Whole-structure termite fumigation in San Francisco: what it is, what preparation involves and what to ask first.
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Termite fumigation seals a building and fills it with a gas that reaches the wood inside walls and framing, usually for drywood termites. In California it is Branch 1 work under the Structural Pest Control Board. San Francisco Pest Control connects San Francisco callers with a technician who discusses whether it fits and confirms the price first.
Fumigation is the largest step in termite control, and it is the one most likely to make an owner pause. The building is covered or sealed, a gas is released, and everyone stays out for a set period. That is a lot to organise, so it is worth knowing in advance when it is recommended and when something smaller would do.
This page explains the method, who does the work under California rules, what preparation looks like and what questions to ask. It does not summarise local notice requirements or tenant rules, since those are for the company and the city to tell you. San Francisco Pest Control is a call line that connects you with an independent local pest-control company; phones are answered 24/7, and a same-day visit is offered only when a technician is free.
Under the Structural Pest Control Board, fumigation is Branch 1 work, separate from Branch 2 General Pest, which covers ants, cockroaches, mice and rats, and Branch 3 Termite. A company doing fumigation has to hold the right branch. You can ask the company which one applies and for its licence number before work starts.
Branch 3 covers termites, wood-boring beetles, dry rot and fungus, which is why a termite inspection and a fumigation may involve different people or different parts of the same company. That is normal.
We do not give fee amounts or exam details here, because we have no sourced figures for them. The board and the company are the right place to ask.
Business and Professions Code 8516(b) requires a registered company to file the address of each property it inspected or worked on within 10 business days. A company that fails to file can be fined up to $2,500. The rule helps keep a record of work on your address.
You can ask the company to confirm that it files within that period, and to give you a copy of any inspection report or completion record. Those documents matter if you sell or refinance.
Companies also register with the county Agricultural Commissioner in each county where they work. We do not give office details or deadlines, since we have no confirmed information on them.
Ask why fumigation is recommended instead of local treatment, how long you will be out, what you must remove or seal, what notices will be given, and who will confirm that the building is clear. Ask for those answers in writing so you are not relying on memory.
Write down whether the company will give you the licence number before work, what branch it falls under, and who will be on site. Ask what happens if the weather or access delays the start.
Also ask what is not covered. Fumigation does not stay in the wood after aeration, so it does not guard against new termites arriving later.
Tenants and neighbours may have rights, notices and rent questions that depend on where you live and who owns the building. We do not summarise those rules. Ask the company what notices it provides, and ask the city's housing offices about tenant and rent-related requirements.
If you rent, tell your landlord what you have seen rather than treating anything yourself, and ask for any notice in writing. If you own a building with tenants, tell the company early so planning can include them.
The same applies to neighbours in attached houses and flats. The company can explain how adjoining units are handled, and what you should tell people next door.
Do not re-enter a building that has been sealed or posted, and do not remove tarps, signs or locks. Follow the company's list for food, medicines and pets, and wait for clearance in person or in writing before returning.
A technician looks for the extent of the termite activity and whether the building can be treated locally. Fumigation is discussed when the activity is widespread or hidden. You receive the reasoning in plain terms, and it is fair to ask for a second opinion.
The company explains the method, the length of time out of the building and who must be told. Ask in writing what notices will be given to neighbours and to any tenants, and who delivers them.
Food, medicines, pets, plants and some items must be removed or sealed, following the company's instructions. Gas fuel supplies are shut off, shrubs near walls are trimmed back and access to the structure is cleared.
The structure is enclosed, often with tarps, and the gas is released by trained staff. Warning signs go up and the building stays closed for the agreed period.
After the sealed period, the building is ventilated and checked before anyone returns. Do not go back in until the company tells you the clearance is given.
The company files property information with the state and gives you records. Keep them with your documents for any later sale.
The entire building is enclosed and treated at once, which allows the gas to reach framing inside walls and attics. It is the method people mean when they say tenting. It needs time out of the building and careful preparation.
When activity is limited and reachable, a technician can treat only the affected boards. This avoids leaving the building but does not reach what has not been found, so ask the technician what is not covered.
Some jobs use a local treatment now and keep fumigation as a later option. If you choose that, ask what signs would change the plan, and write them down so you know when to call back.
A fumigation price from a named publisher exists for California as a whole, but none was confirmed for San Francisco, so no dollar figure is printed. These are the things that move a quote.
| Job | Typical range | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Volume of the building | Scales with the property | Size, number of stories and attached sections all count |
| Complexity of sealing | Set on inspection | Attached walls, odd rooflines and tight lots take more labour |
| Preparation your side | Your cost | Moving out for the sealed period and arranging pet care or storage are yours to budget |
| Lodging while you are out | Not part of the quote | Ask what, if anything, the company covers so you can budget for a stay elsewhere |
| Repairs after treatment | Often a separate trade | Fumigation kills termites but does not mend damaged wood |
These are cost drivers, not prices. A technician confirms the price with you before any work begins.
Call any hour and explain what is going on. You get a clear price before any work starts.
San Francisco is full of attached buildings: flats stacked on flats, row houses sharing walls, and apartments over shops. Tenting such a building means thinking about the people in the next unit as well as your own. The company will want to know about shared walls, the roof structure and who lives where.
Many lots are narrow, with little space between buildings. That affects how tarps and equipment reach the structure, and whether a street or a sidewalk is involved. If your building has limited access, mention it on the first call so the planning is realistic.
Hillside streets add another layer, with steep driveways, stairs and limited parking. The company needs to know how it can reach the building and whether a vehicle can stand nearby. Parking and street rules differ by block, so ask the city rather than assuming.
Wood is the main character of the older housing here, and fumigation is aimed at the wood inside it. Cornices, brackets, window casings and framing behind plaster are exactly the parts a technician cannot open without damage. That hidden-wood problem is the usual reason this method is raised for a house of that age.
Drywood termites in San Francisco attics, trim and roof framing: how they are found and the options for treating them.
Termite inspection for San Francisco houses and flats: swarms, sales reports and what a technician looks at.
Dry rot and other wood damage in San Francisco homes: telling fungus from termites, finding the moisture and what comes next.
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
A Wood Destroying Pests and Organisms report is the written findings of a California Branch 3 inspection: termites, wood-boring beetles, dry rot and fungus.
Dry rot is a wood-decay fungus, not an insect, and it needs moisture to grow despite the name.
The sealed period and the ventilation time depend on the method and the company. Ask for the exact steps and times in writing, and plan for some flexibility around weather and clearance.
That depends on how the buildings are connected and what the company decides. Attached units are discussed on a case-by-case basis, so ask about it when planning.
The company gives you a list. Food, medicines and some plants are usually removed or sealed, and the instructions can differ, so follow the written list rather than general advice.
No. Local treatment is available when activity is limited and reachable, and a technician can explain the trade-offs. See our drywood termite control page for the options.
Fumigation does not leave a protective layer in the wood, so new termites can arrive later. Ask the company how it recommends monitoring or protecting the building afterwards.
San Francisco Pest Control is a call line that connects you with an independent local pest-control company. Phones are answered 24/7, and a same-day visit is offered only when a technician is free. Call (855) 974-4733 and ask about an inspection first.