Rule 620-9-.02. General Requirements

(1) Control and removal of honey bees from a structure must be made consistent with the following: (a) The use of any "pesticide" as defined in Rule 620-2-.01(z), to control, remove, or eliminate honey bees in, on, or under a structure shall be considered household pest control. (b) The use of any "pesticide" as defined in Rule 620-2-.01(z), to control, remove, or eliminate honey bees in, on, or under a structure is prohibited unless the licensee holds a Household Pest Control license. (c) "Honey bee control and removal" is limited to the control and removal of honey bees. The control, removal, or elimination of other types of bees requires a Household Pest Control license as defined in Rule 620-2-.01(s). (2) A honey bee control and removal contract shall be issued on all honey bee control and removal jobs in accordance with requirements of the Fair Business Practices Act of 1975, and the rules of the Federal Trade Commission, 16 C.F.R. 429, including disclosure by the licensee of the three (3) day right of cancellation. The terms of any contract extension beyond the original terms shall be indicated on the contract. The contract shall include a description of scope of work including the type of honey bee removal. Every honey bee control and removal contract shall be signed by the property owner or the owner's agent prior to the performance of any control measures. (3) A cut-out, or open-air hive in a structure, honey bee control and removal job must include the removal of the honey bees, wax comb, honey, brood and other associated material and debris from the structure, filling the cavity in addition to sealing all possible reentry points to the cavity to inhibit reinfestation. (4) Every contract for a trap-out honey bee removal job type must contain the following statement, "This job will only remove honey bees. The wax comb, honey, brood and other associated material will remain in the structure and may result in reinfestation and secondary pest issues." (5) Any person engaging in honey bee control and removal must be a Certified Honey Bee Control and Removal Operator and must hold a Structural Pest Control Company License in the Operational Category of Honey Bee Removal. (6) Before being issued a Honey Bee Removal Operator certification, the applicant must provide the Commission with satisfactory evidence of his or her qualifications including the following: (a) Completed application form; (b) Eight (8) hours of classroom training approved by the Commission and presented by a currently Certified Honey Bee Control and Removal Operator or other person whom the Commission has determined to be competent to deliver training in the following areas: 1. State and Federal laws and regulations on Honey Bee Control. 2. Honey bee identification and types of live honey bee removals (cut-out, trap-out, and swarm removal) including basic removal techniques. 3. Determining if there is an established honey bee colony, and how to locate a colony living inside of a structure. 4. Proper cut-out removal techniques including basic construction knowledge, recommended tools, finding and caging the queen, preventing future infestations, saving comb and hiving the bees. 5. Trap-out techniques and negative consequences of leaving honeycomb, honey pollen and brood inside a structure. 6. Eradication vs. Relocation including common insecticides/pesticides applied to honey bees by homeowners and PCOs. 7. Potential safety and health hazards. (c) Participation in a minimum of three (3) honey bee removal jobs. (d) A score of at least (70) percent on a written examination covering the training; and (e) Payment of an Operator Certification Fee. (7) Recertification: Certified Honey Bee Control and Removal Operators shall complete one of the following requirements prior to expiration of the five (5) year certification period: (a) Complete a Commission approved five (5) hours of training such as a workshop, seminar, short course or training program that cover new information and subject matter necessary to ensure continued competence on Honey Bee Removal; or (b) Complete the eight (8) hours of initial training required under Rule 620-9-.02(6)(b) and pass a written examination. Cite as Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 620-9-.02
Authority: O.C.G.A. § 43-45-8.
History. Original Rule entitled "Precautions to be Exercised" was filed and effective on June 30, 1965.
Amended: Rule repealed and a new Rule entitled "Fumigation" adopted. F. Oct. 25, 1966; eff. Nov. 13, 1966.
Amended: F. Jan. 23, 1979; eff. Feb. 12, 1979.
Amended: Rule repealed. F. Feb. 14, 1985; eff. Mar. 6, 1985.
Adopted: New Rule entitled "General Requirements." F. Apr. 26, 2021; eff. July 1, 2021, as specified by the Agency.
Amended: F. Mar. 19, 2026; eff. Apr. 8, 2026.