Evansville, IN Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- EMC § 15.15.150
- Pre-lease duty
- Owner must exterminate before renting
- Occupant duty
- Maintain pest-free condition after move-in
- Enforced by
- City Code Official
Summary
Evansville's Property Maintenance Code requires structures be kept free of insect and rodent infestation, with owners responsible for extermination before any unit is rented or leased.
(A) Infestation. All structures shall be kept 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, proper precautions shall be taken to prevent re-infestation.
(B) Owner. The owner of any structure shall be responsible for extermination of rodents and insects within the structure prior to renting or leasing the structure.
(C) Single Occupant. The occupant of a one-family dwelling or of a single-tenant nonresidential structure shall be responsible for extermination on the premises after taking possession of the property.
(D) Multiple Occupancy. The owner of a structure containing two or more dwelling units, a multiple occupancy, or a rooming house or a nonresidential structure shall be responsible for extermination in the public or shared areas of the structure and exterior property. If infestation is caused by failure of an occupant to prevent such infestation in the area occupied, the occupants shall be responsible for extermination.
(E) Occupant Responsibilities. The occupant of any structure shall be responsible for the continued rodent-free condition of the structure, and if the occupant fails to maintain the rodent-free condition, the cost of extermination shall be the responsibility of the occupant.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-2026-12, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Evansville Municipal Code § 15.15.150 requires all structures be kept free from insect and rodent infestation, with prompt extermination by approved, non-injurious methods whenever pests are found. Owners must exterminate before renting or leasing a structure; occupants of one-family dwellings and single-tenant nonresidential buildings are responsible for extermination after taking possession, while owners of multi-unit and rooming-house buildings handle shared and exterior areas. Occupants must then maintain a pest-free condition, except where infestation stems from a structural defect, in which case the owner remains liable. The City Code Official enforces this under the Property Maintenance Code.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliance is enforceable under EMC 15.15.360: the Code Official can issue a compliance order, abate the condition and bill the owner, place a lien on the property, and seek court fines for continued violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for pest control in an Evansville rental: the landlord or tenant?
What counts as a violation under Evansville's extermination rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evansville
Compare Evansville to another location·View the Indiana public health rules overview
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