Ventura County, CA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Ventura County property
- Prohibited
- Solid waste that harbors rats/rodents
- Enforced by
- Environmental Health Division
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor/infraction, per-day violation
Summary
Unincorporated Ventura County property owners may not store or maintain solid waste in a way that harbors or breeds rats and other rodents.
shall in the unincorporated area of Ventura County maintain, handle, retain or store, or shall permit, consent, or allow any other person to maintain, handle, retain or store, any solid waste in any manner or under any circumstance where said material or any element, constituent, part or portion thereof, whether or not hazardous:
(a)Is carried or deposited by the natural elements, such as wind or rain, onto or into any public street, sidewalk, waterway, or other public property;(b)Is carried or deposited by the natural elements, such as wind or rain, onto or into any private property owned, leased or controlled by another person;(c)Harbors or breeds any vectors including rats, other rodents, flies or harmful insects; or,(d)Pollutes surface or groundwater. Notwithstanding the definition of solid waste in the Act, which limits such material to waste that has been discarded, for purposes of this Section, solid waste shall also include any waste whether or not such waste has yet to be discarded, intentionally or otherwise, by its owner.
(Ord. No. 4423, 12-7-2010)
4707—4718 - Reserved. (Ord. No. 4423, 12-7-2010)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
The county's solid-waste article bars any owner, lessee or person in control of unincorporated-area property from maintaining, handling, retaining or storing solid waste in a manner that harbors or breeds vectors, including rats, other rodents, flies or harmful insects, or that pollutes surface or groundwater. The Environmental Health Division enforces the rule against property owners and anyone who permits the condition.
Violations & Fines
Violating Section 4706 is a misdemeanor/infraction under Ordinance Code § 13-1, punishable under § 13-2; each day the violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rodent rule apply inside the City of Ventura?
What triggers a violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
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