Michigan pesticide and fertilizer record rules for lawn care companies

Last reviewed October 10, 2026 · 9 min read

The short answer

In Michigan, every commercial applicator keeps verifiable records of its pesticide applications, general use and restricted use alike: the pesticide’s name and EPA registration number, the concentration, the amount of end-use dilution applied, the target pest, purpose or crop site, the date, the address or location, and the method and rate. Keep general use records at least 1 year and restricted use records at least 3 years at the place of business, and send MDARD a yearly county summary of restricted use pesticides before March 1. Lawn applications also need a service agreement, written information for the customer at each application, a lawn marker after broadcast applications and notice to anyone on the state’s notification registry next door. Phosphate fertilizer on turf is allowed only after a test shows a deficiency, for new turf, or as biosolids, natural fertilizer or manipulated manure at no more than 0.25 lb of phosphorus per 1,000 sq ft; Michigan sets no fertilizer record.

General information, not legal advice. Rules change and can depend on what you apply and where. Confirm what applies to your business with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division and the product label before you rely on anything here.

Who regulates lawn care applicators

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), through its Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division, regulates pesticide applicators under Part 83, Pesticide Control, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (MCL 324.8301 et seq.).

MDARD’s rules for applicators are Regulation No. 636, Pesticide Applicators (R 285.636.1 to .17). Its rules for how pesticides are used, including customer information, lawn markers and the notification registry, are Regulation No. 637, Pesticide Use (R 285.637.1 to .17).

Fertilizer on turf falls under Part 85 of the same act, which restricts phosphorus on turf (MCL 324.8512b).

Tip: MDARD says Regulations 633 and 636 are being revised to meet the federal certification rule, with changes estimated to take effect in June 2027, and that commercially certified applicators who apply restricted use pesticides will have additional recordkeeping requirements.

Sources: Mich Admin Code R 285.636.1 to R 285.636.17, Regulation No. 636 Pesticide Applicators (PDF), Mich Admin Code R 285.637.1 to R 285.637.17, Regulation No. 637 Pesticide Use (PDF), MCL 324.8512b Fertilizer containing phosphate; application to turf, MDARD: Certification and Training Requirements

Licenses you need

Pesticide application business license: needed for each place of business if you hold yourself out to the public as being in the business of applying pesticides. MDARD says certification or registration alone does not let you apply pesticides for hire. The license costs $100 and expires every December 31.
The license holder must be a certified applicator or employ one to apply or supervise applications, and the certified applicator named on the application may not represent more than one licensee or place of business. A new license also needs 2 application seasons as an employee of a commercial applicator (or comparable education and experience), or a pest-related bachelor’s degree plus 1 season, on a notarized statement.
Insurance: comprehensive general liability that does not exclude pesticide applications, at least $100,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $25,000 per occurrence for property damage for turf and ornamental categories. If it lapses during the license period, the license is suspended until coverage is restored.
Everyone who applies: no one may apply pesticides for a commercial purpose or in the course of employment without being certified or registered, and they must be at least 18. MDARD says every employee of a licensed firm who applies pesticides must be a certified applicator or a registered technician.
Certified applicator: lawn care is category 3A, turfgrass pest management, and 3B, ornamental pest management (evergreens, shrubs and shade trees outdoors). Pass the commercial core exam and at least one category exam with 70% or more; the fee is $75. Credentials run to December 31 of the third year after issue.
Renewal: earn 8 recertification seminar credits per category, including the core, before the credential expires, or retake the exams, and pay the $75 fee. A credential not renewed within a year after it expires means starting over as a new applicator.
Registered applicator: may apply general use pesticides for a commercial purpose but never restricted use pesticides. Pass the commercial core exam and finish a category-specific training program approved by MDARD and run by an approved trainer; the fee is $45. A registered applicator must complete a training program every 3 years to renew.
Restricted use pesticides: only a certified applicator may use them, with direct supervision when the label, the law or the rules require it. A certified applicator is responsible for the people they supervise, and gives verifiable oral or written instructions, including how to reach them, for a restricted use application made without them present.
Trainees: under an approved training program, a noncertified trainee may apply general use pesticides for 2 consecutive weeks under a certified applicator’s direct supervision, but only after the trainer has notified MDARD on its form; the trainee carries a copy of the notice.

Tip: Carry your certification card or temporary credential on every application; MDARD says applying without it is a violation. Every vehicle that carries pesticides shows the firm’s name and its business phone number, address or USDOT number in letters at least 3 inches high. Michigan has reciprocal certification with Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin for applicators living in the issuing state.

Sources: MCL 324.8313 Commercial applicator license, MDARD: Pesticide Application Businesses, MCL 324.8317 Fees, Mich Admin Code R 285.636.1 to R 285.636.17, Regulation No. 636 Pesticide Applicators (PDF), MCL 324.8314 Certified or registered applicator for commercial application, MDARD: Pesticide Applicator Certification, MDARD: Renewal Process, MDARD: Pesticide Application Certification Details & FAQ, MCL 324.8311 Certification; records of certified commercial applicator, Mich Admin Code R 285.637.1 to R 285.637.17, Regulation No. 637 Pesticide Use (PDF)

What to record for each application

Under R 285.636.15, every commercial applicator keeps verifiable records of its pesticide applications, general use and restricted use alike. Each record shows:

The name and EPA registration number of the pesticide applied
The concentration of the pesticide applied (the rules define concentration as the volume of pesticide formulation and the volume of carrier used to make the end-use dilution)
The amount of the end-use dilution applied
The target pest, purpose or crop site
The date it was applied
The address or location of the application
The method and the rate of application

For restricted use pesticides the law also asks for the registration number, product name, formulated amount applied and location, and a summary of the previous calendar year (registration number, product name and total formulated amount applied in each county) must reach MDARD before March 1 on its forms. The law treats that summary as confidential business information.

Do not apply when the weather favors drift, and check for sensitive areas on neighboring properties first. When drift is likely, work under a written drift management plan reviewed every year, and keep a record of the sites where you used it with a copy of the plan (1 year for general use, 3 years for restricted use). If drift happens, tell the residents of the affected area before leaving the site, with a contact name, address and phone number.

MDARD may fine up to $1,000 per violation of Part 83, or issue a warning. A violation is also a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $5,000 fine, or both, and the attorney general may seek a civil fine of up to $5,000 per violation.

Sources: Mich Admin Code R 285.636.1 to R 285.636.17, Regulation No. 636 Pesticide Applicators (PDF), MCL 324.8311 Certification; records of certified commercial applicator, Mich Admin Code R 285.637.1 to R 285.637.17, Regulation No. 637 Pesticide Use (PDF), MCL 324.8333 Violations; fines; misdemeanors

How long to keep records and who can ask for them

General use pesticide records: at least 1 year after the application.
Restricted use pesticide records: at least 3 years after the application.
The employer keeps the records at the place of business and shows them to MDARD’s authorized representative on request during normal business hours.
On request, give the customer the product labels, safety data sheets, EPA fact sheets if available, and a document showing the application rate of the active ingredients. A customer acting for the residents of the treated property passes this on to them on request.

Sources: MCL 324.8311 Certification; records of certified commercial applicator, Mich Admin Code R 285.636.1 to R 285.636.17, Regulation No. 636 Pesticide Applicators (PDF), Mich Admin Code R 285.637.1 to R 285.637.17, Regulation No. 637 Pesticide Use (PDF)

Customer notice, posting and lawn signs

Service agreement: before applying, make an oral or written agreement with the customer covering their consent, your firm’s name, address and phone number, and the approximate schedule, frequency and duration of the work. It lasts no more than 12 months unless you send written notice of continued service each year, saying how to cancel, or it is a signed contract for a definite period.
At each application, give the customer in writing: your firm’s name, address and phone number, the applicator’s full name, the target pests, the pesticides applied with the common name of each active ingredient, the time and date, and the label’s precautionary warnings or reentry restrictions. Give it no later than the application, or electronically within 48 hours after it if the customer agreed to that in writing beforehand.
By the first application, give the customer written risk and benefit information: what a pesticide is, how pesticides work and why they are used, general toxicity and exposure information, precautions, environmental fate, and advice to discuss site preparation with you and to see a physician after an unusual reaction.
Lawn markers: right after a broadcast, foliar or space application to a lawn or ornamental site, place a marker at the primary point or points of entry, and tell the customer it should stay up 24 hours and then be removed. The marker is 4 by 5 inches, rigid and weather-resistant, at least 12 inches above the turf, green on white on both sides, with only “CAUTION”, “Pesticide Application”, “Keep Off Until Dry”, a crossed-out picture of an adult and child walking a dog, and “Customer: Please Remove After 24 Hours”. Anything else on it needs MDARD’s written approval. General use ready-to-use products are exempt.
Notification registry: MDARD keeps a yearly list of people who, with a physician’s certificate, need notice before pesticides go on properties next to their home. It publishes the list by March 15, and turf (3A) and ornamental (3B) businesses can get it from MDARD’s registry page. Before applying a lawn or ornamental pesticide (other than a general use ready-to-use product) at a listed address, notify the contact person by phone the business day before, or by written notice left at the main entrance at least 24 hours before. Give your name, address and phone number, the expected date and approximate time, the location and each active ingredient. A postponed application needs a new notice. Closed injection systems are exempt.
Schools: no outdoor liquid spray on school grounds within 100 feet of occupied classroom buildings during school hours or while people are using the area, and tell the building manager of label reentry intervals for anything applied on school or day care property.

Local governments may adopt the state’s posting and notification rules as an ordinance, with fines of up to $500. Under such an ordinance, missing a registry notice is fined $50, $100, $250 and $500 for the first to fourth offense, and missing lawn markers $25, $50, $100 and $200. Never claim a pesticide is absolutely safe, endorsed by a state or federal agency, or “all natural” without support.

Sources: Mich Admin Code R 285.637.1 to R 285.637.17, Regulation No. 637 Pesticide Use (PDF), MDARD: Pesticide Notification Registry, MCL 324.8328 Local governments; powers

Fertilizer rules

Part 85 sets no certification or license for people fertilizing lawns and no fertilizer application record. Its turf rules apply to closely mowed, managed grass on residential, commercial and industrial property, golf courses and public land (not commercial farms):

No fertilizer labeled as containing phosphate (P2O5) on turf, except: when a soil, tissue or other test from a qualified laboratory in the last 3 years shows a deficiency (no more than needed to correct it); for new turf from seed or sod in its first growing season with no test (no more than the director’s standard new-turf rate); or biosolids, a natural fertilizer or a manipulated manure at no more than 0.25 lb of phosphorus per 1,000 sq ft at a time.
No fertilizer within 15 feet of surface water unless a natural vegetative buffer at least 10 feet wide separates them, or you use a spreader guard, deflector shield or drop spreader and stay at least 3 feet from the water.
Do not clean a spreader where the wash water drains directly into the waters of the state, including a drain.
Promptly contain fertilizer spilled on an impervious surface and apply it legally or put it back in a container.
No fertilizer on turf when the soil is frozen or saturated with water.
Breaking these rules is a state civil infraction with a fine of up to $1,000 per violation (up to $50 when the owner or lessee, a family member or a resident does it on a single-family residential parcel or a parcel with no more than 4 acres of turf).

Sources: MCL 324.8501 Definitions (Part 85 Fertilizers), MCL 324.8512b Fertilizer containing phosphate; application to turf, MCL 324.8512f Fertilizer on impervious surfaces; frozen or saturated turf, MCL 324.8520 Violations; penalties (Part 85)

How GroundsQuote’s chemical records line up

GroundsQuote keeps an application record for each chemical a crew puts down on a job. On a job at a property in Michigan, Finish job asks the crew for the details Michigan lists, and the records export with the columns in Michigan’s order. Here is each item Michigan lists, set against what the record actually holds. Keeping the record complete and correct is still your responsibility.

Michigan record items and GroundsQuote’s chemical application record
Michigan asks for	In GroundsQuote	Status
Name of the pesticide	Product name, as entered in the chemical’s setup	Recorded
EPA registration number	EPA Reg. No., from the chemical’s setup	Recorded
Concentration (volume of formulation and volume of carrier in the end-use dilution)	Mix ratio and the water or carrier in gallons, set on the job; required on Michigan jobs	Recorded
Amount of end-use dilution applied	Gallons of mix applied, set on the job (total used for a product applied as is)	Recorded
Target pest, purpose or crop site	Target pest (editable on the job), the service, and where on the property	Recorded
Date applied	Date applied	Recorded
Address or location of the application	Address, city, state, ZIP and county	Recorded
Method of application	Equipment used, set on the job (it starts from the chemical’s setup); required on Michigan jobs	Recorded
Rate of application	Rate applied (per area)	Recorded
Restricted use: formulated amount applied	Total product used	Recorded
Restricted use: yearly county summary to MDARD before March 1	Not built: the records export, but the app does not total them by county or fill in MDARD’s form	Not recorded
Drift management plan and the sites where it was used	Not kept	Not recorded
Registry notices before applying next to a listed address	Registry notices and attempts can be logged with a copy on the customer’s page, but the app does not load MDARD’s list, flag jobs next to a listed address or send the notice	Partly
Written information for the customer at each application	The application statement gives your firm’s name, address and phone, everyone who applied it, the target pests, each product with its active ingredients as entered, the date and time and the re-entry time; the label’s precautionary warnings appear only as your note for the customer, and the customer’s written OK for email is not recorded	Partly
Labels, safety data sheets, EPA fact sheets and an active ingredient rate document on customer request	A copy of each label is kept on the chemical; safety data sheets, fact sheets and the rate document are not	Partly

The service agreement and its yearly continuation notice, the risk and benefit sheet and registry calls are yours to handle outside GroundsQuote. GroundsQuote prints Michigan’s lawn marker in the rule’s wording, the same on both sides; placing it is yours. Keep the drift management plan and the restricted use county summary with your own files.

Everything a GroundsQuote application record holds

When:: Date and time applied (when the job was finished), job start and finish times (the office can correct them), and when people may go back onto the lawn (from the label’s re-entry interval)
Where:: Customer name, phone and mailing address, street address, city, state, ZIP and county of the property, and where on the property it went (front lawn, beds, fence line…)
Who:: Everyone who applied it (the crew riding that day starts checked) and the person supervising, with each one’s standing (certified, registered technician, trained, not certified or registered), license number, category and expiry, and the business license when license-keeping is switched on
Product:: Name, type, manufacturer, EPA registration number, state registration number, EUP / Section 18 / 24(c) number, active ingredients, N-P-K and slow-release %, formulation, restricted-use flag, signal word, re-entry interval, and a copy of the label on file
Amounts:: Rate applied (per area), area treated in sq ft, total product used, mix ratio, water or carrier, gallons of mix applied, lb of N and P per 1,000 sq ft
Job:: Target pest and the equipment used (both set on the job), service and crew
Weather:: From the nearest weather station at the start and finish (temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, gusts, rain in the last hour, conditions), and the conditions on site: the crew confirms the station reading or enters the wind, direction and temperature they measured
Your state:: Each job follows the rules of the state its property is in: Finish job asks for the details that state lists and waits until they are filled in, and the records export in that state’s column order
Paperwork:: An application statement for each job to print, leave or email (each product with its EPA number, active ingredients, type, purpose, rate, amount and mix, where on the property, the date and time, who applied it, the re-entry time and your notes for the customer, with the state’s own lines), and lawn signs laid out from the state’s rule
Kept beside the records:: Each person’s training, ID copies and certificates and what they are responsible for; neighbor requests and notices, registry notices and attempts, notices given to customers, signed waivers and contracts, each with a copy of the paper
Changes:: Corrections are saved as history; the earlier record is kept

See how it works on the job in chemical records and field tools, or read about GroundsQuote for lawn treatment companies.

Official sources

Everything on this page comes from these Michigan sources, checked on October 10, 2026. Read them for the full text and any changes since.

Keep application records as the crew finishes the job

Set the chemicals each service uses once. The crew sees the planned amounts for each lawn, and finishing the job saves the record with the product, rate, area, applicator and weather.

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Questions

Do I need records for general use products, or only restricted use?

Both. R 285.636.15 asks every commercial applicator to keep the same seven items for general use and restricted use applications. General use records are kept at least 1 year and restricted use records at least 3 years.

Do I have to put out a lawn sign in Michigan?

Yes, after a broadcast, foliar or space application to a lawn or ornamental site, other than a golf course or farm. Place the state’s 4 by 5 inch marker at the primary point or points of entry right after the application, and tell the customer to leave it up 24 hours and then remove it. General use ready-to-use products are exempt.

What is the Michigan pesticide notification registry?

A yearly list, kept by MDARD, of people who need notice, on a physician’s certificate, before pesticides are applied on properties next to their home. Before a lawn or ornamental application at a listed address, notify the contact person by phone the business day before or with a written notice left at the main entrance at least 24 hours before.

Does Michigan require fertilizer records or a fertilizer license for lawn care?

We found neither in Part 85. It does bar phosphate fertilizer on turf except after a test showing a deficiency, for new turf, or as biosolids, natural fertilizer or manipulated manure at no more than 0.25 lb of phosphorus per 1,000 sq ft, keep fertilizer 15 feet from surface water (with exceptions), and bar fertilizing frozen or saturated ground.

Other states

Pesticide and fertilizer record rules by state →