Florida termite inspection and WDO report guide
When a Florida real estate WDO inspection is performed and either a fee is charged or a written report is requested, FDACS requires Form 13645. Its scope includes specified insects and wood-decaying fungi in areas available for inspection. Here is when the report comes up and how to check the pest-control company or applicator involved.
Pest-control regulator
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
State report or guidance
Wood-Destroying Organisms Inspection Report (Form FDACS-13645)
When it comes up
- VA loan purchases. Every Florida county is on the VA's list, so a VA-financed purchase here almost always includes a wood-destroying organism report, apart from the VA's property-type and appraisal exceptions. source
- Real estate closings. When a real estate WDO inspection is performed and either a fee is charged or a written report is requested, Florida requires FDACS Form 13645. The licensee must keep a copy for at least three years. source
Find and check a Florida pest-control company
The inspection must be performed by a WDO identification-card holder or a Florida certified operator in the Termite and Other Wood-Destroying Organisms category. The business must also be licensed in that category; a fumigation license alone is insufficient.
Florida inspection questions
What counts as a wood-destroying organism in a Florida WDO inspection?
Florida's definition covers organisms that damage and can reinfest seasoned wood in a structure: termites, powder post beetles, old house borers, and wood-decaying fungi. That is why the Florida report says organisms rather than insects; decay fungus is part of the inspection.
Is a WDO inspection required to buy a house in Florida?
Florida does not make a WDO inspection automatic for every sale. A lender or purchase contract can require one, and VA loan processing requires wood-destroying insect information throughout Florida.
Who performs WDO inspections in Florida?
A person with a WDO-specific pest control identification card or a Florida certified operator in the Termite and Other Wood-Destroying Organisms category. The business must also hold that category; a fumigation license by itself is not enough.
Sources
- state regulator (fdacs.gov)
- official report form (fdacs.gov)
- WDO definition, form use, retention (ccmedia.fdacs.gov)
- public company license search (aeslicensing.fdacs.gov)
- VA statewide requirement (benefits.va.gov)
Facts on this page were checked against the sources above on 2026-07-18. Requirements change; confirm with the regulator or your lender for a transaction.