Montgomery County, MD Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- County Code § 26-9(a)(9), (b)(1)
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Housing & Community Affairs
- Owner duty triggers
- multi-unit spread or rat-proofing failure
- Structural duty
- foundation/walls/roof kept rodent-proof
Summary
County Code § 26-9 makes single-unit occupants exterminate their own vermin, but shifts the duty to owners once an infestation spreads or stems from a rat-proofing failure.
Each occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit must exterminate any insects, rodents, or other vermin in or on the premises... The owner must exterminate if the infestation: (A) includes more than one unit or the shared or common areas of a dwelling, or (B) was caused by the owner's failure to maintain the dwelling in a rat-proof or reasonably insect-proof condition.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Montgomery County Code § 26-9(a)(9), an occupant of a single dwelling unit must exterminate insects, rodents, or other vermin in or on the premises, and in a multi-unit building the occupant of the only infested unit must do the same. The owner takes over the duty if the infestation reaches more than one unit or common areas, or if it was caused by the owner's failure to keep the dwelling rat-proof or insect-proof. Separately, § 26-9(b)(1) requires every foundation, floor, wall, ceiling, and roof to be maintained reasonably rodent-proof. Enforcement runs through the Department of Housing and Community Affairs under the county's Housing and Building Maintenance Standards, Chapter 26.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 26 violations are enforced by DHCA housing code inspectors; failure to correct after notice supports a civil citation and, per § 26-16, repeat or ongoing violations can be prosecuted as Class A or Class C civil violations depending on the provision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to pay for pest control in a Montgomery County rental?
Does the county require buildings to be rodent-proof?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
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