The City of Kelowna’s pesticide notification registry is open from Feb. 12 to March 11.
The annual registry is for Kelowna residents who wish to be informed when pesticide spraying occurs on residential properties adjacent to their own.
“The city’s pesticide bylaw has been restricting the use of cosmetic pesticides on residential properties since 2009,” said Todd Cashin, City of Kelowna suburban and rural planning manager.
“However, certified applicators are still able to apply chemical pesticides. The registry allows residents to have the option of knowing when spraying in their area is taking place to minimize their exposure to pesticides.”
Residents can register online at kelowna.ca/environment under “Pesticide Free”, by providing their name, street address, postal code, phone number, email address, preference for same-day or day-before notification and reasons for registering. Alternately, residents can register by calling the Commercial Pesticide Notification Registry Hotline at 250-469-8556.
Registrants are notified by commercial spray operators on the day before or the same day as the pesticide is applied to abutting residential properties. The registry notification does not cover pesticide application on agricultural properties.
Residents must sign up each year for the registry to be kept accurate and up to date. Those included in the 2015 registry must register again if they wish to be included in this year’s notification program.