Chicago has aggressive rodent control regulations under its municipal code. New construction sites requiring excavation permits must prepare a rodent control management plan and hire a licensed pest control company for perimeter baiting throughout the excavation process (Section 13-32-140). Before demolition, owners must prove rodent abatement was performed within 14 days of filing. The Bureau of Rodent Control investigates all rat sightings reported via 311 and places rodenticide in rat burrows citywide.
Chicago's rodent abatement requirements are among the most extensive in the country. Municipal Code Section 13-32-140 (New Construction Site Rodent Abatement) requires any construction site needing a building permit involving excavation to prepare a rodent control management plan before digging begins. At minimum, the plan must include above-ground bait boxes around the site perimeter, maintained by a State of Illinois-licensed structural pest control company, throughout the duration of excavation. For demolition permits, the building owner must hire a licensed pest control business to inspect for rodents before filing. If rodent activity is found, proof of abatement performed within 14 days of filing must accompany the permit application. The city's Bureau of Rodent Control (within the Department of Streets and Sanitation) operates a citywide rat baiting and surveillance program. Residents report rat sightings through 311 or the CHI 311 app. The bureau investigates reported sightings and places rodenticide directly in rat burrows. The city also requires all residents to use city-issued garbage carts with lids, which has been a key factor in reducing rat populations. Property owners who maintain conditions attracting rodents β such as improper garbage storage, overgrown vegetation, or open food sources β may be cited under the municipal code's property maintenance provisions (Title 13, Chapter 12).
Construction sites that fail to implement a rodent control management plan face stop-work orders and fines. Demolition permits will be denied without proof of rodent abatement within 14 days. Property owners maintaining rodent-attracting conditions can be cited under property maintenance code with fines. Repeated violations may result in building court proceedings.
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