Blaine, MN Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Ground-level openings
- must be screened against rodents
- Floors/basements touching soil
- must be rodent-proofed
- Harborage duty
- owner must prevent it, § 18-288(d)(6)
- Multi-family garbage storage
- owner's responsibility
- Infestation status
- listed immediate hazard, § 18-290(8)
- Enforcement
- city inspector compliance order, § 18-262
Summary
In the City of Blaine, owners must screen ground-level windows, doors, and openings against rodents, seal sewer and pipe penetrations, and rodent-proof floors and basements that touch the soil, and they must stop rodent harborage and food sources from building up on the property.
(4)Units at or below grade.a.All windows located at or near ground level used or intended to be used for ventilation, all other openings located at or near ground level, and all exterior doorways which might provide an entry for rodents shall be supplied with adequate screens or such other devices as will prevent the entrance of rodents into the structure.b.All sewers, pipes, drains or conduits and openings around such pipes and conduits shall be constructed to prevent the ingress and egress of rodents to or from a building.c.Interior floors or basements, and other areas in contact with the soil shall be rodent-proofed to prevent the entrance of rodents into the structure. ... (6)Rodent harborages in occupied areas. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of a dwelling unit to prevent the formation of rodent harborages in or about the premises. It shall further be the responsibility of such owner to prevent the placement or accumulation of materials that may serve as food for rodents in a site accessible to rodents in these areas.
Full Breakdown
Section 18-288(d)(4) of the Residential Maintenance Code requires every window, opening, and exterior doorway near ground level that could let rodents in to be fitted with screens or another device that blocks entry, and requires sewers, pipes, drains, and conduits to be built so rodents cannot travel through them. Floors, basements, and other areas touching the soil must be rodent-proofed against entry. Section 18-288(d)(6) separately makes the dwelling owner responsible for preventing rodent harborages from forming in or around the premises and for keeping food sources away from areas rodents can reach.
Owners of multiple-family dwellings must also provide and maintain rubbish and garbage storage and disposal under section 18-288(d)(5); in single-family and two-family dwellings that duty falls to the occupant. Section 18-288(7) makes the owner responsible for exterminating pest or vermin infestations on the premises. If a property becomes infested, section 18-290(8) lists 'infestation of rodents, insects, vermin and other pests' as an immediate hazard to health, safety, and welfare, alongside interior storage that draws pest infestation under section 18-290(7)(c). The city inspector, under section 18-260, can inspect on a scheduled basis or whenever there is reason to believe a violation exists, and can seek a court order if entry is refused.
Where an immediate hazard exists, section 18-262(c) lets the inspector require immediate compliance, and severe cases can lead to a declaration that the dwelling is unfit for human habitation under section 18-262(d), which orders it vacated.
Violations & Fines
Failure to rodent-proof a structure or control harborage is enforced through a written compliance order under section 18-262, which sets a reasonable correction deadline. Failing to meet that order is a misdemeanor, punishable under the citywide general penalty in section 1-7 by a fine up to $1,000.00, imprisonment up to 90 days, or both, with each continuing day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What rodent-proofing does Blaine require on a house?
Who is responsible for stopping rodents from nesting on a Blaine property?
Can the city force a Blaine property to fix a rodent problem?
Is a rodent infestation treated as urgent under Blaine's code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Blaine
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