Richmond requires property owners to maintain premises free of rodent and insect infestations under the Virginia Maintenance Code and Richmond City Code Chapter 22, with code enforcement inspecting in response to complaints.
The Virginia Maintenance Code (VMC), Part III of the USBC, requires owners of residential rental property to eliminate rodents and insects that threaten health or structural integrity. Richmond Property Maintenance Division responds to complaints and may order extermination by a licensed pest control operator registered with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). Bed bugs, roaches, and rats are the most common triggers for enforcement action in Richmond rental housing. Pesticide applicators must be certified under the Virginia Pesticide Control Act (VA Code 3.2-3900 et seq).
Failure to abate infestation after notice can result in civil penalties and the city performing abatement at owner expense with a lien placed on the property.
See how Richmond's pest control rules stack up against other locations.
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