Charleston property owners must keep premises free of rodent harborage. The city and Kanawha-Charleston Health Department can order abatement when garbage storage, debris, or structural conditions support rat infestations.
Under Charleston property maintenance and nuisance provisions, owners and occupants are responsible for preventing conditions that attract or harbor rats and mice. Common triggers include uncovered garbage cans, accumulated junk, pet food left outdoors, dense ivy, and openings under decks or sheds. Code enforcement and the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department respond to complaints, inspect, and may issue notices requiring cleanup, baiting, or rodent-proofing within a set deadline. Failure to comply can result in citations and city-performed abatement billed back to the property owner as a special assessment.
Notices set deadlines for cleanup and rodent-proofing. Noncompliance leads to citations, daily fines, and city abatement costs assessed against the property as a lien.
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See how Charleston's rodent control rules stack up against other locations.
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