Somerville requires property owners to keep premises free of rodents and vermin. Demolition and construction sites must file a rodent control plan with ISD.
Under Somerville Health and Sanitation regulations and the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410 for housing), property owners must maintain buildings and yards free of rat harborage, and landlords must professionally exterminate infestations when two or more dwelling units are affected or when an inspector documents the condition. The City requires a rodent control plan (baiting and monitoring by a licensed applicator) for any demolition permit and for excavation projects, with pre-treatment typically 7 to 14 days before work begins. Trash must be stored in rodent-proof barrels with tight-fitting lids, and overgrown vegetation, wood piles, and abandoned furniture that shelter rats are nuisance violations enforced by ISD. Bee and wasp nests near public ways must be abated by the owner. Licensed pest applicators must follow Massachusetts Pesticide Board rules (333 CMR).
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle pest control.
See how Somerville's pest control rules stack up against other locations.
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