Atlanta, GA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Owner duty
- Exterminate insects, rodents, pests
- Governing section
- Housing Code § 25(b)(5)
- Single-family exception
- Tenant handles own extermination
- First-offense penalty
- $250–$1,000 fine or 60 days
- Enforcement
- Atlanta Municipal Court
Summary
Atlanta's Housing Code makes property owners responsible for exterminating insects, rodents and other pests in every rental dwelling unit, while tenants in single-family homes handle their own extermination and must avoid storing items that attract pests.
(5)To provide for the extermination of Insects, Rodents and Other Pests. Every owner or operator of a dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests therein or on the property; provided that, every occupant shall be required to eliminate or minimize the presence of pests by performing the duties under Subsection (c).
Full Breakdown
Under the Atlanta Housing Code (Appendix E to the Code of Ordinances), the owner or operator of any rental dwelling unit must exterminate insects, rodents and other pests on the property, while the occupant must eliminate or minimize pests by not storing furniture, equipment or materials that harbor rodents and by giving the owner reasonable access to carry out extermination. In owner-occupied single-family homes, the tenant of a single-family dwelling bears that extermination duty directly. Violations are Housing Code offenses enforced through Atlanta Municipal Court, with fines set out in Section 18 of the Code.
Violations & Fines
A first violation carries a fine of $250 to $1,000 or up to 60 days in jail; corporate owners face civil fines up to $1,000, rising for repeat convictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays for pest control in an Atlanta rental?
Does this apply if I own and live in a single-family home?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Atlanta
Compare Atlanta to another location·View the Georgia public health rules overview
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Rodent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle rodent control.