How to Verify a Texas Pest Control License

You can verify a Texas pest control business license through the TDA website or by looking up the TPCL number in our directory listings. All contractors in our Texas listings are verified from TDA's active license database.

Wildlife Removal in Texas

Wildlife removal in Texas is regulated separately by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Nuisance animal trappers must hold a TPWD permit. However, many licensed pest control companies (holding the NE category) also handle rodent and nuisance pest exclusion as part of their structural pest services.