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Pest Control Insurance: How to Protect Your Pest Control Business
Pest control insurance helps protect exterminators and applicators from claims arising from treating other people’s homes and buildings (chemical exposure, pesticide drift, property damage, vehicle accidents, employee injury, etc.). A single claim can cost more than years of premiums, and in Minnesota, you must provide coverage to keep your license.
Quast Insurance Agency is an independent agency in White Bear Lake, MN. We compare pest control insurance from various carriers so you can get the right coverage at a good price. Call 651-212-7157 for a free quote.
What is Pest Control Insurance?
Pest control insurance in Minnesota is a package of business coverages designed for companies that apply pesticides or perform pest removal as a commercial activity. A standard contractor policy would likely exclude the biggest exposure in this line of work: chemicals. That’s where a pest control insurance policy comes in. It’s a policy written with that particular risk in mind.
You likely need pest control business insurance if you run any of these operations:
- General pest and rodent control for homes and businesses
- Termite treatment and wood-destroying insect inspections
- Bed bug heat treatments and fumigation
- Mosquito and tick spraying
- Wildlife and bird removal
- Combined lawn care and pest services (see our lawn service insurance page)
A one-truck operator needs it just as much as a big company with a full crew. Claim size is independent of business size.
Minnesota Insurance Requirements for Pest Control Companies
In Minnesota, insurance is more than a good business practice. It’s linked to your license. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) licenses commercial pesticide applicators and structural pest control applicators. As part of its financial responsibility requirements, applicators must provide proof of liability insurance, a surety bond, or, if neither is available, net assets of at least $50,000.
If you use insurance or a bond, the MDA sets these minimums:
Structural pest control applicator | $100,000 per person; $200,000 for two or more people per occurrence | $10,000 per occurrence |
Commercial pesticide applicator | $50,000 per person and per occurrence | $25,000 per occurrence |
A few bits of detail are important when you’re buying the cover. The certificate has to name the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) as the certificate holder. The policy cannot exclude cover for pesticide misuse. Your insurer must also notify the MDA prior to the policy being canceled. For the full list of requirements, see the MDA’s structural pest control license requirements.
These are state minimums, not recommendations. Most homeowners, property managers, and commercial clients expect limits to be far, far higher, and a serious claim will easily go well beyond them.
If you have employees, then Minnesota law also requires you to have workers’ comp. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry enforces that requirement and can fine an employer that fails to carry workers’ comp coverage.
Need a certificate that meets MDA requirements? Call Quast Insurance at 651-212-7157.
Coverages Every Pest Control Business Should Consider
Most pest control insurance programs combine several policies. Here’s what each one does:
Injury to customers and damage to their property caused by your work | |
Pollution liability | Bodily injury, property damage, and cleanup costs from pesticide drift, spills, or contamination |
Errors and omissions | Claims that a termite inspection, report, or treatment recommendation was wrong |
Accidents involving your service trucks and vans | |
Medical bills and lost wages for employees hurt or sickened on the job | |
Tools and equipment | Theft or damage to sprayers, tanks, foggers, and other gear |
Commercial umbrella | Extra liability limits above your other policies |
Surety bonds | License, permit, and contract requirements |
Watch the pollution exclusion. A lot of general liability insurance policies will exclude pollution, and pesticides would be covered under that. That’s why pest control companies need a policy that’s written for their trade or a separate pollution liability insurance policy. A policy that excludes chemical exposure effectively excludes your biggest risk.
Don’t go for the personal auto. A personal auto policy won’t cover a vehicle being used for business. If your trucks carry chemicals and equipment from job to job, have lettering on the side, you’ll need commercial auto.
Add E&O if you’re doing inspections. If you’re writing WDI reports for real estate sales, then a missed infestation can lead to a buyer claim. That’s where errors and omissions coverage comes in, if you make a mistake.
What Pest Control Insurance Claims Look Like
These are the kinds of situations the right pest control insurance coverage is built for:
- A customer’s dog got sick after perimeter treatment, and they’ve submitted a claim for vet costs.
- Spray drifts onto a neighbor’s veg garden, and they want it cleaned up and the crop replaced.
- A tech drills through a water line as they’re treating a slab for termites, flooding the finished basement.
- A buyer discovers termite damage months after the completion date and blames the inspection report.
- An employee fell through the ceiling whilst working in an attic.
- A service truck was broken into overnight, and thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment was stolen.
Each one can become a very expensive claim. You’ll be paying out of pocket without the right pest control insurance in Minnesota.
How much does pest control business insurance cost in Minnesota?
There’s no single price, because carriers rate each operation at their own risk. The biggest factors are:
- Services offered: termite work, fumigation, and wildlife removal all tend to cost more to insure than your standard pest service.
- Payroll and headcount. Those are what drive the workers’ comp premiums.
- Annual revenue. More jobs = more exposure.
- Vehicles and drivers. Your fleet size, location, and driving records will affect your commercial auto insurance rates.
- Claims history. A clean record will get you better rates. In commercial insurance, your loss history is called loss runs. Basically, a letter stating whether there are claims and the details. If there are no claims, it will say that.
- Limits and deductibles. Higher limits cost more; higher deductibles can lead to lower premiums.
- Client mix. Commercial, food service, and multi-unit residential accounts can affect your rate.
To keep costs down, bundle policies into a package, document your safety and chemical-handling training, and compare multiple carriers. An independent agent, like Quast Insurance, can make that comparison for you.
Want to know what your coverage would cost? Call 651-212-7157 for a free, no-obligation quote.
Why Pest Control Companies Choose Quast Insurance
Quast Insurance Agency is not tied to any one insurance company. We review multiple insurance carriers and present your options in one place, so you can compare coverages and prices and choose what best fits your pest control business.
Owner Chris Quast has been in the insurance business since 2005. He’s a US Army veteran and a medically retired police officer. Our objective is simple: to ensure a bad day on the job doesn’t become a financial catastrophe for your business.
Working with us means:
- Coverage built for your trade, including pesticide and pollution exposures
- Quotes from multiple carriers, so you don’t have to shop alone
- Fast certificates of insurance for the MDA, property managers, and commercial clients
- Ongoing reviews as you add trucks, hire technicians, or offer new services.
We serve clients across Minnesota and the US, with offices in Minnesota and California. We also cover related trades, including landscaping and cleaning.
Get a Pest Control Insurance Quote Today
Don’t wait for a claim to find out what your policy leaves out. Whether you’re a one-truck operator or you’ve got a growing team of technicians, Quast Insurance can help you protect your business.
Call Quast Insurance Agency at 651-212-7157 for a free pest control business insurance quote. You can also email cquast@quastinsurance.net, get a quote online, or visit us at 2168 3rd Street, Suite 2B, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. We’re open Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pest Control Insurance
Is pest control insurance required in Minnesota?
For licensed applicators, yes, in practice. The MDA requires commercial and structural pest control applicators to have financial responsibility in the form of liability insurance, a surety bond or net worth. If you have employees, Minnesota also requires workers’ comp.
Does general liability cover pesticide drift or contamination?
Not necessarily. Many general liability policies will contain a pollution exclusion, which can apply to pesticides. Ask whether your policy is written specifically for pest control operations, or whether you need to add pollution liability coverage to close the gap.
I’m a one-person operation. Do I still need coverage?
Yes, a single drift claim or a single damaged water line can be as costly to a solo operator as it is to a large company. MDA financial responsibility rules apply to individual licensed applicators as well. If you’re working alone with no employees, your workers’ comp needs may differ, and we can review your options with you.
Do I need commercial auto if I’m using my own pickup for the job?
Normally yes. Personal auto policies will either exclude business use or limit it. Hired and non-owned auto coverage can also protect your business if your employees use their own vehicles for work.
Can you supply a certificate of insurance for the MDA or a client?
Yes. Once your policy is in place, we can issue a certificate of insurance naming the MDA, a property manager, or a commercial client as the certificate holder.
What is needed for a quote?
Have a list of your services, annual revenue, payroll and number of employees, vehicles and drivers, and any past claims. A copy of your current policy helps too. Call 651-212-7157 or contact us online to get started. For more general questions, see our insurance FAQ.