Hennepin County and member cities require property owners to prevent rodent harborage, eliminate infestations, and store garbage in rodent-proof containers under nuisance and public-health codes.
Property owners across Hennepin County must prevent conditions that attract or shelter rats and mice. Garbage must be kept in tight, rodent-proof containers. Vacant buildings must be sealed at openings larger than a quarter inch. Bird feeders that spill seed and outdoor pet food left overnight commonly trigger complaints. Public Health staff respond to complaints, conduct inspections, and may issue correction orders. Severe infestations near food establishments can prompt joint inspections with environmental health. Enforcement typically starts with a written notice and a deadline to abate.
Failure to abate harborage after written notice can result in administrative citations, abatement at owner cost, and follow-up nuisance enforcement under city code.
See how Bloomington's rodent control rules stack up against other locations.
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