Neonicotinoids, Pollinators, and Washington’s New Law: What It Means for Clark County Landscapes and the Future of Gardening
Across Washington state, a significant shift is underway in how pesticides — and especially neonicotinoids — are regulated and used. Beginning in 2026, Washington joins 10 other states with new statewide restrictions will change what products are available to homeowners and how landscapes are managed.
This is more than a technical policy update. It reflects a broader transition in how we think about landscapes, pollinator health, and our relationship with the ecosystems we live within.
Understanding what these changes mean — and what they don’t — helps us move forward with clarity instead of confusion.
What Are Neonicotinoids and Why Do They Matter?
Neonicotinoids, often called “neonics,” are a class of systemic insecticides that became widely used in agriculture and ornamental landscaping over the past several decades. Common active ingredients include imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, and acetamiprid.
Unlike contact insecticides, systemic chemicals are absorbed into the plant and distributed throughout its tissues. This means that nectar, pollen, leaves, and even guttation droplets (the small beads of liquid that collect on plants) can contain residues.
That systemic quality is exactly why they became popular — and also why they raised concerns.
Research has shown that neonicotinoids can:
Be toxic to bees and other pollinators.
Cause sublethal impacts such as impaired navigation, reproduction, and immune function.
Persist in soils and water, potentially affecting surrounding ecosystems beyond the application site.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Pollinator Health Taskforce has highlighted pollinator risks associated with these pesticides, particularly when used in ornamental landscapes where exposure pathways may be widespread but pest control benefits may be limited.
Washington’s New Law: RCW 15.58.485
In response to growing scientific evidence and public concern, Washington adopted new restrictions under RCW 15.58.485.
Starting January 1, 2026:
Neonicotinoid insecticides generally cannot be used on non-production outdoor ornamental plants, trees, or turf unless specific conditions are met.
Key elements include:
Many products will no longer be available for general consumer use outdoors.
Applications may require licensed pesticide applicators.
Agricultural uses remain allowed.
Certain targeted methods, such as tree injection, may continue under professional oversight.
This is not a total ban. Instead, the law shifts neonicotinoids away from casual residential use and toward more controlled, professional contexts.
In practical terms, it reduces widespread exposure risk while still allowing targeted applications where deemed necessary.
Why Focus on Residential and Ornamental Landscapes?
A major policy driver behind the legislation is the recognition that non-agricultural uses often provide limited ecological benefit while posing potential risks to pollinators.
Many ornamental applications are preventative or cosmetic rather than essential.
Reducing unnecessary pesticide exposure in urban and suburban environments is seen as one of the fastest ways to lower cumulative risk to pollinator populations.
This approach aligns with a broader movement toward integrated pest management — focusing on prevention, plant health, and ecological balance rather than routine chemical treatments.
What This Means for Clark County — Cities and Unincorporated Areas
Because RCW 15.58.485 is a state law, it applies across all jurisdictions.
Residents in unincorporated Clark County and cities like Vancouver, Battle Ground, Camas, Ridgefield, and Washougal will experience the same baseline changes:
Reduced retail access to neonicotinoid products.
Increased reliance on licensed applicators when use is necessary.
Greater emphasis on alternative pest management strategies.
But while the law is statewide, local governments play a critical role in shaping how landscapes adapt.
Cities influence:
Landscaping standards for new development.
Urban forestry policies.
Water conservation and stormwater practices.
Integrated pest management on public lands.
Community education and incentive programs.
When municipal policies encourage diverse, resilient plantings — especially native species — they reduce the need for chemical interventions in the first place.
A Turning Point for New Development
One of the most important implications of this policy shift may be in how new neighborhoods are designed.
Historically, many developments defaulted to:
Turf-heavy landscapes.
Ornamental monocultures.
Preventative pesticide regimes.
As neonicotinoid access becomes more restricted, developers and landscape designers may need to rethink these approaches.
Expect to see increased interest in:
Native plant communities.
Structural habitat diversity.
Ecological landscape design that builds natural pest resistance.
Cities like Vancouver already require landscaping plans and tree density standards. Integrating pollinator-friendly design into these frameworks is a logical next step.
Opportunities in Unincorporated Areas
Unincorporated parts of Clark County may play an especially important role moving forward.
These areas often include larger properties, agricultural edges, and fewer aesthetic constraints than urban developments. That flexibility creates opportunities for:
Native meadow conversions.
Hedgerow habitat.
Reduced-input landscapes that rely more on ecological processes.
With education and community support, these areas can serve as important habitat corridors connecting urban pollinator pathways.
This Is Not Just About Removing a Chemical
One of the biggest misconceptions is that restricting neonicotinoids alone will “save the bees.”
Pollinator health depends on many factors:
Habitat availability
Floral diversity
Climate stress
Disease pressures
Landscape fragmentation
Reducing pesticide exposure removes one stressor — but it also challenges us to rethink how landscapes function.
Healthy ecosystems naturally regulate pests through predator-prey relationships, biodiversity, and resilient plant communities.
What Gardeners, HOAs, and Landscape Professionals Should Do Now
These changes create an opportunity to shift from reactive pest control to proactive ecological design.
Practical steps include:
Choosing regionally adapted native plants.
Diversifying plant palettes to avoid monocultures.
Supporting beneficial insects that naturally control pests.
Reducing routine pesticide use and focusing on targeted interventions when truly necessary.
State law already recognizes pollinator habitat as a legitimate landscape choice. Aligning local landscaping practices with ecological principles will make transitions smoother for homeowners and communities.
A Broader Shift Toward Ecosystem-Based Thinking
What we are seeing is not just a pesticide regulation — it is part of a larger cultural and ecological shift.
For decades, landscapes were treated as static objects requiring constant chemical maintenance.
Now we are beginning to understand landscapes as living systems.
The goal is not simply to eliminate pests or protect a single species, but to restore functioning ecosystems that support biodiversity, resilience, and long-term sustainability.
Limiting neonicotinoid use is one step in that direction.
What comes next will depend on how communities, cities, and individuals choose to design the landscapes around them.
And increasingly, the answer may be simpler than we think:
Provide habitat. Plant diverse native species. Let ecological processes do more of the work.