whe must a house be fumigated

I received a call recently asking if

it was a law that a house be fumigated in California.

The short answer is no.

Okay then how often does a house need a fumigation?

Short answer, only when the house has too many wood destroying bugs to locally treat for them. Here's what I found on the pest control boards web site.

When drywood termites or wood boring beetles are found, does the structure always have to be fumigated?

No. Fumigation is not always required for treating drywood termites and wood-boring beetles. Fumigation is an all-encompassing treatment in which the gases permeate the entire structure, eradicating both visible infestations and termites that are otherwise inaccessible. If only a small area is infested, local applications may be used. The inspector will decide which treatment is necessary. You should be aware that the localized treatments will not eradicate hidden infestations elsewhere in the building.

Will fumigation eliminate all the termites and pests in the structure?

No. Subterranean termites require separate treatments to create a barrier between the structure and their nest in the ground. Under ideal conditions, the target pest will be dead or obviously dying by the end of the fumigation. Drywood termites can remain alive as long as a week after a lethal dose of a fumigant. Lethal doses vary for different pests, depending on the fumigant used. It is possible for household pests (such as spiders or cockroaches) to survive a fumigation.

So what are my alternatives?

Are there alternative methods to fumigation?

There are several alternatives for localized chemical treatments. There are, however, only two methods for whole-house eradication of drywood termites: fumigation and whole-house heat treatment. Other methods such as electro gun, microwave, and freezing with liquid nitrogen are local or spot treatments designed to eradicate termites in a specific area. These methods are not intended for whole house eradication and therefore are NOT alternatives to fumigation. The University of California, Berkeley, conducted a study for SPCB on these methods. A free, condensed version of the study is available on SPCB’s Web site, www.pestboard.ca.gov/howdoi/research.shtml.