Fairfax Defends "Neighbor Notification Law"

This March, Fairfax passed a landmark pesticide ordinance that requires residents to post signs and alert the their neighbors if they plan to use pesticides in their yard. The law also codifies the town’s existing policy of no pesticide use on town owned and maintained property, and extends it to all public open space and rights-of-way.

Fairfax Council member Frank Egger addressing the crowd

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation Director Paul Helliker and pest control industry representatives have called for the town to repeal its ordinance or face action by the state’s attorney general, citing violation of the state code that preempts local regulation of pesticide use (CA Food and Agriculture Code Section 11501.1 (a)).

The press conference called by Fairfax Council members Lew Tremaine and Frank Egger on Wednesday, May 23, 2001 had a great turnout - especially from the parents of younger children.

The event was covered by three TV stations as well as the local press. In addition to Frank's response to threats from the State Department of Pesticide Regulation and its allies in the pesticide industry that have come in response to the town's new, public right to know, "Neighbor Notification Law" when pesticides are used on private property, the event featured presentations by:

• Kelly Campbell of Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR)
• Susan Christman of the Pesticide Education Group
• Larry Robinson, mayor of Sebastopol*
• Virginia Souders-Mason of the Marin Beyond Pesticides Coalition
• Sam Spooner, city council member of Sebastopol*
• Lew Tremaine, town council member of Fairfax

*Sebastopol's representatives were present to support Fairfax's landmark legislation requiring Neighbor Notification prior to pesticide use.

  Fairfax is expected to mount an aggressive campaign against State bureaucrats. For more details contact Fairfax Councilmember Frank Egger at 415-456-6356, pager 415-455-2543 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . To contribute to the Fairfax Legal Defense Fund, send your tax deductible contributions with checks made out to "Defending Fairfax’s Right-to-Know" to: Fairfax Town Hall,142 Bolinas Road, Fairfax, CA 94930.Road, Fairfax, CA 94930.

Fairfax's New "Neighbor Notification Law"

The Fairfax Town Council held a public hearing Monday November 6th at 8 p.m. at the Council Chambers on Park Road on a new pesticide law formalizing the Town’s prohibition of pesticide use on public property and adding a new "Neighbor Notification" requirement prior to the use of pesticides on private property.

The ordinance, authored by Mayor Frank Egger, was recommended by a council ad-hoc subcommittee made up of Councilmember Lew Tremaine and the Mayor. It is a result of the Town Council’s earlier discussions and concerns about pesticide use in Fairfax and requesting the subcommittee review the issue and report back.

The "Neighbor Notification" ordinance is modeled after New York legislation recently signed into law by Governor Pataki.

What is "Neighbor Notification?"

Prior Neighbor Notification of Pesticide Spraying requires both commercial and resident pesticide applicators spraying a neighbor’s property to give you a written notice two days in advance of the spraying. This will allow you to take precautions to protect yourself, your family, your pets and your property from the hazards of pesticide exposure. Neighbor Notification is a common sense, good-neighbor policy. It is a Fairfax issue because homes here are separated by small distances and pesticide drift often occurs.