Kelowna residents who want to be notified of pesticide spraying near their homes can sign up for the city’s pesticide notification registry starting Friday.
The registry serves as a notification system for residents to be informed when certified pesticide spraying occurs on residential properties adjacent to their own.
“With the introduction of our pesticide bylaw in 2009, we’ve been working to reduce and restrict the use of cosmetic pesticides on residential properties,” said Todd Cashin, suburban and rural planning manager for the city.
“However, certified applicators are still able to apply chemical pesticides. This is why our pesticide notification registry is a valuable tool for residents who would like to know when spraying is happening in their area to reduce exposure.”
Online registration is available at kelowna.ca/environment. Residents provide their name, street address, postal code, phone number, email address, preference for same-day or day-before notification and reasons for registering. Residents can also register by phone by calling the commercial pesticide notification registry hotline at 250-469-8556.
Registrants are notified by commercial spray operators on the day before or the same day as the pesticide is applied to abutting residential properties. The notification does not cover applications on agricultural properties.
To ensure accuracy and make sure the registry is kept up to date, residents are encouraged to register each year. Those on the 2016 registry must register again to be included in this year’s notification program.
The registry will be open from Feb. 10 to March 12, 2017.
For more information about the City’s pesticide regulation bylaw or to learn pesticide-free yard tips, visitkelowna.ca/environment.
