Cal. Civ. Code § 55.1-1223
Notice to tenants for insecticide or pesticide use.
Operative Text
A. The landlord shall give written notice to the tenant no less than 48 hours prior to his application of an insecticide or pesticide in the tenant's dwelling unit unless the tenant agrees to a shorter notification period. If a tenant requests the application of the insecticide or pesticide, the 48-hour notice is not required. Tenants who have concerns about specific insecticides or pesticides shall notify the landlord in writing no less than 24 hours before the scheduled insecticide or pesticide application. The tenant shall prepare the dwelling unit for the application of insecticides or pesticides in accordance with any written instructions of the landlord and, if insects or pests are found to be present, follow any written instructions of the landlord to eliminate the insects or pests following the application of insecticides or pesticides. B. In addition, the landlord shall post notice of all insecticide or pesticide applications in areas of the premises other than the dwelling units. Such notice shall consist of conspicuous signs placed in or upon such premises where the insecticide or pesticide will be applied at least 48 hours prior to the application. C. A violation by the tenant of this section may be remedied by the landlord in accordance with § 55.1-1248 or by notice given by the landlord requiring the tenant to remedy in accordance with § 55.1-1245 , as applicable.
Virginia Code § 55.1-1223 establishes a mutual notice framework for pesticide and insecticide applications in rental housing. Landlords must provide written notice at least 48 hours before applying any insecticide or pesticide inside a dwelling unit, though tenants can agree to a shorter window or waive notice entirely by requesting the treatment themselves. Tenants who have concerns about specific products must communicate those concerns in writing at least 24 hours before the scheduled application. For common areas and other shared spaces, landlords must post conspicuous signs at least 48 hours in advance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Va. Code § 55.1-1223, compliant operators generally maintain a documented process for delivering written 48-hour advance notice to individual tenants before any in-unit pesticide or insecticide treatment. For common areas and shared spaces on the premises, operators post conspicuous signage at least 48 hours before application. Landlords also typically provide written preparation instructions to tenants ahead of treatment and written follow-up instructions when pests are found to remain, and they retain records of tenant-requested treatments that waive the standard notice requirement.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Va. Code § 55.1-1223 gives tenants the right to receive written notice at least 48 hours before a landlord applies any insecticide or pesticide inside their dwelling unit. If you have concerns about a specific product, the provision requires that you communicate those concerns to your landlord in writing no later than 24 hours before the scheduled application. Tenants who believe a landlord has failed to comply with this notice requirement may raise the violation as a defense in relevant proceedings, file a complaint with a local housing authority, or reach out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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