Santa Clara County VCD
County vector control agency that began drone operations for mosquito population reduction in wetlands and non-residential areas.
Operations are based in the California region.
Services offered
States served (1)
Aerial pesticide licensing in states served
Every state requires a pesticide applicator license with the aerial category endorsement on top of FAA Part 137. The agencies that issue these licenses in Santa Clara County VCD's service area:
- California: aerial pesticide work runs through CDPR (CalEPA) under CDPR Unmanned Pest Control Aircraft Pilot Certificate.
Full agency, exam and renewal-cycle details by state are catalogued on the state pesticide licensing reference.
Verify and resources
Primary-source references for verifying credentials and looking up state-specific rules in Santa Clara County VCD's service area.
Frequently asked questions
Ask Santa Clara County VCD for four documents to confirm credentials: the Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate number, the Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate, the state aerial-category pesticide applicator license and a certificate of insurance carrying chemical drift coverage. In California the state credential is issued by CDPR (CalEPA); you can ask the operator for the applicator license number and verify it with the agency directly. The Section 44807 exemption number is the fourth piece, applicable to any drone over 55 lbs gross weight.
Typical drone spraying rates of $12 to $22 per acre in the region covers the application itself. That is drone calibration, GPS-guided mission planning, mixing and loading product into the tank, the labor and machine time to fly the field, plus a written FIFRA Part 170 application record: date, time, product, EPA reg number, rate, weather, field ID. The pesticide, the surfactants and the adjuvants are yours to supply. Four things get billed on top. Travel past the operator's standard radius. After-hours or emergency turnaround. Steep terrain or heavy obstructions. A minimum charge below a stated field size. Get the inclusions and the exclusions in writing before anyone flies.