Hawthorne, CA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Nuisance trigger
- Vegetation harboring rats/vermin/insects
- Roofline rule
- Branches within 5 feet of roof = violation
- Lawn standard
- Grass over 6 inches also listed
- Section
- Hawthorne Code § 8.20.030(A)(12)
- Process
- Notice of abatement, then appeal rights
Summary
Hawthorne treats overgrown vegetation likely to harbor rats, vermin or insects as a declared public nuisance, along with tree branches left within five feet of a roofline that give rodents a path onto a structure. Both trigger the same code-enforcement notice and abatement process as other nuisance conditions.
Overgrown vegetation, including, but not limited to, any one of the following: a. Vegetation likely to harbor, or promote the presence of, rats, vermin and/or insects. ... e. Tree branches or other vegetation within five feet of the rooftop of a structure so as to facilitate rodent or animal access thereto.
Full Breakdown
030(A)(12) lists overgrown vegetation among the conditions the city council has found and declared to be a public nuisance when a property owner allows, causes, maintains or permits it. Subsection (a) specifically flags vegetation likely to harbor, or promote the presence of, rats, vermin and insects, independent of any aesthetic complaint. Subsection (e) adds a more precise rodent-access trigger: tree branches or other vegetation within five feet of the rooftop of a structure, because that proximity facilitates rodent or animal access to the building itself.
The same paragraph separately reaches lawns with grass over six inches tall and hedges, trees or other vegetation not kept in a neat, orderly and healthy condition through regular mowing, trimming and watering, both of which commonly create the harborage conditions the rodent-specific clauses target. 030(A)(13) reinforces the point from the other direction, declaring dead, decayed or diseased vegetation a nuisance when it causes an attractive nuisance, fire hazard, erosion or diminished property values. 110 before the city acts.
Violations & Fines
Maintaining vegetation that harbors rodents or sits within five feet of a roofline in violation of Section 8.20.030(A)(12) is a misdemeanor under Section 8.20.290, cross-referenced to the citywide penalty in Section 1.20.010: a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both, with each day of the condition's continuation a separate offense, plus recovery of the city's abatement costs and code enforcement fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Hawthorne cite me for overgrown bushes that attract rats?
Do tree branches touching my roof violate Hawthorne's code?
What happens after the city flags rat-harboring vegetation on my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hawthorne
California rules heatmap·Compare Hawthorne to another location·View the California public health rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Rodent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle rodent control.