Get Quotes from Top Pest Control Companies in Detroit, MI

Are You Licensed to Practice as an Exterminator in Detroit?

Activities involving pest management and the use of pesticides in Detroit are regulated at the state level by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) through its Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division (PPPMD).

Per Part 83 of the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, individuals in the city who wish to provide pest management and control-related services must be certified or registered as pesticide applicators by this division before doing so. Exterminators who become certified pesticide applicators are authorized to use and supervise the use of restricted-use pesticides when providing their pest control services. On the other hand, exterminators who become registered pesticide applicators are only authorized to apply general-use pesticides.

Exterminators who wish to become certified or registered pesticide applicators must meet specific eligibility requirements, which include:

• Being at least 18 years old
• Passing all required examinations
• Completing and submitting a Pesticide Applicator Certification/Registration Application Form via the instructions provided in the form and paying the stipulated fees

The PPPMD offers several pesticide certification/registration categories, and individuals who wish to become certified or registered pesticide applicators can apply for as many categories as possible.

In addition, pest control businesses operating in Detroit must obtain a state-issued pesticide applicator's business license from the PPPMD. Applicants for this license must either be certified pesticide applicators or have a certified pesticide applicator in their employ, and the credentials of the applicator must cover the requested licensing categories. Applicants will also have to meet other eligibility requirements, which include:

• Completing a Pesticide Applicator's Business License Form
• Completing a Notarized Letter of Experience Form
• Providing proof of insurance
• Submitting a copy of their DBA Certificate, their Corporation ID number and any associated Certificates of Assumed Names, or their Certificate of Authority to do business in the State of Michigan, whichever is applicable
• Paying the stipulated application fee

The required documentation and fees can be submitted to the PPPMD at:

Additional information concerning the PPPMD's certification, registration, and business licensing procedures and requirements can be obtained in person via the address provided above or by calling (800) 292-3939. Inquiries can also be made by contacting the MDARD's Central Licensing Unit at (517) 284-5771.

You should always confirm that your intended exterminator is certified or registered and possesses a valid state-issued business license. You can do this by accessing the MDARD's List of Licensed Pesticide Application Businesses online or contacting the department at (517) 284-5657 or 1-800-292-3939.

It is important to note that failure to comply with all regulatory requirements for exterminators and pest control businesses in Detroit is considered a misdemeanor and is punishable by jail time of up to 90 days and fines of up to $5,000. Violators may also receive separate administrative fines of up to $1,000 per violation.

Are You Registered with the Michigan State Pest Control Association?

It would be best to always consider hiring an exterminator from the Michigan Pest Management Association (MIPMA) when searching for professional pest control services in Detroit. This is the premier pest control association in the State of Michigan, and it collaborates with the National Pest Management Association to provide its members with access to education, training, and industry resources that translate to better service delivery for consumers.

Some advantages that come with hiring exterminators that are members of the MIPMA include:

• They are typically more experienced and skilled than their counterparts
• They are held to high standards of ethics and professionalism
• They are up-to-date on relevant industry regulations
• They receive ongoing training and education on the latest pest control methods and techniques

You can find members of the MIPMA and NPMA in Detroit by utilizing an online directory that the NPMA provides and maintains for this purpose. You can equally contact the MIPMA at (586) 296-9580 to get referrals to its members operating in the city. Note that you should always request verifiable proof of membership from any exterminators referred to you and confirm that they have been appropriately licensed by the state's Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division (PPPMD).

How Much Do You Charge for Pest Control Services and Why?

It is always a good idea to find out how much an exterminator charges for their services before you finalize any hiring arrangements. Several factors determine the cost of pest control services in Detroit, and these factors include:

• The type of pest involved
• The degree of infestation
• Accessibility to the infested areas
• The type of pest treatment required
• The frequency of the required pest treatment
• The size of your home
• The amount of labor required for the job
• Your location within the city
• The exterminator's reputation

To ensure that you get charged a fair rate for your required pest control service, you should consider getting and comparing estimates for the job from at least three different exterminators in the city.

Note that you should not just hire the exterminator who submits the lowest bid for the job, especially if this exterminator's rates are significantly lower than the other submitted estimates. Always ask for an explanation if you notice significant differences in an exterminator's cost estimates, and be wary of exterminators who cannot provide this explanation.

Pest control workers in Detroit earn an average annual wage of $42,860. The list below compares the average hourly wages of this category of professionals in the city with those in other parts of the State of Michigan and other locations across the United States:

Do You Comply with Detroit Regulations for Pesticide Application?

The Michigan Pesticide Laws and Regulations are a set of rules and statutes that govern pesticides, pest control businesses, and the use of pesticides within Detroit and across the State of Michigan. Some key areas of these regulations that pertain to most pest control and management-related activities in Detroit are:

• The mandatory certification or registration of individuals that apply restricted-use and general-use pesticides, respectively
• The mandatory licensing of all pest control businesses in the city
• The proper siting and registration of all facilities used to store or hold bulk pesticides
• The proper use of all pesticides in ways that are consistent with the requirements of the product's label
• The proper use and maintenance of pesticide application equipment
• The use of adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during pesticide applications
• The application of pesticides in manners that minimize off-target drifts
• The mandatory notification of relevant members of the public at least 24 hours before the application of restricted-use pesticides
• The issuance of oral or written contracts before any for-compensation pesticide application activities

Hiring an exterminator acquainted with the provisions of the Michigan Pesticide Laws and Regulations that affect your specific pest control service is crucial in ensuring that these services are provided satisfactorily.

Queries concerning these laws and regulations can be directed to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development online, via email, or by calling (800) 292-3939 between 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays. Similar inquiries can also be made by contacting the Detroit Mayor's Help Desk at (313) 224-3400.

What Type of Pest Control Method Are You Using?

The type of pest control method that your exterminator intends to use for your requested pest control and management services goes a long way in determining the effectiveness of these services. Professional exterminators in Detroit generally combine at least two or more of the following pest control methods when performing pest control and management activities in the city. These methods are:

• Biological control
• Chemical control
• Habitat modification
• Mechanical control
• Physical control
• Sanitation control

Biological control involves using animals and organisms that prey on or are natural enemies of the pest to control its population in an area. A common example of this is the use of cats for rodent control.

Similarly, physical and mechanical control involves using equipment like baits, traps, alarms, and electromagnetic and ultrasonic emitters like MaxMoxie and Avantaway to detect and eliminate pests in an area of interest. On the other hand, habitat modification and sanitation control involve preventing pests from growing and spreading in an area by making this space inhospitable or inhabitable to them. These steps usually include improving the hygienic conditions of the space and blocking all possible routes of entrance and exit for the pest.

Finally, chemical control involves using pesticides that contain active ingredients like piperonyl butoxide, fipronil, boric acid, indoxacarb, pyrethrin, and pyrethroids to kill off pests in the area of interest.

Always find out the types of pest control methods your intended exterminator plans to use before they commence any work, and make sure that these methods are suitable for the type of pest problem you are facing. Note that many professional exterminators in Detroit use an integrated pest management strategy that effectively combines all these pest control methods to ensure that pest infestations are tackled with minimal impact on people, property, and the environment.

Nonetheless, it would be best if you considered getting confirmation on whether or not your exterminators will implement these types of strategies for their pest control services. You can find Detroit exterminators that implement integrated pest management strategies through directories provided by organizations like the National Pest Management Association and the Better Business Bureau.

What Household Pests Do You Control?

It is essential to find out the types of household pests that exterminators and pest control businesses in Detroit specialize in before signing any contracts with them. While many professional exterminators typically cover a wide range of pests, some may focus on rodents and small animals like rats, mice, and squirrels or insects like bed bugs, ticks, and ants. Likewise, some exterminators and pest control businesses may focus on a particular area of pest control, such as:

• Pest extermination
• Pest removal
• Pest prevention

As the names imply, pest extermination and removal refer to services that involve detecting, eliminating, and removing pests in an area. On the other hand, pest prevention refers to activities to ensure that pests do not infest an area or prevent an eliminated infestation from re-occurring.

Thus, confirming that your preferred exterminator provides services that align with the specific type of pest you want to control ensures that your requested services will be offered efficiently and satisfactorily. In addition to doing this, it is also a good idea to find out and agree on how much you will be charged for these services before any pest control work begins to avoid misunderstandings with your exterminator down the line.

The list below provides cost estimates for pest control services that professional exterminators in Detroit commonly offer. It should be noted that the exact amount you may have to pay for these services will be affected by several factors, such as the severity of the pest infestation and your location within the city:

Do You Carry the Necessary Right Insurance Policy for Exterminators in Detroit?

Exterminators face several work hazards, such as chemical exposure and zoonotic infections. In 2020 alone, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded more than 2,800 on-the-job injuries among this category of workers. Confirming that your exterminators are properly insured saves you from the financial and legal fallout of on-the-job injuries, accidents, property damage, and other related incidents that may occur while providing your pest control services.

Per Regulation 636 of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, pest control businesses operating in Detroit must carry general liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.

Pest control businesses with licensing categories that include aerial application, space fumigation, or right-of-way pest management can carry general liability insurance with a combined single limit of $300,000 for bodily injury and property damage. Finally, per the requirements of the state's Workers' Disability Compensation Act, pest control businesses in Detroit must also carry workers' compensation insurance for all their employees.

Always confirm that your intended exterminators have complied with these mandatory insurance requirements by requesting a copy of their insurance certificate and contacting the relevant insurance provider to validate the details of this certificate.

You can also contact the MDARD's Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division or Central Licensing Unit at (800) 292-3939 and (517) 284-5771 to get additional information on Detroit pest control businesses' general liability insurance requirements. Inquiries concerning state-mandated workers' compensation insurance can also be directed to the Insurance Compliance Division of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity at (517) 284-8922.

Choosing Between Local Pest Control Firms and Large National Chains: The Pros and Cons

Even if you check all of the boxes for the pest control companies you're considering in terms of licensing, reputation, trade association membership, areas of specialization, and utilized pest control methods, hiring the right exterminator can still be a difficult decision.

Most consumers are torn between hiring a local exterminator or a large pest control company like Orkin, Terminix, Arrow Exterminators, Hawx, Ehrlich, Bulwark, Aptive, Mosquito Joe, Truly Nolen, and Viking to control pests in their home or office at this stage. However, assessing the pros and cons of retaining the services of a local or national pest control company in light of the following aspects will help you make an informed decision:

Pros

Cons