Bloomfield, NJ Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Chapter 640 of the Bloomfield Township Code, Nuisances, Public Health, was adopted by the Bloomfield Board of Health and declares a list of conditions to be a nuisance injurious to the health of the inhabitants. Item (9) of § 640-2(A) covers depositing, accumulating or maintaining any matter or thing that serves as food for insects or rodents, or that serves or constitutes a breeding place or harborage for them, in or on any land, premises, building or other place. Subsection B makes it unlawful to commit, maintain or allow any such nuisance.

The enforcing official is the Health Officer or another official the Board of Health authorizes (§ 640-1). Under § 640-3 any place or premises is subject to inspection when the Board or official has reason to believe the chapter is being violated, and hindering or obstructing access is itself unlawful. For a nuisance on private premises, § 640-4 requires written notice to the owner to remove or abate within the time the notice specifies, but not less than five days from service, with a duplicate left with a tenant or occupant. Where the Health Officer sees an immediate danger or hazard, the officer can order abatement within any time period considered reasonable. If the owner does not comply, the Board of Health can abate the nuisance summarily or have it removed, and § 640-5 lets it sue to recover the cost.

Other chapters add duties. Section 601-6(B) requires the owner, agent, lessee and occupant of a dwelling to keep the interior and exterior premises free of garbage, filth, decaying organic matter, stagnant water and vermin. Section 601-11 makes it unlawful to demolish, raze or renovate a building without provision for rodent and vermin eradication or proof that no infestation exists. That proof goes to the Department of Health 14 days before work starts and every 30 days afterward, and the owner must hire a commercial pesticide applicator licensed by the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. In nonresidential buildings, § 423-9(G) makes each occupant responsible for exterminating rodents.