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Buyers book one before an offer becomes firm, particularly for older houses, homes backing onto ravines or woods, and properties in Ontario communities where termites are established. Owners book one as a yearly check, before finishing a basement, or when they hear scratching in the walls or find droppings in a cupboard. Landlords and condo boards use inspections to catch a problem before it spreads between units.
This page covers pre-purchase and annual pest inspections, what gets checked, termites in Ontario, what a useful report contains, how to act on its recommendations and how provinces regulate the people who apply pest control products.
Pre-purchase, annual and targeted pest inspections
Tell the inspector why you're booking. A buyer needs a clear read on current activity and past damage, while an owner with a specific complaint needs the pest identified before anyone treats it.
- Pre-purchase pest inspection: booked within the inspection condition to look for active or past infestations and damage that a general home inspection may only mention in passing.
- Annual inspection: a routine visit to check entry points and catch activity early, sometimes included in a pest control service plan.
- Targeted inspection: focused on one complaint, such as droppings in the kitchen, noises in the attic or bites at night, so the right pest is identified first.
- Termite inspection: in Ontario municipalities with a termite history, a specialized look at foundations, basement framing and any wood touching the soil.
- Multi-unit inspection: for plexes and condos, a check of neighbouring units and shared spaces, since pests travel through walls and service openings.
What a pest inspector checks: signs of rodents, insects, termites and wildlife
A thorough inspection works from the outside in and looks as closely at conditions as at the pests themselves. Expect a flashlight, a moisture meter and sometimes monitoring traps, and make sure the attic hatch, basement and crawl space are accessible.
- Rodents: droppings, gnaw marks, dark rub marks along walls, nesting material and chewed insulation.
- Insects: carpenter ants and the coarse sawdust they push out of galleries, cockroaches, pantry pests and, where there's a concern, signs of bed bugs in bedrooms.
- Wildlife: raccoon, squirrel or bat activity in the attic and at the eaves, torn vents, damaged soffits and droppings on insulation.
- Termites: mud tubes on foundation walls, damaged wood that sounds hollow, and wood in direct contact with soil.
- Entry points: gaps around pipes, wires and vents, worn door sweeps, openings at the roofline and cracks in the foundation.
- Moisture and clutter: leaks, damp basements, overflowing gutters, soil sloping toward the house, and firewood or debris stacked against the walls.
Termites in Ontario: where they're found and what buyers should know
Termites are a real consideration in parts of Ontario. The City of Guelph says the eastern subterranean termite was accidentally introduced from the United States to more than 30 Ontario municipalities, and that it was detected in Guelph in the early 1970s. The City of Toronto says the same species was introduced to Toronto in 1938, has since become established in homes throughout the city, and is hard to detect.
Guelph describes termites as wood-destroying insects that live in very large colonies and forage through the soil. The city enforces the Ontario Building Code and its Termite Control Bylaw property by property where needed, and it recommends that prospective buyers in formerly affected areas be told about past termite activity and consider an inspection by a licensed termite inspection company. If you're buying in a municipality with a termite history, look up its program and ask the seller about any past treatment.
Pest inspection reports: what a useful one includes
The report is what you keep, so it should be specific enough that another technician or contractor could act on it without repeating the visit.
- The pests identified or suspected, and whether activity looks current or old.
- Where evidence was found, with photos, and which areas couldn't be reached.
- Entry points and conditions that favour pests, listed by location.
- Damage observed, with a note when a contractor or engineer should assess structural wood.
- Recommended actions in order of priority, keeping treatment separate from sealing and repairs.
- Any monitors or traps placed, and when they'll be checked again.
Acting on pest inspection recommendations: sealing, moisture control and follow-up
Most recommendations aim to make the house less inviting, and many involve no pesticide at all. When treatment is needed, it holds up better once entry points and moisture problems are dealt with.
- Seal gaps around pipes, vents and utility lines, and repair screens, door sweeps and damaged soffits.
- Fix leaks, clean the gutters, slope soil away from the foundation and dehumidify a damp basement.
- Keep firewood, mulch and debris away from the walls, and break any wood-to-soil contact around decks, fences and sheds.
- Store food and garbage in sealed containers, and reduce clutter in basements and garages where rodents nest.
- For a confirmed problem, see our pages on rodents, bed bugs and wildlife removal; animals in an attic call for removal and sealing by someone who knows the provincial wildlife rules.
- Book a follow-up visit to confirm the activity has actually stopped.
Pest inspection vs home inspection: why a buyer might book both
A general home inspector will often note droppings in the attic or soft wood in the basement, but a pest inspection goes further: it identifies the species, judges whether activity is current, traces the entry routes and outlines the treatment and sealing the house needs. For an older house, a rural property or a home in an area with termites, fitting both into your inspection condition makes sense. Our home inspectors page explains what the general inspection covers.
Licensed pest control operators: pesticide rules in Ontario and Quebec
An inspection may involve no pesticide, but the treatment that follows often does, and provinces regulate who can apply it. Health Canada registers the products and points out that some provinces and territories require professional applicators to be trained and licensed. Ontario's Pesticides Act calls for a pesticide exterminator licence when pesticides are applied commercially on property the applicator or their employer doesn't own or farm, and structural extermination is one of the licence types.
In Quebec, the regulations under the Pesticides Act require a certificate for people who sell or use pesticides in sectors where a permit is needed, and pest management application is among the certified activities. Ask for the licence or certificate number of whoever will treat your home, and whether the person inspecting is the same person who will apply any product.
Pest Inspections: frequently asked questions
Should I get a pest inspection before buying a house?
It's worth considering for older homes, rural or wooded properties, houses where the home inspection found signs of rodents or wildlife, and homes in Ontario municipalities with a termite history. Book it early in your inspection condition so there's time to get treatment quotes if something turns up.
How often should a home have a pest inspection?
There's no official schedule. Many owners choose a yearly check, especially with an older house, a history of mice or a property near woods or water. Call sooner if you find droppings, hear activity in the walls or attic, or notice damaged wood.
Are termites a problem everywhere in Ontario?
No, they're concentrated in certain communities. The City of Guelph says the eastern subterranean termite was accidentally introduced to more than 30 Ontario municipalities, and Toronto says it has become established in homes throughout the city. Check your municipality's website to see whether it has a termite program or bylaw.
Does a pest inspection include treatment?
Usually not. The inspection identifies the problem and the conditions behind it, and treatment, sealing and repairs are quoted separately. Having one company inspect and another treat is an option if you want an independent opinion.
What happens if the inspection finds wildlife in the attic?
The report should show how the animals get in and whether young may be present. Removal and sealing come next, following provincial wildlife rules, as our wildlife removal page explains. Soiled or damaged insulation may need replacing once the animals are out.
Sources
- Termites in Guelph — City of Guelph
- Threats to trees: insects — City of Toronto
- Pesticide licences and permits — Government of Ontario
- Certificates for the sale and use of pesticides — Gouvernement du Québec
- Pesticides and pest management: frequently asked questions — Health Canada
- Pest control tips — Health Canada
Written by the LokalMatch editorial team. Reviewed by Zubair Afzal on September 10, 2026. How we write and check our guides