Columbus, OH Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Columbus City Code Chapter 713
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Building & Zoning Services
- Rodent-proof threshold
- ½ inch opening, within 48 inches of grade
- Max individual penalty
- $1,000 fine, 180 days jail
- Max organization penalty
- $5,000 fine per violation
Summary
Columbus code requires owners of multi-unit dwellings and business buildings to eliminate rodents, insects, and vermin, rodent-proof openings, and keep premises free of harborage material under Chapter 713.
(A)The owner or person having charge is responsible for elimination of any rodents, insects, vermin, or other pests in a dwelling containing two (2) or more dwelling units and on the premises thereof. The owner or person having charge is also responsible whenever improper rodent proofing of the premises causes the infestation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Form Based Code: ?).
Full Breakdown
Columbus City Code Chapter 713 makes owners of dwellings with two or more units, business buildings, and their premises responsible for eliminating rodents, insects, vermin, and other pests, and for keeping the property rodent-proof. Any opening a half-inch or wider in exterior walls, foundations, or roofs within 48 inches of ground level must be sealed, ground-level windows and doors need screens, and materials that could shelter rodents or feed them can't be allowed to accumulate on the premises, alleys, streets, or sidewalks. Firewood must be stored in a pest- and rodent-proof manner, and vacant buildings must stay pest-free too.
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 713 is a first-degree misdemeanor under § 701.99: up to $1,000 and 180 days in jail for individuals, $5,000 for organizations, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for pest control in a Columbus rental building?
What counts as a rodent-proofing violation in Columbus?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbus
Compare Columbus to another location·View the Ohio public health rules overview
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