At times, chemical applications are necessary to manage unwanted or excessive vegetative growth within City managed areas throughout Davis. Well-timed chemical application allow staff to maintain safe recreational and operational conditions, as well as allowing staff the ability to maintain regulatory compliance with state inspectors and other regulatory agencies.

Prior to any pesticide application in areas heavily visited by or open to the public, departmental divisions must have an approved justification with the intended pesticide products listed and a signed pest control recommendation from a licensed pest control advisor. Additionally, the site will be physically posted at minimum 24 hours with a notice of intent prior to the intended application date and posted a “Day Of” sign information the public of the chemical application. The site will remain posted for a minimum of 48 hours after the application was completed.

The Davis community has a desire to know where and when pesticides are being applied in and along City maintained sites including parks, greenbelts, and miscellaneous landscaped areas that people are most likely to enter. In addition to physical site posting, the City has established a calendar connected to an eNotification system to provide intended pesticide application information.

The Anticipated Pesticide Application Calendar is located here.

The calendar will notice subscribers where and when pesticides are intended to be applied 48 hours prior to scheduled applications. An eNotification will be sent when the calendar notice of spraying is posted.

Sign up to receive notification of upcoming anticipated pesticide applications.

Any chemical used outdoors or in landscaping can be washed off directly into streams and rivers. It is best to use less toxic pesticides or other means of controlling unwanted pests, rather than harmful pesticides.

• See Our Water Our World for less toxic options. 
•  Visit our pesticides and stormwater webpage for more information on how pesticides end up in waterways and how to protect waterways.
• If you are having structural challenges with pests (rats, mice, etc.) and are considering hiring a professional, please see the information on our pesticide and stormwater webpage on hiring pest control professionals to ensure that less toxic options are used.
• Pest management resources for landscape professionals.

The PHAER (Pesticide Hazard and Exposure Reduction) Zone System seeks ways to measure progress towards risk reduction goals, it allows grounds managers needed flexibility in their management options, and it informs the community about the general level of pesticide hazard that could be present on a site-by-site basis.

The PHAER Zone System establishes management zones on each site based upon the unique risk reduction goals of individual jurisdictions. These zones are designated as Green, Yellow, and Special Circumstance Zones, with Green Zones providing the lowest potential for pesticide exposure and hazard. The City is working on updates to the PHAER Zone maps.

New maps coming soon.

Pesticide Hazard and Exposure Reduction Zones in the Landscape