Abstract: The development of new targets has become a top priority in pesticide research and development due to the problems of limited targets and drug resistance in agrochemicals. Chitin is a major component of insect epidermis and fungal cell wall, and has important biological functions. Chitin deacetylase (CDA) can deacetylate chitin to chitosan, which not only affects the formation of insect body wall and fungal cell wall, but also regulates the growth and development of insects or determines the pathogenicity of fungi. More and more studies have shown that CDA is expected to be a candidate target for the development of new pesticides. Therefore, the research progress of CDA as a potential target for crop protection, especially the biochemical functions, crystal structures, enzyme-substrate binding modes, and reported inhibitors of CDA from different sources in recent years were summarized in this review. The aim is to provide guidance for the screening of inhibitors targeting CDA and the development of novel pesticides.