The short version
Most yard treatments in San Francisco cost about $75–$200 per visit, or $350–$900 for a season. Removing standing water costs nothing and helps the most.
- A visit in San Francisco usually costs $75–$200.
- A full season usually runs $350–$900.
- Removing standing water is free and helps most.
- Ask what happens if bites return between visits.
- Compare plans by visits and products, not just price.
Anyone in San Francisco tired of mosquito bites at home.
What to look for
Mosquitoes breed in standing water, even a bottle cap's worth. In summer heat, eggs become biting adults in about a week. Around San Francisco, mosquito season runs from about March into November. Often the source is a neighbor's yard or a storm drain.
- 1Whining near your ears at night indoors.
- 2Mosquitoes indoors resting on walls or in closets.
- 3Wriggling larvae in birdbaths, buckets, or saucers.
- 4Dogs testing positive for heartworm.
- 5Egg rafts floating on stagnant water.
- 6Clogged gutters holding water after rain.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Each new generation is bigger than the last.
- Bites can spread West Nile virus.
- Itchy welts, especially for kids.
- Heartworm risk for dogs.
bite, to get protein for their eggsOnly female mosquitoesUS CDC in standing water, from a bottle cap to a pondMosquitoes breedUS EPA West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the U.S.Mosquito diseasesUS CDC 🧮
Estimate a season of mosquito control in San Francisco
Adjust for your situation to see a ballpark range.
Estimated range
A rough guide only. Your quote depends on your yard and how many visits you need.
Treatment options and typical costs
Property Inspection for Breeding Sites
$0–$150 (often bundled with a first treatment)
Before anything is sprayed, a pro in San Francisco should work out which mosquito you have and where the larvae are growing. Container breeders and floodwater breeders call for different tactics.
- Time
- 30–60 minutes
- Best for
- Every yard; finds where mosquitoes actually breed
Barrier (Residual) Yard Treatment
$75–$200 per visit; $350–$900 per season
Barrier spray is the workhorse of mosquito control in San Francisco, but it is only as good as the coverage of vegetation. Open lawns hold few adults; hedges and ivy hold thousands.
- Time
- 20–45 minutes per visit, repeated every 3–4 weeks
- Best for
- Shaded yards with shrubs, ivy, and dense landscaping
Monitoring and Seasonal Plans
$50–$150 per follow-up visit; $350–$900 per season bundled
The mosquito season in San Francisco runs from the first warm, wet stretch of spring until the first hard frost, and a seasonal plan schedules visits across that window. Most plans run six to eight visits.
- Time
- 15–30 minutes per check; season runs spring through first frost
- Best for
- Anyone who wants the yard usable all summer
Misting Systems and In2Care-Style Stations
misting $2,000–$4,500 installed plus refills; stations $200–$500 per season
In2Care-style stations lure egg-laying females and dust them with larvicide. The females spread it to other water and die from a fungus they picked up, which is why San Francisco pros like them for container-heavy lots.
- Time
- Misting: half a day. Stations: under an hour.
- Best for
- Specific yards: heavy outdoor use or spray-averse owners
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Adult mosquitoes spend the day in shady, leafy beds like this one, so that's where a barrier treatment goes.What mosquito control costs in San Francisco.
- Property Inspection for Breeding Sites: $0–$150 (often bundled with a first treatment) - Barrier (Residual) Yard Treatment: $75–$200 per visit; $350–$900 per season - Monitoring and Seasonal Plans: $50–$150 per follow-up visit; $350–$900 per season bundled - Misting Systems and In2Care-Style Stations: misting $2,000–$4,500 installed plus refills; stations $200–$500 per season - A typical home in San Francisco is worth around $1,300k, and a season of treatment costs far less than most outdoor projects. With a season running from about March into November around San Francisco, most plans cover seven or eight visits.
Local mosquitoes conditions in San Francisco.
Knowing San Francisco's seasonal timing lets you schedule treatment before the busy stretch rather than after it, which usually means faster service and a more accurate quote. A provider who works San Francisco and California every day can point out the specific conditions that matter most here, and getting the scope, price, and follow-up terms in writing makes it easier to compare options. San Francisco sits in a mediterranean climate, and that sets the pace for mosquito activity here: late spring through early fall; year-round in the deep south. In San Francisco, the area is mostly urban, so mosquitoes pressure can differ from one block to the next depending on how tight the entry points are and how much food, water, or shelter is close by. An inspection in San Francisco usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first.
Mosquitoes that bite indoors usually slip in through gaps around doors or torn window screens.Which mosquitoes bite around San Francisco.
They're the main West Nile carriers. Near the coast, salt-marsh mosquitoes can fly into San Francisco from miles away. Asian tiger mosquitoes are common around San Francisco. They're black-and-white and bite by day. They breed in small containers. House mosquitoes (Culex) bite from dusk into the night. They breed in storm drains.
Mosquito season in San Francisco.
West Nile cases usually peak in late summer. That's a long season. Plan on regular visits.
A year of mosquitoes in San Francisco.
- Summer: with highs near 67°F in San Francisco, check water twice a week. - Fall: numbers stay high. Keep gutters clear of leaves. - Winter: a good time to fix drainage and low spots. - Spring: the first wave arrives early in San Francisco. Start treatments then.
The weekly water walk.
- Toys and buckets: store them upside down. - Tarps and covers: pull them tight so water runs off. - Birdbaths: change the water twice a week. - Pet bowls: refresh daily. - AC drip lines and downspouts: make sure water drains away. - Tree holes: fill them with sand. - Gutters: clear leaves so water drains. - Saucers and pots: empty them or add sand.
Avoiding bites.
- Fans: a patio fan keeps weak-flying mosquitoes away. - Screens: repair holes in window and door screens. - Timing: tiger mosquitoes bite by day; house mosquitoes at dusk. - Repellent: DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus. - Clothing: long sleeves and pants help at dusk.
Low-cost ways to cut mosquitoes.
- Pumps and fountains: moving water breeds far fewer mosquitoes. - Trimming: thin out dense shrubs and tall grass. - Lights: yellow bug lights attract fewer insects to the porch. - Mosquito dunks: Bti tablets kill larvae in rain barrels and ponds. - Mosquito fish: they eat larvae in ornamental ponds.
Mosquito or look-alike?
- No-see-ums: tiny biting gnats near marshes. Screens need a finer mesh. - Mosquitoes: slim, long legs, and a needle-like mouth. - Crane flies: look like giant mosquitoes. They don’t bite. - Non-biting midges: swarm near water at dusk. Harmless, just annoying.
When a bite needs a doctor.
Most bites just itch for a few days. Most people infected with West Nile virus never feel sick. About one in five get a fever, headache or body aches. See a doctor for high fever, stiff neck or confusion. Spreading swelling or an infected-looking bite needs a check too.
Protecting your pets.
Dogs get heartworm from mosquito bites. Cats can too. Ask your vet about year-round heartworm prevention. Change pet water bowls daily. Keep pets inside while a yard spray dries.
What a treatment visit looks like.
Larvicide goes in water you can't drain. Then they spray shady shrubs, where adults rest. Most plans repeat every three to four weeks. A visit usually takes 20 to 45 minutes. The tech walks the yard first. They dump or treat standing water.
Rain barrels and ponds.
- Bird baths: change the water every few days. - Gutters: clear them so water drains away. - Tarps: shake out any that hold rainwater. - Pool covers: drain standing water after rain. - Barrels: cover openings with fine mesh. - Ponds: fish and moving water keep larvae down.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Do you treat standing water too? - What happens if bites come back between visits? - How do you protect bees and flowers? - When can kids and pets go back outside? - What product will you spray? - How often will you come?
Ways to keep the cost down.
- Ask about a shorter plan for peak months only. - Compare what each plan includes, not just the price. - Book early. Spring sign-ups sometimes cost less. - Dump standing water every week. It’s free and works. - Trim dense shrubs so fewer adults can rest there.
What affects the price
- One-time visit versus a seasonal plan.
- Gutter cleaning or drainage fixes bundled in.
- Standing water requiring larvicide.
- Ponds, creeks, or wetland edges on the property.
- Local labor rates and licensing costs.
- Commercial or multi-unit property.
- Lot size and total acreage treated.
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What's your biggest concern about mosquito control costs?
When to call for help
early in the season, before the first big wave. Ponds, drains and dense shrubs are hard to handle yourself. Call if bites still keep you indoors. Dumping water should come first.
What you can do yourself
A pro adds larvicide for water you can't drain. They also spray where adults rest, every few weeks. The biggest win is free: dump standing water every week. Use repellent and run a fan on the patio.
Mosquitoes in San Francisco
Summer highs around 67°F in San Francisco speed up the life cycle, and average humidity near 75% keeps adults active. In denser parts of San Francisco, storm drains, catch basins and gutters are big breeding spots. With about 24 inches of rain a year in San Francisco, any container left out will hold water within days.
Local research
Mosquitoes in San Francisco, CA: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which mosquitoes actually live in California, when they are busiest around San Francisco, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
West Nile neuroinvasive disease cases, 2024
Neuroinvasive counts are the most reliable state comparison because nearly all severe cases are diagnosed and reported.
CDCMosquito species recorded in California
- Yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) — CDC lists Aedes aegypti as more likely than Ae. albopictus to spread dengue, Zika, and chikungunya; prefers human hosts and lives in and around homes. Tropical, subtropical, and…
When mosquitoes are busiest around San Francisco
Washington DOH: detections from May (earliest) to October (latest). California reports its heaviest WNV activity in late summer; CDC peak is late August to early September.
CDC lists California among states with limited local dengue spread from Aedes aegypti.
Rules that apply in California
For context, nationally
- 1,808 — West Nile virus disease cases reported, 2024. CDC
- 1,347 (75% of cases); 173 deaths — West Nile neuroinvasive disease cases, 2024. CDC
Sources: CDC; California Department of Public Health / MVCAC; Potential Range of Aedes Mosquitoes. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep mosquitoes away
- Check AC drip lines and sump pits.
- Talk with neighbors about shared breeding sites.
- Replace corrugated downspout extensions with smooth pipe.
- Repair torn window and door screens.
- Drop Bti dunks in water you cannot drain.
- Flush tree holes or fill them with sand.
When you compare quotes, look at the season total, how many visits it covers and what happens if the bites come back.Did you know?
Some species' eggs survive dry for months
A female's wings beat hundreds of times per second
Questions people ask
What should a mosquito control quote include?
Also what happens if bites return. Larvicide should be listed if you have standing water. Visits, products, and what gets treated.
What does a seasonal mosquito plan cost?
Usually $350–$900 for the season. Around San Francisco, the season runs from about March into November, which sets how many visits you need.
Why do mosquito quotes vary so much?
Some include re-sprays. Compare what's included, not just the price. Companies use different products and visit on different schedules.
Is a misting system worth the cost?
Installation runs into the thousands, plus refills. Regular spraying and source removal usually do the job. Rarely, for most yards.
Do I need a seasonal plan or is one treatment enough?
Barrier sprays fade in three to four weeks. Steady relief takes repeat visits. One treatment helps for an event or a few weeks.
How do I choose a mosquito control company?
Ask what products they use and how often they visit. Ask what happens if bites come back. Check that they're licensed in California.
When should mosquito treatments start each year?
Before the first big wave. Around San Francisco, the season runs from about March into November, so start a few weeks before.
Should I worry about West Nile virus?
In San Francisco, yes, mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus and other diseases, so control is about reducing both the nuisance and the risk. West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the U.S.
When is mosquito season in San Francisco?
It runs from about March into November. Daytime biters are tiger mosquitoes; evening biters are usually house mosquitoes.
Do mosquitoes in San Francisco carry West Nile?
Cases usually peak in late summer. Repellent and dumping standing water are your best protection. They can. West Nile is found in every lower-48 state, California included.
Nearby cities
Related guides
Sources (11)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Mosquito Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides