Dallas County, TX Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- County authority
- DCHHS Vector Control
- Statute
- TX H&S Code Chapter 343
- Coverage
- Unincorporated nuisance abatement
- Notice period
- Typically 30 days
- Cost recovery
- Lien on property
Summary
Dallas County Health and Human Services Vector Control monitors rodents and mosquitoes countywide, while Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 343 lets the county abate rodent harborage as a public nuisance in unincorporated areas.
Sec. 343.011. PUBLIC NUISANCE. (a) This section applies only to the unincorporated area of a county. ... (c) A public nuisance is: ... (3) maintaining premises in a manner that creates an unsanitary condition likely to attract or harbor mosquitoes, rodents, vermin, or other disease-carrying pests; (4) allowing weeds to grow on premises in a neighborhood if the weeds are located within 300 feet of another residence or commercial establishment; (5) maintaining a building in a manner that is structurally unsafe or constitutes a hazard to safety, health, or public welfare because of inadequate maintenance, unsanitary conditions, dilapidation ...
Full Breakdown
DCHHS Vector Control runs surveillance for rodents, mosquitoes, and other disease vectors across Dallas County, supporting cities with technical assistance and conducting field investigations. In unincorporated areas the county uses Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 343, the rural nuisance statute, to address rat harborage from accumulated junk, weeds, and stagnant water. Property owners receive notice to abate, typically within thirty days. Refusal allows the county to abate at owner expense and place a lien under Local Government Code Chapter 342. Inside city limits, local code compliance leads, with DCHHS providing surveillance data and outbreak response. Restaurant rodent issues are handled through food permit inspections.
Violations & Fines
Failure to abate rodent harborage on unincorporated property after Chapter 343 notice can result in county-performed cleanup at owner expense, a property lien for costs, and Class C misdemeanor citations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles rats inside Dallas city limits?
How do I report rodents in unincorporated Dallas County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dallas County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Dallas County to another location·View the Texas public health rules overview
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