Cicero, IL Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Article VIII of Chapter 46 places rat control duties directly on property owners. Section 46-364 requires all real property, improved or not, plus areaways, streets, sidewalks and alleys, to be kept clear of rubbish that could harbor rats, and specifically requires lumber, boxes, barrels, loose iron, scrap metal and auto bodies left on a property to sit on supports elevated at least 12 inches above the ground. Section 46-365 requires food products for human or animal consumption to be protected from rat access, garbage and spoiled food to be kept in garbage containers, and those containers to stay tightly covered except when being filled or emptied.

Section 46-366 makes destruction the owner's job: whenever rat holes, burrows or other infestation evidence turns up on a property, the owner must use whatever methods are necessary to destroy the rats or have them destroyed. Section 46-367 separately bans dumping garbage, dead animals, butcher offal or food waste anywhere in town that could feed or shelter rats. Businesses face an extra layer: Section 46-368 conditions every new or renewed business license on submitting a current rodent abatement certificate from a licensed exterminator to the business license department, kept on file for the life of the license.

The commissioner of public health enforces the article under Section 46-362, serving written notice of any violation and setting a correction deadline; failure to comply within 24 hours sends the case to the circuit court of Cook County.