415 ILCS 65/ Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act.

(415 ILCS 65/1) (from Ch. 5, par. 851)

Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act.

(Source: P.A. 86-358.)

(415 ILCS 65/2) (from Ch. 5, par. 852)

Sec. 2. Definitions.

For purposes of this Act:

"Application" means the spreading of lawn care products on a lawn.

"Applicator for hire" means any person who makes an application of lawn care products to a lawn or lawns for compensation, including applications made by an employee to lawns owned, occupied or managed by his employer and includes those licensed by the Department as licensed commercial applicators, commercial not-for-hire applicators, licensed public applicators, certified applicators and licensed operators and those otherwise subject to the licensure provisions of the Illinois Pesticide Act, as now or hereafter amended.

"Buffer" means an area adjacent to a body of water that is left untreated with any fertilizer.

"Day care center" means any facility that qualifies as a "day care center" under the Child Care Act of 1969.

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

"Department of Public Health" means the Illinois Department of Public Health.

"Facility" means a building or structure and appurtenances thereto used by an applicator for hire for storage and handling of pesticides or the storage or maintenance of pesticide application equipment or vehicles.

"Fertilizer" means any substance containing nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium or other recognized plant nutrient or compound, which is used for its plant nutrient content.

"Golf course" means an area designated for the play or practice of the game of golf, including surrounding grounds, trees, ornamental beds and the like.

"Golf course superintendent" means any person entrusted with and employed for the care and maintenance of a golf course.

"Impervious surface" means any structure, surface, or improvement that reduces or prevents absorption of stormwater into land, and includes pavement, porous paving, paver blocks, gravel, crushed stone, decks, patios, elevated structures, and other similar structures, surfaces, or improvements.

"Lawn" means land area covered with turf kept closely mown or land area covered with turf and trees or shrubs. The term does not include (1) land area used for research for agricultural production or for the commercial production of turf, (2) land area situated within a public or private right-of-way, or (3) land area which is devoted to the production of any agricultural commodity, including, but not limited to plants and plant parts, livestock and poultry and livestock or poultry products, seeds, sod, shrubs and other products of agricultural origin raised for sale or for human or livestock consumption.

"Lawn care products" means fertilizers or pesticides applied or intended for application to lawns.

"Lawn repair products" means seeds, including seeding soils, that contain or are coated with or encased in fertilizer material.

"Person" means any individual, partnership, association, corporation or State governmental agency, school district, unit of local government and any agency thereof.

"Pesticide" means any substance or mixture of substances defined as a pesticide under the Illinois Pesticide Act, as now or hereafter amended.

"Plant protectants" means any substance or material used to protect plants from infestation of insects, fungi, weeds and rodents, or any other substance that would benefit the overall health of plants.

"Soil test" means a chemical and mechanical analysis of soil nutrient values and pH level as it relates to the soil and development of a lawn.

"Spreader" means any commercially available fertilizing device used to evenly distribute fertilizer material.

"Turf" means the upper stratum of soils bound by grass and plant roots into a thick mat.

"0% phosphate fertilizer" means a fertilizer that contains no more than 0.67% available phosphoric acid (P2O5).

(Source: P.A. 96-424, eff. 8-13-09; 96-1005, eff. 7-6-10.)

(415 ILCS 65/3) (from Ch. 5, par. 853)

Sec. 3. Notification requirements for application of lawn care products.

(a) Lawn Markers.

(1) Immediately following application of lawn care products to a lawn, other than a golf course, an applicator for hire shall place a lawn marker at the usual point or points of entry.

(2) The lawn marker shall consist of a 4 inch by 5 inch sign, vertical or horizontal, attached to the upper portion of a dowel or other supporting device with the bottom of the marker extending no less than 12 inches above the turf.

(3) The lawn marker shall be white and lettering on the lawn marker shall be in a contrasting color. The marker shall state on one side, in letters of not less than 3/8 inch, the following: "LAWN CARE APPLICATION - STAY OFF GRASS UNTIL DRY - FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: (here shall be inserted the name and business telephone number of the applicator for hire)."

(4) The lawn marker shall be removed and discarded by the property owner or resident, or such other person authorized by the property owner or resident, on the day following the application. The lawn marker shall not be removed by any person other than the property owner or resident or person designated by such property owner or resident.

(5) For applications to residential properties of 2 families or less, the applicator for hire shall be required to place lawn markers at the usual point or points of entry.

(6) For applications to residential properties of 2 families or more, or for application to other commercial properties, the applicator for hire shall place lawn markers at the usual point or points of entry to the property to provide notice that lawn care products have been applied to the lawn.

(b) Notification requirement for application of plant protectants on golf courses.

(1) Blanket posting procedure. Each golf course shall post in a conspicuous place or places an all-weather poster or placard stating to users of or visitors to the golf course that from time to time plant protectants are in use and additionally stating that if any questions or concerns arise in relation thereto, the golf course superintendent or his designee should be contacted to supply the information contained in subsection (c) of this Section.

(2) The poster or placard shall be prominently displayed in the pro shop, locker rooms and first tee at each golf course.

(3) The poster or placard shall be a minimum size of 8 1/2 by 11 inches and the lettering shall not be less than 1/2 inch.

(4) The poster or placard shall read: "PLANT PROTECTANTS ARE PERIODICALLY APPLIED TO THIS GOLF COURSE. IF DESIRED, YOU MAY CONTACT YOUR GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION."

(c) Information to Customers of Applicators for Hire. At the time of application of lawn care products to a lawn, an applicator for hire shall provide the following information to the customer:

(1) The brand name, common name, and scientific name of each lawn care product applied;

(2) The type of fertilizer or pesticide contained in the lawn care product applied;

(3) The reason for use of each lawn care product applied;

(4) The range of concentration of end use product applied to the lawn and amount of material applied;

(5) Any special instruction appearing on the label of the lawn care product applicable to the customer's use of the lawn following application;

(6) The business name and telephone number of the applicator for hire as well as the name of the person actually applying lawn care products to the lawn; and

(7) Upon the request of a customer or any person whose property abuts or is adjacent to the property of a customer of an applicator for hire, a copy of the material safety data sheet and approved pesticide registration label for each applied lawn care product.

(d) Prior notification of application to lawn. In the case of all lawns other than golf courses:

(1) Any neighbor whose property abuts or is adjacent to the property of a customer of an applicator for hire may receive prior notification of an application by contacting the applicator for hire and providing his name, address and telephone number.

(2) At least the day before a scheduled application, an applicator for hire shall provide notification to a person who has requested notification pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection (d), such notification to be made in writing, in person or by telephone, disclosing the date and approximate time of day of application.

(3) In the event that an applicator for hire is unable to provide prior notification to a neighbor whose property abuts or is adjacent to the property because of the absence or inaccessibility of the individual, at the time of application to a customer's lawn, the applicator for hire shall leave a written notice at the residence of the person requesting notification, which shall provide the information specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection (d).

(e) Prior notification of application to golf courses.

(1) Any landlord or resident with property that abuts or is adjacent to a golf course may receive prior notification of an application of lawn care products or plant protectants, or both, by contacting the golf course superintendent and providing his name, address and telephone number.

(2) At least the day before a scheduled application of lawn care products or plant protectants, or both, the golf course superintendent shall provide notification to any person who has requested notification pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection (e), such notification to be made in writing, in person or by telephone, disclosing the date and approximate time of day of application.

(3) In the event that the golf course superintendent is unable to provide prior notification to a landlord or resident because of the absence or inaccessibility, at the time of application, of the landlord or resident, the golf course superintendent shall leave a written notice with the landlord or at the residence which shall provide the information specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection (e).

(f) Notification for applications of pesticides to day care center grounds other than day care center structures and school grounds other than school structures.

(1) The owner or operator of a day care center must either (i) maintain a registry of parents and guardians of children in his or her care who have registered to receive written notification before the application of pesticide to day care center grounds and notify persons on that registry before applying pesticides or having pesticide applied to day care center grounds or (ii) provide written or telephonic notice to all parents and guardians of children in his or her care before applying pesticide or having pesticide applied to day care center grounds.

(2) School districts must either (i) maintain a registry of parents and guardians of students who have registered to receive written or telephonic notification before the application of pesticide to school grounds and notify persons on that list before applying pesticide or having pesticide applied to school grounds or (ii) provide written or telephonic notification to all parents and guardians of students before applying pesticide or having pesticide applied to school grounds.

(3) Written notification required under item (1) or (2) of subsection (f) of this Section may be included in newsletters, calendars, or other correspondence currently published by the school district, but posting on a bulletin board is not sufficient. The written or telephonic notification must be given at least 4 business days before application of the pesticide and should identify the intended date of the application of the pesticide and the name and telephone contact number for the school personnel responsible for the pesticide application program or, in the case of a day care center, the owner or operator of the day care center. Prior notice shall not be required if there is imminent threat to health or property. If such a situation arises, the appropriate school personnel or, in the case of a day care center, the owner or operator of the day care center must sign a statement describing the circumstances that gave rise to the health threat and ensure that written or telephonic notice is provided as soon as practicable.

(Source: P.A. 96-424, eff. 8-13-09.)

(415 ILCS 65/4) (from Ch. 5, par. 854)

Sec. 4. Applicator certification and training requirements. Applicators for hire must be certified and licensed by the Department under the Illinois Pesticide Act, as now or hereafter amended, before they can apply lawn care products to lawns.

(Source: P.A. 86-358.)

(415 ILCS 65/5) (from Ch. 5, par. 855)

Sec. 5. Containment of spills, wash water, and rinsate collection.

(a) No loading of lawn care products for distribution to a customer or washing or rinsing of pesticide residues from vehicles, application equipment, mixing equipment, floors or other items used for the storage, handling, preparation for use, transport, or application of pesticides to lawns shall be performed at a facility except in designated containment areas in accordance with the requirements of this Section. A lawn care containment permit, issued by the Department, shall be obtained prior to the operation of the containment area. The Department shall issue a lawn care containment permit when the containment area or facility complies with the provisions of this Section and the rules and regulations adopted under Sections 5 and 6. A permit fee of $250 shall be submitted to the Department with each permit application or permit renewal application. All moneys collected pursuant to this Section shall be deposited into the Pesticide Control Fund.

(b) No later than January 1, 1993, containment areas shall be in use in any facility as defined in this Act and no wash water or rinsates may be released into the environment except in accordance with applicable law. Containment areas shall include the following requirements:

(1) The containment area shall be constructed of concrete, asphalt or other impervious materials which include, but are not limited to, polyethylene containment pans and synthetic membrane liners. All containment area materials shall be compatible with the lawncare products to be contained.

(2) The containment area shall be designed to capture spills, washwaters, and rinsates generated in the loading of application devices, the lawncare product-related servicing of vehicles, and the triple rinsing of pesticide containers and to prevent the release of such spills, washwaters, or rinsates to the environment other than as described in paragraph (3) of this subsection (b).

(3) Spills, washwaters, and rinsates captured in the containment area may be used in accordance with the label rates of the lawncare products, reused as makeup water for dilution of pesticides in preparation of application, or disposed in accordance with applicable local, State and federal regulations.

(c) The requirements of this Section shall not apply to situations constituting an emergency where washing or rinsing of pesticide residues from equipment or other items is necessary to prevent imminent harm to human health or the environment.

(d) The requirements of this Section shall not apply to persons subject to the containment requirements of the Illinois Pesticide Act or the Illinois Fertilizer Act of 1961 and any rules or regulations adopted thereunder.

(Source: P.A. 103-441, eff. 1-1-24.)

(415 ILCS 65/5a)

Sec. 5a. Fertilizer; application restrictions.

(a) No applicator for hire shall:

(1) Apply phosphorus-containing fertilizer to a lawn, except as demonstrated to be necessary by a soil test that establishes that the soil is lacking in phosphorous when compared against the standard established by the University of Illinois. The soil test required under this paragraph (1) shall be conducted no more than 36 months before the intended application of the fertilizer and by a soil testing laboratory that has been identified by the University of Illinois as an acceptable laboratory for soil testing. However, a soil test shall not be required under this paragraph (1) if the fertilizer to be applied is a 0% phosphate fertilizer or the fertilizer is being applied to establish a lawn in the first 2 growing seasons.

(2) Apply fertilizer to an impervious surface, except where the application is inadvertent and fertilizer is swept or blown back into the target area or returned to either its original or another appropriate container for reuse.

(3) Apply fertilizer using a spray, drop, or rotary spreader with a deflector within a 3 foot buffer of any water body, except that when this equipment is not used, fertilizer may not be applied within a 15 foot buffer of any water body.

(4) Apply fertilizer at any time when the lawn is frozen or saturated. For the purposes of this paragraph (4), a lawn is frozen when its root system is frozen (typically 3 or 4 inches down), and a lawn is saturated when it bears ample evidence of being or having been inundated by standing water.

(b) This Section does not apply to the application of fertilizer on property used in the operation of a commercial farm, lands classified as agricultural lands, or golf courses.

(c) This Section does not apply to the application of lawn repair products.

(d) Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Section does not apply to the application of animal or vegetable manure that is ground, pelletized, mechanically dried, packaged, or supplemented with plant nutrients or other substances other than phosphorus.

(Source: P.A. 96-1005, eff. 7-6-10.)

(415 ILCS 65/6) (from Ch. 5, par. 856)

Sec. 6. This Act shall be administered and enforced by the Department. The Department may promulgate rules and regulations as necessary for the enforcement of this Act. The Department of Public Health must inform school boards and the owners and operators of day care centers about the provisions of this Act that are applicable to school districts and day care centers, and it must inform school boards about the requirements contained in Sections 10-20.49 and 34-18.40 of the School Code. The Department of Public Health must recommend that day care centers and schools use a pesticide-free turf care program to maintain their turf. The Department of Public Health must also report violations of this Act of which it becomes aware to the Department for enforcement.

(Source: P.A. 96-424, eff. 8-13-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

(415 ILCS 65/7) (from Ch. 5, par. 857)

Sec. 7. When an administrative hearing is held by the Department, the hearing officer, upon determination of any violation of this Act or rule or regulation, shall either refer the violation to the State's Attorney's office in the county where the alleged violation occurred for prosecution or levy the following administrative monetary penalties:

(a) a penalty of $250 for a first violation;

(b) a penalty of $500 for a second violation; and

(c) a penalty of $1,000 for a third or subsequent violation.

The penalty levied shall be collected by the Department, and all penalties collected by the Department under this Act shall be deposited into the Pesticide Control Fund. Any penalty not paid within 60 days of notice from the Department shall be submitted to the Attorney General's office for collection.

Upon prosecution by a State's Attorney, a violation of this Act or rules shall be a petty offense subject to a fine of $250 for a first offense, a fine of $500 for a second offense, and a fine of $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense.

(Source: P.A. 99-642, eff. 7-28-16.)

(415 ILCS 65/8)

Sec. 8. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 86-358. Repealed by P.A. 96-1005, eff. 7-6-10.)

(415 ILCS 65/9)

Sec. 9. Home rule.

(a) On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, a unit of local government may not regulate fertilizer in a manner more restrictive than the regulation of fertilizer by the State under this Act, unless the Department of Agriculture determines that a proposed ordinance of a unit of local government is reasonable under the specific circumstances based on standards that the Department shall adopt by rule. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.

(b) Subsection (a) of this Section shall not apply to any local ordinance or regulation in effect before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 96-1005, eff. 7-6-10.)