Illinois Pesticide Use and Records

About 5 of every 50 questions on a Illinois General Standards practice exam come from this topic.

Sources checked November 6, 2026

What to know

The Illinois Pesticide Act makes it a violation to use or recommend a pesticide inconsistent with its labeling, to apply pesticides in a faulty, careless or negligent manner, to let another person use one's license, and to use or buy pesticides outside one's licensed category. Selling a restricted use pesticide to an uncertified applicator without a special-exemption permit, or over the Internet to an uncertified Illinois resident, is unlawful, as is using, disposing of or storing pesticides or containers so as to endanger public health and the environment or pollute water. A restricted use pesticide may not be applied on or within 500 feet of school property during normal school hours, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on days classes meet, except whole structure fumigation, and a stricter label controls. Certified commercial applicators and operators keep restricted use records for two years, listing chemical name, USEPA registration number, amount per unit treated, date and site; dealers record each restricted use sale with the purchaser's certification number and type. Information on required records is confidential, and summaries made for purposes other than enforcement may not identify anyone. Incidents and misuse complaints are reported in writing to the Director within 30 days, or within 30 days of when damage becomes evident. Under the Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act, an applicator for hire places a white 4 by 5 inch marker, its bottom at least 12 inches above the turf, at the usual points of entry immediately after treating a lawn, golf courses post notices in the pro shop, locker rooms and first tee, customers are told the reason for each product, requesting neighbors get notice at least the day before or a written notice left at their home, schools and day care centers give notice at least 4 business days ahead and a bulletin board posting is not enough, and rinsing equipment at a facility happens only in a permitted containment area. Commercial barrier mosquitocide applications are barred from October 16 through April 14 and in winds of 10 mph or more, and residential automatic misting systems are banned. Dicamba may not be applied on soybeans after June 20 or when the field temperature or forecast high exceeds 85 degrees F. Violation points of more than 6 but not more than 13 bring a warning letter, penalties unpaid after 60 days go to the Attorney General and can lead to suspension, violations are generally Class A misdemeanors, the Director may seek a search warrant when refused entry, and a written stop use order halts an unlawful use.

Where it comes from

• 415 ILCS 60/14, 60/13.4, 60/13.5, 60/15, 60/16, 60/18, 60/24, 60/24.1
• 415 ILCS 65/3, 65/5
• 8 Ill. Adm. Code 250.150, 250.200, 250.230

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