Harris County, TX Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- County authority
- HCPH Mosquito Vector Control
- Statute
- TX H&S Code Chapter 343
- Coverage
- Unincorporated nuisance abatement
- Notice period
- Typically 30 days
- Cost recovery
- Lien on property
Summary
Harris County Public Health Mosquito and Vector Control monitors rodents and mosquitoes countywide. Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 343 lets the county abate rodent harborage as a public nuisance in unincorporated areas after notice.
Sec. 343.011. PUBLIC NUISANCE. (a) This section applies only to the unincorporated area of a county.(b) A person may not cause, permit, or allow a public nuisance under this section.(c) A public nuisance is:(1) keeping, storing, or accumulating refuse on premises in a neighborhood unless the refuse is entirely contained in a closed receptacle;(2) keeping, storing, or accumulating rubbish, including newspapers, abandoned vehicles, refrigerators, stoves, furniture, tires, and cans, on premises in a neighborhood or within 300 feet of a public street for 10 days or more, unless the rubbish or object is completely enclosed in a building or is not visible from a public street;(3) maintaining premises in a manner that creates an unsanitary
Full Breakdown
HCPH Mosquito and Vector Control Division runs surveillance for rodents, mosquitoes, and other disease vectors across Harris County, supporting cities with technical assistance and conducting field investigations. In unincorporated areas the county uses Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 343, the rural nuisance statute, to address rat harborage from accumulated junk, weeds, and stagnant water. Property owners receive notice to abate, typically within thirty days. Refusal allows the county to abate at owner expense and place a lien under Local Government Code Chapter 342. Inside city limits, local code compliance leads, with HCPH providing surveillance data and outbreak response. Restaurant rodent issues are handled through food permit inspections.
Violations & Fines
Failure to abate rodent harborage on unincorporated property after Chapter 343 notice can result in county-performed cleanup at owner expense, a property lien for costs, and Class C misdemeanor citations through justice court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles rats inside Houston city limits?
How do I report rodents in unincorporated Harris County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harris County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Harris County to another location·View the Texas public health rules overview
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