The Tennessee Application of Pesticides Act (TAPA) requires that a company providing or offering for sale any custom pesticide application must have a pest control charter. A charter is a type of permit issued by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) authorizing a person, firm, or corporation to engage in the business of commercial pest control operations.
A charter is required for each individual location. For example, if a company has an office in Nashville and another in Memphis, each location would be required to have its own charter.
Requirements for Application for Charter
- Completed application (available from TDA).
- A $10,000 surety bond (see #4 if WDO, GRC, FUM, or BDC).
- Completed Certificate of Surety Bond
- Proof of liability insurance with the minimum coverages of $250,000 per incident and $500,000 aggregate.
- For new companies holding a WDO, GRC, FUM, or BDC license, a $50,000 surety bond is required for the first 3-years of business, but reduces to $10,000 in the 4th year.
- For those firms that have a WDO license, they must carry errors and omissions coverage with minimums of $100,000 per incident and $300,000 aggregate.
- At least one licensee in each category of service offered. A licensee can only be listed on one charter.
Charter Fees
Fees are subject to change.
- $400 charter fee
- $50 fee for each licensing category passed to obtain charter
- $50 fee for each technician or solicitor working under the license listed on a charter
All fees are paid every two years and may be prorated the first year.
- Application for the TN Pest Control Applicator License and Charter
- Application to remove individuals from a Charter
