AB 363 Explained: California's Neonic Ban for Sacramento Gardeners

AB 363 is now law in California, and Sacramento gardeners are directly in its scope. The bill — signed by Governor Newsom in 2023 — phases five of the most widely used neonicotinoid insecticides off retail shelves for non-agricultural, non-professional use. If you have ever bought a systemic rose care product, a grub preventer, or a "protect plus feed" soil drench at Home Depot, OSH, or your local Sacramento nursery, there is a real chance the active ingredient was one of the five chemicals this bill restricts. This guide explains exactly what AB 363 does, what it does not do, how it differs from California's earlier AB 1788 Pollinator Protection Act, and what Sacramento gardeners should do with any remaining products in their shed.

The short version: AB 363 does not ban neonicotinoids from California entirely. It ends retail sales of five specific active ingredients for consumer non-agricultural use and phases that off in stages through 2025 and 2026. Licensed pest control applicators and commercial farms can still legally use most of these chemicals. But for the Sacramento homeowner managing a vegetable patch, a fruit tree, or a pollinator garden — the shelf products you could buy last year are disappearing, and the replacements matter enormously for every bee living within a few hundred yards of your property.

AB 363 at a Glance — What the Law Actually Does

AB 363, authored by Assemblymember Laura Friedman and signed in October 2023, amended California Food and Agricultural Code section 12978.6 and added new restrictions under the California DPR's enforcement authority. The law targets five neonicotinoid active ingredients specifically: imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, and acetamiprid. These are not obscure chemicals. Together they represent the majority of consumer systemic insecticide products sold in California over the past two decades.

• Imidacloprid — The most common neonic in consumer products. Found in Bayer's "Tree and Shrub" soil drench, multiple rose care lines, and many "systemic insect control" products.
• Clothianidin — Primarily an agricultural seed coating but present in some consumer lawn and ornamental products.
• Thiamethoxam — Used in turf care, ornamental soil treatments, and some vegetable pest products.
• Dinotefuran — Fast-acting and common in Japanese beetle and grub preventers sold at Sacramento hardware stores.
• Acetamiprid — Considered less acutely toxic to honey bees than the others but still documented as harmful to native solitary bees and bumble bees at sub-lethal doses.

Under AB 363, DPR is required to cancel the registration of these products for non-agricultural, non-licensed-professional use on a specific timeline. Products containing these active ingredients cannot be manufactured for California retail sale after specified cutoff dates, and retailers must exhaust existing inventory within transition windows. The practical effect on Sacramento consumers: walk into a garden center in 2025 or 2026 and the systemic pest control shelf is markedly shorter.

How AB 363 Differs From AB 1788 (the 2020 Pollinator Protection Act)

Sacramento gardeners familiar with California's pesticide reform history sometimes confuse AB 363 with AB 1788, which passed in 2020. They address different problems, and understanding the distinction matters if you want to know what is actually restricted in your yard.

AB 1788, the California Pollinator Protection Act of 2020, focused specifically on second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides — the rat poisons that work their way up the food chain from rodents to raptors and other predators. AB 1788 did not address neonicotinoids. It passed because mountain lions, owls, and bobcats were dying from brodifacoum and bromadiolone poisoning traced to treated rodents. Sacramento County was in the study area for many of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife surveys that built the case for AB 1788.

AB 363 is the neonicotinoid complement — focused entirely on insecticides, not rodenticides, and targeting the retail consumer market rather than predator food chain effects. The two bills together represent California's most significant consumer pesticide restrictions in a generation. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation oversees enforcement of both.

• AB 1788 (2020) — Restricted second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. Targeted food-chain poisoning of predators. Not related to bee protection directly.
• AB 363 (2023) — Restricted five neonicotinoid active ingredients for non-agricultural, non-professional consumer use. Directly targets pollinator harm.
• SB 602 (2024) — Directed the California DPR to conduct formal reevaluation of agricultural neonicotinoid uses. Still in process as of 2026.
• What is not yet addressed: nursery plant pre-treatment with neonics remains legal and is largely unregulated at the consumer point of sale.

What AB 363 Does Not Cover — The Nursery Plant Gap

The most significant gap in AB 363 is one that directly affects Sacramento gardeners buying plants at local nurseries: pre-treated ornamental plants. A grower in the Central Valley or Southern California can legally treat bedding plants, shrubs, and flowering perennials with neonicotinoids before sale. Those plants can then be sold at a Sacramento Home Depot, a local independent nursery, or a farmers market without any disclosure requirement on the label.

The Xerces Society has documented neonicotinoid residues in ornamental plants sold at major retail chains throughout California at concentrations far exceeding the levels needed to harm foraging bees. A single imidacloprid-treated milkweed sold as a "pollinator plant" can expose bees to neurotoxic doses for its entire first growing season. The plant looks completely healthy. The flowers look normal. The bees that visit it are not.

Sacramento County gardeners who want to source clean plants have three practical options: (1) grow from seed using untreated seed stock, (2) buy from nurseries that explicitly label their plants as neonic-free, or (3) ask the nursery directly which plants were treated and with what. The Sacramento County Cooperative Extension — affiliated with UC Davis — has published guidance for home gardeners on identifying treated plants and sourcing alternatives. Local Sacramento nurseries including Lilac Petal, Talini's Nursery, and the UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery carry native California plants grown without systemic pesticide treatment.

Questions to Ask at Your Sacramento Nursery

• "Were these plants treated with any systemic insecticide before sale, including imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, or acetamiprid?" — A trained staff member should be able to answer this.
• "Do you carry any plants certified as pesticide-free or grown without systemic insecticides?" — Increasingly, local independent nurseries in Sacramento stock these alongside conventional stock.
• "Where were these plants grown?" — Plants grown by Central Valley or California-based specialty native nurseries are more likely to be untreated than those shipped in from large national wholesale operations.
• "Is there a Bee Better Certification or Xerces Society-endorsed label on any of your stock?" — Some specialty native plant vendors carry this certification.

Who Is Still Allowed to Use Neonicotinoids in California?

AB 363 created a tiered permission structure. Understanding who can still legally use these chemicals matters because it clarifies what Sacramento gardeners can actually expect from the law — and where the continued pressure on local bee populations is coming from.

Licensed Pest Control Operators holding a valid California Structural Pest Control Board license or a Pest Control Adviser certificate from the DPR can still purchase and apply neonicotinoids for non-agricultural professional use. If you hire a licensed landscaping or pest control company to treat your Sacramento property, the technician may be using chemicals that are no longer available to you at retail. Ask them directly.

Agricultural users — farmers, orchardists, commercial growers — operate under a separate regulatory regime. Most agricultural neonicotinoid applications in California are still permitted under restricted materials permits issued by county agricultural commissioners, including the Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner's office. SB 602, signed in 2024, directed DPR to formally reevaluate these agricultural uses, but that review process was still ongoing as of early 2026.

Why This Matters for Sacramento — The Local Pollinator Stakes

Sacramento sits at the edge of California's primary agricultural zone. The Sacramento Valley is the largest almond producing region on Earth, and almond pollination is almost entirely dependent on managed honey bee colonies trucked in from across the country each February. It is also home to more than 200 native bee species — including Crotch's bumble bee, listed as Threatened under the California Endangered Species Act, whose remaining California range includes Sacramento County.

Consumer neonicotinoid use in Sacramento is a real and documented contributor to urban pollinator pressure. A 2020 study published in Science found that residential pesticide applications — not just agricultural use — were a measurable factor in native bee decline in California's urban-agricultural interface. Sacramento is squarely in that interface. Imidacloprid and dinotefuran residues have been detected in Sacramento-area soil and groundwater samples by USGS monitoring programs.

The Xerces Society's Pollinator Partnership research on pollinator habitat across the Central Valley consistently identifies residential landscape management as a significant pressure variable. When a Sacramento neighborhood switches away from systemic insecticide use at scale, the effect on local pollinator populations is measurable within two to three seasons. AB 363 creates the policy framework for that switch — but the decision to actually stop using stockpiled products or continuing to ask nurseries for pre-treated plants is still individual.

What to Do With Neonic Products Already in Your Shed

AB 363 does not require Sacramento homeowners to dispose of neonic products they already own. Using up existing inventory is legal. But from a pollinator protection standpoint, the right move is to stop using these products — especially near flowering plants — and dispose of remaining stock through Sacramento County's hazardous household waste program.

Identify What You Have

Check your shed and garage for any product whose front label includes phrases like "systemic," "protect + feed," "tree and shrub," "grub preventer," or "all-season." Then read the active ingredient list on the back. Look for any of these: imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, or acetamiprid. Product names to watch for include Bayer's Tree and Shrub line, any version of Ortho Bug B Gon Systemic, Bonide Systemic Insect Control, and various granular grub preventers with imidacloprid as the active ingredient.

How to Dispose Safely

Sacramento County Hazardous Materials programs accept pesticides at no cost. The Sacramento County Hazardous Waste dropoff at 2550 Florin-Perkins Road accepts most household pesticides and chemical products, and temporary collection events are held regularly across the county — dates are posted at Sacramento County HazMat Programs. Do not pour liquid pesticide concentrates down a storm drain or into a septic system — both routes lead directly to waterways where imidacloprid has been detected in Sacramento-area sampling.

Do Not Apply Near Flowering Plants

If you have remaining inventory you intend to use up, the single most protective step is: never apply systemic insecticide products near any plant that is blooming or will bloom. Neonicotinoids applied to soil move into plant tissue and pollen within days. The product you apply to a rose in March will be in the pollen of every flower on that plant through the summer. Restrict any remaining use to structural pest issues away from flowering plants, and treat that use as a one-time transition rather than ongoing maintenance.

Safer Alternatives for Sacramento Pest Problems

AB 363 restriction prompts a real question: what do Sacramento gardeners actually use for pest management now? The following alternatives are effective for the most common residential pest problems and do not carry the systemic pollinator risk of neonicotinoids.

• Insecticidal soap (potassium salts of fatty acids) — Effective against aphids, whitefly, mealybug, and soft-bodied pests on contact. Breaks down within hours and leaves no systemic residue. Apply in early morning or evening to avoid bees in active foraging.
• Neem oil (clarified hydrophobic extract) — Controls a broad range of fungal diseases and insect pests. Not systemic in the same way as neonics. Avoid applying to open flowers; the spray itself can harm foraging bees on contact.
• Pyrethrin (botanical, not synthetic pyrethroid) — Fast knockdown, short residual. Use for acute infestations away from flowering plants. Pyrethrins break down in UV light within hours; pyrethroids (the synthetic version) persist for days and carry their own bee toxicity.
• Spinosad — Derived from a soil bacterium. Effective against thrips, leafminers, caterpillars, and other chewing insects. Low mammalian toxicity. Does carry some bee toxicity when wet; apply when bees are not actively foraging.
• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) — For caterpillar and larval pest problems specifically. Zero bee toxicity, zero systemic activity. Must be applied to foliage where larvae will eat it.
• Physical removal and exclusion — Hand-picking, row cover, copper tape, sticky traps. Zero chemical inputs. For backyard vegetable gardens in Sacramento, these are often sufficient without any chemistry at all.

The Sacramento County Master Gardeners program — operated through the UC Cooperative Extension Sacramento County office at 4145 Branch Center Road — offers free pest identification consultations and integrated pest management guidance to Sacramento residents. If you have a pest problem that is not responding to non-systemic management, their office is the right starting point before reaching for a chemical solution.

AB 363 and Your Sacramento Pollinator Garden

For Sacramento gardeners already working to support bees — building pollinator gardens, planting California natives, providing water — AB 363 is a tailwind. The law removes a class of chemicals that were incompatible with pollinator-friendly gardening from the most accessible retail channel.

The Xerces Society's position, based on multi-year research on residential habitat quality, is that a pesticide-free yard with 10 or more native California flowering species provides measurably more pollinator value than a yard with the same plants but treated with systemic insecticides. The Pollinator Partnership's ecoregional planting guide for the Central Valley recommends similar no-spray standards for any residential habitat that is intended to contribute to regional pollinator recovery.

If you are building or expanding a Sacramento pollinator garden, the most impactful change you can make right now is not what you add — it's what you stop using. AB 363 makes the consumer half of that change easier by eliminating the retail options. The remaining step is confirming that any new plants you add are coming in clean. Our guide to creating a bee-friendly garden in Sacramento covers plant selection, layout, and water features. Our native plants Sacramento bees love article gives a specific list of ten species that provide the broadest seasonal coverage for local bees.

Pro Tip: Create a "Neonic-Free Zone" Entry Point

Sacramento gardeners who want to communicate to neighbors, local nurseries, and their community that their yard is a clean pollinator space can register their property with the Xerces Society Pollinator Habitat program or display a Bee Better sign. The Pollinator Partnership's "Bee Friendly" certification program provides a free printable yard sign. These signals matter for neighborhood-scale change — they normalize pollinator-conscious gardening and create visible momentum for others considering the switch.

Frequently Asked Questions About AB 363 and Sacramento Gardeners

Is imidacloprid completely illegal in California now?

No. AB 363 restricts retail sales of imidacloprid (and four other neonics) for non-agricultural, non-professional consumer use. Licensed pest control operators and agricultural users can still purchase and apply imidacloprid under appropriate permits. Existing consumer stockpiles can be used legally. The restriction targets new retail sales of consumer products, not existing inventory and not professional or agricultural applications.

Can Sacramento nurseries still sell plants treated with neonics?

Yes. This is the primary gap in AB 363 from a pollinator protection standpoint. Nursery plants that were treated with neonicotinoids before sale are not covered by the retail restriction. There is currently no California law requiring disclosure of pre-treatment on nursery plant labels. Gardeners must ask directly.

Does AB 363 apply to products I already have at home?

Existing inventory can still be used legally under California law. AB 363 addresses the manufacture and retail sale of new products, not the use of products already purchased. From an ecological standpoint, however, the recommendation from the Xerces Society and the Pollinator Partnership is to stop using these products and dispose of them through the Sacramento County HazMat program rather than applying them near flowering plants.

What is the difference between AB 363 and SB 602?

AB 363 restricts consumer retail sales of five neonicotinoids. SB 602, signed in 2024, directs the California DPR to conduct a formal scientific reevaluation of agricultural neonicotinoid uses — focusing on the same five active ingredients in farm, orchard, and field applications. SB 602 does not itself restrict or ban agricultural use; it mandates the review process. That review was ongoing as of early 2026.

What should I use instead of Bayer Tree and Shrub for scale insects on my Sacramento fruit trees?

Scale insects on Sacramento stone fruit and citrus are best managed with horticultural oil (dormant oil in late winter when trees are not in leaf) or insecticidal soap on crawlers during the active season. The UC Davis Integrated Pest Management program has species-specific guidance for every common Sacramento fruit tree pest at ipm.ucanr.edu. The Sacramento County Master Gardener hotline (530-875-5913) can provide free identification and management advice for any pest you cannot identify yourself.

Does AB 363 affect bee-killing products other than neonicotinoids?

No. AB 363 is specific to the five neonicotinoid active ingredients listed in the bill. Synthetic pyrethroids, carbamates, organophosphates, and other insecticide classes are not addressed. Many of these remain legally available at retail and carry significant bee toxicity. Our deep dive on neonicotinoids and Sacramento bees covers the broader pesticide landscape and which additional classes to avoid in a pollinator-friendly garden.

What This Law Means in Practice for Sacramento Gardens in 2026

AB 363 is a floor, not a ceiling. The retail restriction removes the easiest path to consumer neonic use, but it does not guarantee a pollinator-safe garden. Sacramento gardeners who want to actually support local bee populations need to take three additional steps that the law does not require: verify that nursery plants are clean, confirm that any professional pest service they hire is not using restricted chemicals on flowering plants, and shift their landscape management toward integrated pest management approaches that do not depend on systemic chemistry.

The practical priority order for Sacramento gardeners in 2026 is: first, stop buying any new systemic insecticide products (AB 363 handles most of this automatically by removing them from shelves); second, ask about pre-treatment status for every new plant you buy; third, properly dispose of remaining neonic products through the county HazMat program; and fourth, check with any landscaping or pest control service that works on your property.

The bees that live within 300 yards of a Sacramento backyard depend on that yard being a clean forage zone. Most Sacramento native bees forage within a 200-to-600-foot radius of their nest. For a solitary ground-nesting bee in the Tallac Village neighborhood or a bumble bee colony along the American River Parkway, the pesticide decisions made in surrounding yards are not background noise — they are the immediate chemical environment those bees are foraging in every day of the growing season.

For more context on why bees need clean habitat and how pollinators drive California's food system, our guide to why bees matter for California's food supply explains the agricultural stakes in concrete terms. For a practical overview of how neonicotinoids harm Sacramento bees at the neurological level — and which specific product names contain these chemicals — see our in-depth neonicotinoids and Sacramento bees guide.