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HomeFood and Agricultural CodeDiv. 7Ch. 5Art. 4§ 14591 Fertilizer Manufacturer Licensing

§ 14591 Fertilizer Manufacturer Licensing

Food and Agricultural Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 14591 Fertilizer Manufacturer Licensing

This law says anyone who makes or sells fertilizer must get a license for each plant and location, renew it every two years, tell the state if they handle ammonium nitrate, and pay a fee that can’t be more than $300.

Key Takeaways

  • •You need a license for every place you make or distribute fertilizer.
  • •Licenses are renewed in January of odd‑numbered years and last until December of the next even year.
  • •If you only sell packaged fertilizer that already has another licensed company’s label, you don’t need a license.
  • •Anyone dealing with ammonium nitrate must tell the secretary when they apply for a license.
  • •The license fee can’t be more than $300, but the secretary can lower it if needed.

Example

GreenGrow Co. makes bagged fertilizer at two factories in the state and sells it to garden stores.

GreenGrow has to apply for a separate license for each factory, renew the licenses in January of an odd‑numbered year, and keep the license valid through December of the next even‑numbered year. Because they make fertilizer (not just resell someone else’s labeled product), they can’t skip the license. If they also make ammonium nitrate, they must tell the secretary when they apply so the license notes that fact.

How to Calculate

License fee ≤ $300

  1. Look up the fee the secretary sets for a fertilizer license.
  2. Check that the amount is $300 or less.
  3. Pay that amount when you apply or renew the license.

GreenGrow applies for a license and the secretary sets the fee at $250.

Result: The fee is acceptable because $250 ≤ $300, so GreenGrow pays $250.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 14591 Fertilizer Manufacturer Licensing

(a) Every person who manufactures or distributes fertilizing materials shall, before engaging in the activity, obtain a license from the secretary for each plant and business location that the person operates. Before issuing a license, the secretary shall require verification that the applicant is a manufacturer or distributor of fertilizing material compliant with this chapter. All licenses shall be renewed in January of each odd-numbered year, and shall be valid until December 31 of the following even-numbered year, if issued in January of that same year. However, a person who only distributes or who makes retail sales of packaged agricultural minerals, packaged commercial fertilizers, organic input material, or packaged beneficial substances, alone or in any combination, which bear the registered label of another licensed person, is not required to obtain the license. (b) Every person who manufactures or distributes, or intends to manufacture or distribute, ammonium nitrate as defined in Section 14512.5, in this state, shall inform the secretary of that activity or intent when applying for a license. The license obtained by that person shall identify that person as a manufacturer or distributor of ammonium nitrate. (c) The license fee shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300). The secretary may, based on the findings and recommendations of the board, reduce the license fee to a lower rate that provides sufficient revenue to carry out this chapter. (Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 208, Sec. 13. (SB 1522) Effective January 1, 2025.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

fertilizing materialslicensesecretarymanufacturerdistributorammonium nitrate

Related Statutes

  • § 14593 License Renewal Fees Penalties
  • § 19227 Rendering Industry Fees
  • § 19260 Pet Food Meat Licensing
  • § 19261 Rendering License Application
  • § 19262 Food Processing License Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Food and Agricultural Code. Section 14591.
View Official Source