The ordinance restricts lawn and landscape pesticide use on ALL property, public and private, throughout the town: lawns, vegetable and ornamental gardens, landscaped areas, patios, sidewalks, driveways, parks and playing fields.
ALL pesticides are prohibited within 75 feet of a water body or wetland. This includes ponds, rivers, streams, tidal areas, and coastal or freshwater wetlands.
- Why do we have a Pesticide/Herbicide Ordinance?
Ogunquit’s ordinance protects the health of our residents and visitors, pets, wildlife, and natural ecosystems.
According to Jay Feldman of Beyond Pesticides, of the 30 most commonly used lawn pesticides and herbicides:
- 17 are linked to cancer
- 18 are endocrine disruptors
- 19 are reproductive toxicants
- 11 are linked to birth defects
- 14 are neurotoxic
- 22 cause kidney liver effects
- 25 are irritants.
Ogunquit’s ordinance protects the diverse organisms that make up a healthy ecosystem and the biological systems that are central to the sustainability of our environment. Pesticides can run off lawns and gardens into waterways, polluting our drinking and recreational waters and impairing the health of our streams. Pesticide use harms bees, birds, butterflies and beneficial insects.
- What is a “pest”?
Any undesirable insect, plant, fungi, bacteria, virus or microorganism
- Who is in charge of making sure companies/citizens are in compliance?
The Ordinance is enforced by Ogunquit’s Code Enforcement Officer, Scott
Heyland.
- What chemicals are banned?
Use or application of chemical pesticides and herbicides is prohibited, other than pesticides classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency as exempt materials under 40 CFR 152.25, and those products permitted by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI).
- If pesticides are banned, how can I keep my garden and lawn beautiful and pest-free?
Organic lawn management is a “feed-the-soil” approach that centers on natural, organic fertilization with high-quality finished compost. The inputs, along with specific cultural practices that include mowing, aeration, irrigation and overseeding, are the basis of the program. This approach builds a soil environment rich in microbiology that will produce strong, healthy turf able to withstand stress.
That said, “beautiful” and “pest-free” are subjective and there are broad, environmental trade-offs in achieving a completely pest-free, weed-free lawn and garden .
Are there any safe pesticides that I can use?
Types of effective, allowed pesticides include:
- Horticultural and insecticidal soaps
- Vinegar-based herbicides
- Essential oil-based pesticides
- Diatomaceous earth
- Biological-based pesticides such as bacillus thuringiensis
- Can I spray a pesticide to get rid of mosquitos?
Insect repellents applied to your clothing or skin are allowed. Broad outdoor spraying or fogging with a pesticide other than those approved by OMRI is not allowed. Exceptions for public health issues are noted below.
- Can I use an herbicide to get rid of poison ivy?
Restricted pesticides may be applied for the following purposes:
- The control of noxious plants, such as poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.
- The control of invasive species that may be detrimental to the environment.
- Use of pesticides mandated by state or federal law.
- The control of venomous or disease-carrying insects.
- Where can I find Ogunquit’s Pesticide/Herbicide
Ordinance?
CLICK for a copy of the Ordinance.
For additional questions, please contact Ogunquit’s Code Enforcement Officer, Scott Heyland @ (207) 646-9326
.
