Loudoun County, VA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Codified Ordinances Ch. 648, Nuisances
- Enforcing officials
- County Administrator / Director of Public Health
- Notice-to-abate window
- Up to 10 days
- Hearing request deadline
- 10 days after notice
- Unpaid abatement cost
- Becomes a property lien
- Default penalty
- Class 1 misdemeanor, up to $2,500/day
Summary
Loudoun County treats rodent or insect infestation and conditions that create rodent harborage as a public-health nuisance under Chapter 648. The Director of Public Health or County Administrator can inspect property, order the condition abated, and bill the owner if it isn't fixed.
"Nuisance" includes, but is not limited to: ... (4) Rodent or insect infestation; ... (8) Maintaining a property in such a manner that it creates conditions conducive to rodent harborage and is an annoyance or potential health hazard to neighbors. ... No person shall cause, harbor, commit or maintain ... any nuisance ... at any place within the County.
Full Breakdown
03(g)(4), (8)). 03(g)(3), (5)). 04, no person may "cause, harbor, commit or maintain" any such nuisance anywhere in the County. 05 to inspect occupied or vacant land at reasonable daylight hours to check for these conditions, and may seek an administrative search warrant if the owner refuses access. 07 requires written notice giving the owner up to ten days to remedy it, or immediate compliance if the notice states the condition is an imminent hazard to health or safety. An owner who disagrees can request a hearing before the County Administrator within ten days of the notice.
08 lets the County send its own crew to abate the rodent condition and charge the cost to the owner, with unpaid charges becoming a lien recorded against the property in the Circuit Court's judgment lien docket.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with a cease-and-desist or abatement notice under §§ 648.06–648.07 is itself a violation; the County can perform the abatement and recover its cost as a real-property lien under § 648.08. Because Chapter 648 sets no specific fine, a rodent-nuisance conviction defaults to the general Code penalty in § 202.99: a Class 1 misdemeanor, up to $2,500 plus prosecution costs, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Loudoun County have a specific rodent-control ordinance?
Who inspects a rodent complaint in Loudoun County?
What happens if I ignore a rodent-nuisance notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loudoun County
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