Greensboro, NC Public Health Rules: Bed-Bug Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Landlord duty
- Habitable, pest-free unit
- Tenant duty
- Avoid introduction, cooperate
- Treatment
- Licensed operator required
- Complaint line
- Greensboro Code Compliance
Summary
Greensboro treats bed bug infestations as a violation of minimum housing standards when the landlord fails to maintain a sanitary, pest-free dwelling, requiring professional treatment when infestation results from building-wide conditions.
§ 42-42. Landlord to provide fit premises.
(a) The landlord shall:
(1) Comply with the current applicable building and housing codes, whether enacted before or after October 1, 1977, to the extent required by the operation of such codes; no new requirement is imposed by this subdivision (a)(1) if a structure is exempt from a current building code.
(2) Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition.
(3) Keep all common areas of the premises in safe condition.
(4) Maintain in good and safe working order and promptly repair all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and other facilities and appliances supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord provided that notification of needed repairs is made to the landlord in writing by the tenant, except in emergency situations.
(8) Within a reasonable period of time based upon the severity of the condition, repair or remedy any imminently dangerous condition on the premises after acquiring actual knowledge or receiving notice of the condition. Notwithstanding the landlord's repair or remedy of any imminently dangerous condition, the landlord may recover from the tenant the actual and reasonable costs of repairs that are the fault of the tenant. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "imminently dangerous condition" means any of the following:
k. Rat infestation as a result of defects in the structure that make the premises not impervious to rodents. l . Excessive standing water, sewage, or flooding problems caused by plumbing leaks or inadequate drainage that contribute to mosquito infestation or mold.
(b) The landlord is not released of his obligations under any part of this section by the tenant's explicit or implicit acceptance of the landlord's failure to provide premises complying with this section, whether done before the lease was made, when it was made, or after it was made, unless a governmental subdivision imposes an impediment to repair for a specific period of time not to exceed six months.
Full Breakdown
North Carolina general statutes and Greensboro's housing code require landlords to keep rental units fit and habitable, which includes responding to confirmed bed bug infestations affecting common walls, multiple units, or building-wide spread. Tenants are typically responsible for infestations they introduce through used furniture or travel. Greensboro Code Compliance investigates complaints and may issue notices ordering professional treatment. Successful eradication usually requires cooperation between landlord, tenant, and a licensed pest control operator using heat treatment or insecticides labeled for bed bugs. Disclosure of recent infestations is recommended best practice though not state-mandated.
Violations & Fines
Landlords ignoring confirmed building-wide infestations after written notice face civil penalties, abatement orders, and potential rent escrow actions filed by tenants in small claims court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my landlord charge me for treatment?
Does Greensboro require disclosure of past infestations?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greensboro
Compare Greensboro to another location·View the North Carolina public health rules overview
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