Pesticides, Fungicides, and Herbicides: Why do Virginia HOAs need to know the difference?
There are many issues that confront your common interest community as its board of directors and management company work hard to maintain the HOA. One issue that has recently come up is the need to be knowledgeable about the chemicals an HOA applies to its common areas.
The Property Owners’ Association Act in Virginia Code § 55-510.3 and the Condominium Act in Virginia Code § 55-79.80:01 both require that an association post notice of all applications of pesticide in or upon the common areas/elements. This notice must be provided by conspicuous signs placed in or upon the area where the pesticide will be applied, at least 48 hours prior to application. This blog post analyzes one particular question that an association should consider when applying chemicals to its common areas: What is a pesticide?
Pesticide is a broad term encompassing various products
At first glance the statutory requirement seems reasonable to give your community notice when applying pesticide. But what actually is a pesticide? Do herbicides count? Fungicides? Today’s gardener must seemingly be a part-time chemist to understand all the different chemicals on the market that are supposed to keep our flowers and plants healthy, our grass green, and the bugs away.
Fortunately, the EPA has offered helpful guidance on this matter. The EPA, through the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act controls the distribution, sale and use of pesticides, and the law is frequently being updated. On the EPA website, a pesticide is defined as “any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest.” Though often misunderstood to refer only to insecticides, the term pesticide can also apply to certain herbicides, fungicides, and other substances used to control “pests.” The EPA defines pest as insects, animals, weeds, fungi, microorganisms, or prions. Finally, the EPA notes that products that kill mold and mildew and some lawn and garden products, such as weed killers, contain pesticides.
The EPA guidelines, although not necessarily binding law upon HOAs and Condominium Associations, absent any other guidance, might be a good resource when a Board of Directors is faced with this issue. HOAs should make sure to communicate with their landscapers, gardeners, exterminators, or other professionals that may be applying chemicals to the common area. “Pesticide” is a broad term, and so it is important to understand the characteristics of the product applied. Your HOA or management company should communicate this information with its association lawyer in the ongoing efforts to stay in compliance with the law.
Tarley Robinson, PLC, Attorneys and Counsellors at Law
Williamsburg, Virginia
Our Summer Associate for 2014 is Christian Schreiber, a rising third-year law student at the William & Mary Law School. Christian contributed to this blog post.
John Tarley
John is the firm's managing partner and chairs the firm's small business, zoning, and litigation practice areas.
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