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Limited Urban Commercial Fertilizer Applicator Certification (LF Certificate)

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This limited certification, often referred to as a "fertilizer license" or "LF license", is issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). This certification is required by Florida law to apply fertilizer commercially ("for-hire") on residential or commercial properties, or to parks or non-agricultural fields. Each individual fertilizer applicator must have this certification.

Before applying for the FDACS LF certification, you must take the GI-BMP Training and receive a Certificate of Training. See below for how to apply for or renew an LF certification.

If you have questions or need help with the Limited Fertilizer (LF) Certification, contact FDACS:
Phone: 850-617-7997
Email: AESCares@FDACS.gov
Website: Pest Control Licensing and Certification

 

How to Apply for the Limited Commercial Fertilizer Applicator Certificate

You will need to the Certificate Number from your GI-BMP Training Certificate to apply to FDACS for the Limited Fertilizer (LF) certification. There is a $25 fee.

Apply online

This is the preferred, and fastest, method.

  • Go to https://aesecomm.fdacs.gov
  • Select "Structural/Residential Pest Control Chapter 482"
  • Select "New Urban Landscape Commercial Fertilizer"

How to Renew the LF Certificate - Options for Required CEUs

The Limited Commercial Fertilizer Applicator Certificate (LF or fertilizer license) must be renewed every four years. You should receive a renewal notice from FDACS in advance of your LF expiration.

Renewing the LF requires a total of four Continuing Education Units (CEUs): two 482 CORE and two Limited Urban Fertilizer (LF) category.

Most GI-BMP in-person classes or live-session online (Zoom) classes provide all four CEU's required to renew the LF Certificate, but you should check before attending to be sure CEUs will be awarded for that class. Note that the GI-BMP self-paced online training does NOT provide CEUs.

The UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program currently offers two one-hour online courses for LF CEUs.  CEUs are also available for some webinars in the FFL Professional Webinar Series.

Other UF/IFAS online CEU courses from can be found here:

You can also search the FDACS public database to find all approved CEU classes, including online classes

Tips for searching the FDACS database:
- For Categories select 482 General Standards/Core and/or Limited Urban Fertilizer.
- For online courses select *on-line* at the bottom of the Locations list. 
- Click on the courses that interest you to get the provider’s information.

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