Termites
How to prepare for tent fumigation in Los Angeles
Tenting sounds dramatic, but the prep is mostly a checklist. Here is what to do in the week before, the day of, and the day you come home.
Updated October 2026
This guide, at a glance
- Written by
- Hazel Winslow, Pest Control Guides Editor
- Updated
- October 2026
- Reading time
- About 6 minutes
- Questions
- Call, answered 24/7
By Hazel Winslow, Pest Control Guides Editor. Updated October 2026.
To prepare for tent fumigation in Los Angeles, plan to be out for two to three days, bag or remove food and medications, take out people, pets and indoor plants, open interior doors and cabinets, and coordinate gas shutoff and keys with the crew. Re-entry happens only after certified clearance readings. Call (323) 329-3792 with questions.
The week before
Plan and book
Fumigation is prescribed when drywood termite infestation is widespread or unreachable, and in Los Angeles that is common enough that the striped tents are part of the streetscape. Once the job is scheduled, you will get a written prep list. Book somewhere to stay for two to three nights, arrange for pets, and check whether your city requires a fumigation permit, since some LA County municipalities do. If the fumigation is tied to an escrow, build those days into the calendar now.
Ask the crew about the roof. Tile roofs need care when tarps go on and come off, and a good crew will explain how they protect it. Trim plants and branches away from the walls so the tarps seal against the ground.
The checklist
What to bag, remove and open
Bag or remove consumables
Food, medications, pet food and anything you will eat or drink, in the supplied fumigation bags or out of the house.
Remove living things
People, pets, fish tanks and indoor plants all leave for the full duration.
Open everything
Interior doors, cabinets, drawers and closets, so the gas reaches every space.
Unseal airtight covers
Plastic mattress and pillow covers that seal airtight get removed or opened.
The day of
Handover and tenting
On fumigation day, the crew coordinates gas shutoff where needed, collects keys or a lockbox code, and walks the prep list with you before tenting. The structure is sealed under tarps, the fumigant is introduced at a concentration calculated for the house, and the crew monitors it by instrument. A warning agent is used so the gas cannot go unnoticed, and the site is secured with signage throughout.
You will not see much from the outside after that: the tent stays sealed through the exposure period, then the crew vents it and runs aeration until the air is clean.
Coming home
Clearance, then re-entry
Re-entry is authorized by certified clearance readings, not by the clock. Once the readings confirm the air is clean, the tarps come down, gas service is restored where it was shut off, and you can move back in. Because the gas leaves no residue, there is no need to wash dishes or clothes. Unbag your food, put the plants back and air out the house if you like.
Fumigation eliminates every drywood colony in the structure, but it leaves no barrier against future swarmers. The close-out conversation should cover prevention and an annual termite inspection. For the job itself, see whole-structure fumigation; in the LA market it typically runs $2,000 to $6,000, about $1 to $3 per square foot.
Common questions
Readers also ask
Plan on two to three days. The structure is tented and treated, then aerated, and re-entry happens only after certified clearance readings confirm the air is clean.
No. The fumigant used for drywood termites is a true gas that aerates completely and leaves no residue, so dishes, clothing and surfaces need no washing. Only consumables need to be bagged or removed beforehand.
All people and pets leave, including fish and other animals in tanks. Indoor plants come out. Outdoor plants close to the house may need to be trimmed back, and the crew will tell you whether watering the soil along the foundation is recommended.
Some LA County municipalities require a permit for fumigation. The fumigation crew handles it as part of scheduling, but it is one more reason to book early if you are on an escrow timeline.
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The line is on right now
Fumigation on the calendar and still have questions?
Call any hour. The prep list is simpler on the phone than it looks on paper.
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