Denton, TX Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 17-156
- Primary duty holder
- Property owner
- Interior areas
- Owner, manager, occupant each responsible
- Occupant-caused infestation
- Occupant pays for extermination
Summary
Denton property owners must keep structures and yards free of insect and rodent infestation and exterminate promptly when pests are found, per City Code Sec. 17-156.
The owner shall maintain all structures and exterior premises reasonably free from insect and rodent infestation. All structures in which insects or rodents are found shall be promptly exterminated by approved processes that will not be injurious to human health. After extermination, the owner shall take proper precautions to prevent re-infestation. The owner, manager and occupant shall maintain those portions of the interior of a structure under his or her control free from rubbish, garbage, and other substances that may encourage infestation by insects, rodents, or vermin, and from all unsanitary conditions. If infestation is caused by failure of an occupant to prevent such infestation in the area occupied, the occupant shall be responsible for extermination.
(Ord. No. 2010-132, § 1, 5-11-10)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37 Update 1 | Development Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 17-156 of the Denton Code of Ordinances, the owner of any structure must keep it and the exterior premises reasonably free of insect and rodent infestation, and have any infested structure promptly exterminated using approved methods that won't harm human health, then take steps to prevent re-infestation. Owners, managers, and occupants must each keep the interior areas under their control free of rubbish, garbage, and other material that attracts pests. If an occupant's own neglect of their unit causes the infestation, that occupant, not the owner, is on the hook for extermination.
Violations & Fines
Property maintenance code violation; code enforcement can order repair/extermination, and noncompliance is prosecutable like other Ch. 17 nuisance violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to pay for pest extermination in a Denton rental?
Does Denton require a licensed exterminator?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denton
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Denton to another location·View the Texas public health rules overview
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Rodent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Denton County handle rodent control.