Montgomery County Pesticide Law

Recently, the Commissioners voted to opt into the Montgomery County Pesticide Law 33b. This law bans several synthetic pesticides for lawn application. Please use the links below to learn more about the County's pesticide law and what is and is not permissible. 

The Commissioners took this action to protect the Town’s Water supply based on several key indicators. All of the Town’s municipal wells are located within subdivisions. Although trace amounts, the Town identified several synthetic pesticide contaminants through random sampling and a water supply evaluation from S.S. Papadopulos and Associates reported,  “Unconfined aquifers (like Poolesville) are susceptible to contamination from substances released on or near the surface, including fertilizers, pesticides, road salt, leaking underground storage tanks, and runoff from impermeable surfaces.” 

The law requires local landscaping companies and other licensed applicators to switch from synthetic pesticides to organic pesticides to treat lawns. In addition, homeowners are not allowed to use banned pesticides on their lawns. The Town encourages residents to contact local lawn and landscape companies that can perform organic lawn care. There are many questions to ask and knowledge to gain when switching to organic lawn care.

Montgomery County will conduct outreach about the law, including mailers and new signage for local stores selling these products. In January, the Town will also provide outreach through its website and mailers.   

For those folks looking to dispose of banned materials, the Shady Grove transfer station currently accepts these materials, and the Town will partner with the County to develop a disposal event for residents to drop off banned products. 

We will continue to update residents on any further updates about the law or training as they become available from Montgomery County. 

Pesticide Law home page (montgomerycountymd.gov)

What pesticides are allowed - Pesticide Law - Montgomery County, Maryland (montgomerycountymd.gov)