What should Miami homeowners know before hiring pest control?

Miami pest control is shaped by a wet season that runs May 15 to October 15, two invasive subterranean termites first documented in South Florida, drywood termites in older buildings, and container-breeding mosquitoes. Any company you hire must hold a Florida FDACS license, which you can check in the FDACS Pest Control Database. For mosquitoes, Miami-Dade County's Mosquito Control Division inspects properties on request through 311.

Who licenses pest control providers

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Bureau of Licensing and Enforcement. Pest control is licensed by the state, not the city. Chapter 482 preempts local pest control regulation, so there is no separate city or county pest control license, though local business taxes apply. Verify a Miami provider in the FDACS Pest Control Database or by calling FDACS at (850) 617-7997.

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Key facts for Miami, FL

• NWS Miami defines the South Florida wet season as May 15 to October 15, when 60 to 70 percent of yearly rain falls; Miami's wet-season normal is 44.84 inches.
• The Asian subterranean termite was first collected in the continental United States in 1996, from a storefront and a church in Miami.
• UF/IFAS reports that Miami-Dade and Broward are the only Florida counties where both Formosan and Asian subterranean termites are established.
• In 2016 a Miami-Dade neighborhood had the first recognized outbreak of mosquito-borne Zika transmission in the continental United States, with 29 people infected there.
• During the 2016 response, Aedes aegypti made up 86 percent of mosquitoes caught in BG-Sentinel traps, according to a CDC study.
• Miami-Dade Mosquito Control runs more than 320 mosquito traps countywide and checks them weekly.
• UF/IFAS says the largest West Indian drywood termite populations are in older buildings in the southern half of Florida.

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Why does Miami's weather matter for pest control?

NWS Miami says the South Florida wet season runs from May 15 to October 15. It brings 60 to 70 percent of the year's rain and almost daily dewpoints in the 70s. Miami's normal wet-season rainfall is 44.84 inches.

The Atlantic hurricane season, June 1 to November 30, overlaps most of that stretch. Miami-Dade County says container-breeding mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water left by rain or irrigation. That is why the county pushes residents to "drain and cover" during the rainy months.

Termites follow their own calendar. UF/IFAS records Asian subterranean termite flights from February to April, Formosan swarms from early April to late June with a May peak, and drywood termite flights from April to June.

Which termites are a problem in Miami?

Miami has three termite threats worth asking a provider about.

• Asian subterranean termite. It was first found in the continental U.S. in 1996, in a Miami storefront and church. UF/IFAS says its swarms happen at dusk or at night, and hundreds or thousands of winged termites indoors usually point to a structural infestation.
• Formosan subterranean termite. UF/IFAS says Miami-Dade and Broward are the only Florida counties where it and the Asian species are both established.
• West Indian drywood termite. It lives in the wood itself and pushes out small fecal pellets. UF/IFAS says nearly all structural fumigation in Florida targets this species, and the largest populations are in older buildings.

Florida termite contracts must say on the first page whether they cover subterranean termites, drywood termites, or both. Read that line carefully in Miami.

What did the 2016 Zika outbreak change for Miami?

CDC reported the first recognized outbreak of mosquito-borne Zika in the continental United States in a Miami-Dade neighborhood, with cases from June 30 to August 5, 2016. A later CDC study described four transmission zones: Wynwood, southern and northern Miami Beach, and Little River.

The county response mixed aerial and truck spraying, larvicide and door-to-door work. Inspectors visited 352,209 properties countywide. Aedes aegypti, a container-breeding mosquito, made up 86 percent of trap catches.

Today Miami-Dade's Mosquito Control Division works countywide. Request a free inspection by calling 311, online at miamidade.gov/mosquitoinspection, or through the MDC Solid Waste app. The county says truck spraying is not done on request. It depends on trap data.

What about roaches and rats in Miami homes and apartments?

UF/IFAS calls the German cockroach the species that typically plagues multifamily buildings, and says it cannot survive away from people. People often carry it in with boxes, backpacks and purses. Sanitation, sealing cracks and baits are part of standard control.

UF/IFAS also says the roof rat is Florida's primary suburban pest rat, and that rats in buildings can chew wires. If you live in a condo, FDACS says the association may treat common areas but not your unit. Pest control inside a unit needs a licensed company.

How to choose a provider in Miami, FL

• Look up the company in the FDACS Pest Control Database and confirm the "JB" business license number.
• For termites, confirm the company holds the termites and other wood-destroying organisms category.
• Ask whether the termite contract covers subterranean termites, drywood termites, or both, and whether any species is excluded.
• For drywood termites, ask how the company decides between spot treatment and fumigation, and confirm a certified fumigation operator will do any tenting.
• For condos and apartments, ask how the company coordinates with the association, since associations may not treat inside units.
• Use the free Miami-Dade Mosquito Control inspection (311) for neighborhood mosquito problems before paying for yard spraying.
• Ask what the company will do about standing water and containers during the May to October wet season.
• Get every termite contract in writing before work starts and before you pay.

More pest control guides for Miami

• How much does pest control cost in Miami? Real starting prices and what changes the quoteMost Miami pest bills are set by four things: the pest, the size of the property, how bad the activity is, and whether you want one visit or a plan. Here are real published starting prices from a Doral company and how to read any quote.
• Can you get rid of termites in Miami without tenting? When local treatment works and when it does notOften, yes. Subterranean termites are treated in the soil, not with a tent, and drywood termites confined to one area can be spot treated. Tenting is for drywood colonies spread through the structure. Here is how to tell which you have and what no-tent treatment costs.
• WDO inspection in Miami: what buyers and sellers need to know before closingA WDO inspection checks a property for termites and other wood-destroying organisms and is reported on Florida's official state form. Here is who orders it, what the report covers and does not cover, how to read it, and what to do if it finds activity.
• How do you get rid of German roaches in a Miami home or apartment?German roaches breed indoors, hide in cracks near kitchens and bathrooms, and rarely go away with sprays alone. Here is how to tell them from palmetto bugs, what a professional treatment involves, what it costs, and what renters and landlords should know.
• Rats in the attic in Miami: how rodent control and exclusion work, and what they costScratching overhead at night usually means roof rats using a gap in the roofline, soffit or vents. Trapping alone rarely ends it; finding and sealing the way in does. Here is how a proper rodent job works, how to clean up safely, and what it costs.
• Signs of termites in a Miami home: swarmers, wings, pellets and mud tubes, and what to do nextWinged insects near a window at dusk, piles of tiny pellets, pencil-width mud tubes or wood that sounds hollow are the main signs. Here is how to read each one, when South Florida termites swarm, how to tell termites from flying ants, and what to do before the inspection.
• How often should you get pest control in Miami? Monthly vs. quarterly vs. one-time, explainedFor many Miami homes, quarterly service is enough; homes with heavy pest pressure, recurring problems or food businesses often need monthly. Here is how to decide, what each plan should include, what it costs and when a one-time visit is the smarter buy.
• Mosquito control for Miami yards: what works, how often to treat and what it costsMost backyard mosquitoes in Miami breed in small amounts of standing water close to the house and rest in shaded plants. Removing that water and treating where adults rest, on a regular schedule, is what reduces bites. Here is how it works and what it costs.
• Commercial pest control in Miami: what restaurants, offices and apartment buildings should expectA commercial program is not a home plan on a bigger building. It is scheduled around your hours, focused on kitchens, storage, trash and entry points, documented for inspections, and backed by quick response. Here is what a good Miami program includes and how to choose one.
• Pest control in Doral, FL: common pests in Doral homes and businesses, and how to choose a local companyDoral's mix of lakefront homes, townhouses, condos, offices and warehouses near the airport gives roaches, ants, rodents, termites and mosquitoes plenty to work with. Here is what Doral properties deal with, what to ask any company, and a local option based right in Doral.

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Questions people ask

When are termites most active in Miami?

UF/IFAS records Asian subterranean termite flights from February to April, usually at dusk or night. Formosan termites swarm from early April to late June, peaking in May. West Indian drywood termites fly mainly from April to June, though flights can happen any time of year.

Does Miami-Dade County spray for mosquitoes?

Yes. The Miami-Dade Mosquito Control Division works countywide, using inspections, truck spraying and aerial spraying. Truck spraying is based on trap data and is not done on request. You can ask for a free property inspection through 311, online or through the MDC Solid Waste app.

How fast does Miami-Dade answer a mosquito inspection request?

The division's inspections page says inspections are typically scheduled within five business days and may take longer in peak season. A June 2026 county release said inspections were generally happening within one to two business days.

Do I need a city permit or license for pest control work in Miami?

Pest control companies are licensed by the state through FDACS, not by the city. Chapter 482 preempts local pest control regulation, though local business taxes still apply to companies. Check any provider's license in the FDACS Pest Control Database.

Why is tenting so common in South Florida?

UF/IFAS says nearly all structural fumigation in Florida is for the West Indian drywood termite. That termite lives inside wood, so widespread or hidden infestations are usually treated by tenting with sulfuryl fluoride and then airing out the building. FDACS says only certified applicators may fumigate.

Was Zika ever spread by mosquitoes in Miami?

Yes. In 2016 CDC documented the first recognized outbreak of mosquito-borne Zika in the continental U.S. in a Miami-Dade neighborhood. A CDC study found transmission in Wynwood, Miami Beach and Little River was interrupted after intensive spraying.

Sources

• NWS Miami: Rainy Season 2025 Outlook
• NOAA: 2026 Atlantic hurricane season outlook
• UF/IFAS EDIS: Asian Subterranean Termite (EENY128)
• UF/IFAS EDIS: Formosan Subterranean Termite (EENY121)
• UF/IFAS EDIS: West Indian Drywood Termite (EENY-79)
• UF/IFAS EDIS: German Cockroach (EENY-002)
• UF/IFAS News: Kern on eight invasive household pest species (2023)
• CDC MMWR: Local mosquito-borne Zika transmission, Miami-Dade and Broward, 2016
• CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases: Mosquito control during Zika transmission, Miami-Dade, 2016
• Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control Division
• Miami-Dade Mosquito Inspections and Surveillance
• Miami-Dade Solid Waste: summertime mosquito tips (June 2026)
• FDACS: How do I know if a pest control company is licensed?
• FDACS Pest Control FAQ
• Florida Statutes, Chapter 482 (Pest Control), 2025
• Fla. Admin. Code R. 5E-14.105, termite and WDO contracts (Cornell LII)

Featured providers pay to appear on this guide and are labeled as sponsored. This guide was written by our editorial team from the public sources listed above. It is general information, not legal advice; confirm licensing and terms directly with any provider.