NYC Health Code Article 151 (§151.02) requires property owners to prevent and manage rodents and pests. The city designates Rat Mitigation Zones with enhanced enforcement, and owners who fail to comply face Commissioner Orders to Abate with mandatory timelines.
NYC Health Code Article 151 governs rodent, insect, and pest management across the city. Section 151.02 requires property owners to implement prevention and pest management measures, including eliminating harborage conditions, securing garbage, maintaining grounds free of debris, and sealing entry points. When DOHMH inspections find active rat signs or conducive conditions, a Commissioner Order to Abate (COTA) is issued requiring corrective action within a specified timeframe. Under Administrative Code §17-133.2 (enacted via the Rat Action Plan, signed November 18, 2022), the city designates Rat Mitigation Zones in areas with high rodent activity. Within these zones, DOHMH conducts proactive baiting and stoppage visits at properties that fail to comply with COTAs. NYC also requires construction sites to have rat mitigation plans (Local Law 157 of 2016). Residential trash set-out times were moved from 8 PM to between 8 PM and midnight in sealed containers (effective April 2024). The Office of Rodent Mitigation coordinates citywide rat reduction strategy.
DOHMH violations for Health Code Article 151 non-compliance: $300 first offense, escalating to $600+ for repeat violations. Failure to comply with a COTA triggers DOHMH intervention at owner's expense. Construction sites without rat plans face DOB violations.
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