Auburn, WA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Garbage cans
- Must resist rodent gnawing, have tight lids
- Vegetation rule
- Weeds/clippings that harbor pests are a nuisance
- Chapter purpose
- Reducing rodent and pest harborage, ACC 8.12.010
- Abatement authority
- Code enforcement official, ACC 8.20.030
Summary
Auburn's nuisance code, ACC 8.12.020, specifically bans unprotected cesspools and pits, uncovered trash and packing debris, garbage cans without tight lids, and weeds or grass clippings whenever any of them create rodent or insect harborage, and the city can order the property owner to abate it.
B. Privies, vaults, cesspools, sumps, pits, wells or cisterns or like places which are not securely protected from insects, rodents, or other pests; ... I. Garbage cans which are not impervious to rodent gnawing or do not have tight-fitting lids; ... K. Blackberry vines or any tall grass or weeds which are infested with insects, rodents or other pests; L. Grass clippings, cut brush or cut weeds which may create an insect or rodent harborage.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 7023, passed July 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020(B) declares privies, vaults, cesspools, sumps, pits, wells or cisterns or like places which are not securely protected from insects, rodents, or other pests to be a public nuisance. Subsection (E) extends that to trash, litter, rags, debris, accumulations of empty barrels, boxes, crates, packing cases, mattresses, bedding, excelsior, packing hay, straw, or other packing material, lumber not neatly piled, or other material, which provides harborage for insects, rodents, or other pests, and subsection (I) separately requires that garbage cans be impervious to rodent gnawing and have tight-fitting lids.
Vegetation is covered too: subsection (K) targets blackberry vines or any tall grass or weeds which are infested with insects, rodents or other pests, while subsection (L) reaches grass clippings, cut brush or cut weeds which may create an insect or rodent harborage even before an infestation is confirmed. 010, is in part reducing the opportunity for harboring of rodents and pests. 040 lets the city abate it directly and bill the owner, with unpaid costs becoming a lien on the property, if the owner fails to act within the notice period.
Violations & Fines
A gnawable or lidless garbage can, an uncovered cesspool or pit, packing debris piled where rodents can nest, or weeds and grass clippings left to attract pests all violate ACC 8.12.020; the code enforcement official can order the condition corrected under ACC 8.20.030, and failure to comply lets the city abate it, bill the owner under ACC 8.20.040, and file a lien for unpaid costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is having an open pit or cesspool a code violation in Auburn?
Does my garbage can have to be rodent-proof in Auburn?
Can overgrown weeds in my yard get me cited for pest problems?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Auburn
Compare Auburn to another location·View the Washington public health rules overview
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Rodent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle rodent control.