Pesticide FAQs

In the Comox Valley, each municipality has its own pesticide bylaw in place. For details, visit:

• Village of Cumberland pesticide use bylaw
• Town of Comox pesticide use bylaw
• City of Courtenay pesticide use bylaw

Residents within the municipalities cannot use traditional chemical-based pesticides or herbicides on your lawn or garden. The municipal bylaws prohibit non-essential use of pesticides.

It is an offence to use or allow the use of pesticides, except as permitted under the bylaws. For example, it would be an offence to apply a pesticide or herbicide to a residential lawn. Anyone using pesticides can be issued a ticket and fined by the bylaw enforcement officer from the town, city or village where they live.

They apply to all pesticides except those that are listed as exempt in the bylaw. Exempt items include insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, pheromones, boric acid, nematodes, biological controls, sticky traps, lime, diatomaceous earth, and bait stations.

The best defense against needing to use pesticide is a healthy lawn and garden. Adding beneficial insects to your garden is also an option, as are low or non-toxic treatments. Ask your garden centre staff or landscaper about how to garden without pesticides.

The provincial and federal government regulates the sale of pesticides. They are not banned substances and as such, are still available for sale in many places.

Pesticides are considered a household hazardous waste (HHW).  HHW is any toxic product located within your home that poses a threat to public health and environmental safety when handled, stored and/or disposed of improperly.  Such items include: pesticides, paint, paint aerosols, flammable liquids, gasoline, etc. 

When pesticides are no longer needed or cannot be applied because of the restrictions in the municipal bylaws, residents can dispose of their leftover products in an environmentally responsible way at the following "Product Care" facility:

• Comox Valley waste management centre
  3699 Bevan Road, Cumberland
  Household Hazardous Waste drop off hours: www.cswm.ca/hhw 

To view the pesticide bylaw for your municipality contact the City of Courtenay at 250-334-4441 or the Town of Comox at 250-339-2202 or the Village of Cumberland at 250-336-2291.