Compton, CA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Compton Municipal Code § 24-2.2(c)
- Declared nuisance
- Overgrown vegetation likely to harbor rats or vermin
- Who is liable
- Owners, tenants and anyone controlling the property
- Enforcement start
- Written notice from City Manager or designee
- Escalation
- Uncorrected cases go to a public hearing
- City abatement cost
- 10% administrative surcharge plus lien on property
- Criminal exposure
- Separately prosecutable as a misdemeanor
Summary
Compton treats any overgrown vegetation likely to harbor rats, vermin or other pests as a public nuisance, whether the growth is cultivated or wild. Municipal Code § 24-2.2(c) lets the City Manager order abatement, and property owners who ignore a written notice face a public hearing, a lien on the property and even a misdemeanor prosecution under Chapter 24's nuisance procedures.
Overgrown vegetation, cultivated or uncultivated, which is likely to harbor rats, vermin or other nuisances, which constitutes a fire or health hazard, danger to the public health, safety or welfare or which causes detriment to neighboring properties or property values.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4952997; v15 updated 2026-07-14; through 07-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
2(c) specifically lists overgrown vegetation, cultivated or uncultivated, which is likely to harbor rats, vermin or other nuisances, as a declared public nuisance whenever it constitutes a fire or health hazard or damages a neighboring property's value. The rule reaches any person owning, leasing, renting, occupying or controlling the property, not just the titled owner. 5 requires written notice served on the owner by mail or personal delivery, specifying the condition and a reasonable correction period. 11 whether the condition is a nuisance and can order rehabilitation, correction or removal within a set deadline.
10 to stop the proceeding. 5 turns the full bill into a special assessment lien recorded against the property and collected with the annual property tax bill. 12.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with an abatement order for vermin-harboring vegetation is a misdemeanor under Section 24-3.9, separate from the City's civil abatement process. If the City abates the nuisance itself, Section 24-3.1 adds a 10% administrative charge to the cleanup cost, and Section 24-3.5 records the total as a lien against the property, collected the same way as ordinary property taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Compton cite me for overgrown weeds that attract rats?
What notice do I get before Compton abates vegetation on my property?
What if I don't clear the vegetation after receiving notice?
Can I fix the vegetation problem myself before the hearing?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Compton
California rules heatmap·Compare Compton to another location·View the California public health rules overview
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