Iredell County, NC Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Section 4-131(f), "Control of insects, rodents and infestations," sets the minimum standard: every occupant is responsible for exterminating pests in the unit or on the premises, but if the infestation results from the owner's failure to keep the dwelling substantially rodent-proof or reasonably insect-proof, extermination becomes the owner's responsibility instead. The same division reinforces rodent-proofing as a structural requirement, not just a maintenance chore. Section 4-131(b)(1) requires that walls, partitions and structural members have no holes or cracks that might admit rodents, and Section 4-131(e)(1)-(3) requires every foundation wall, exterior wall, exterior roof, interior floor, wall, ceiling, window, exterior door and hatchway to be kept substantially rodent-proof and in sound condition.

Garbage, rubbish and recyclable materials must be stored in a manner that resists rodent and vector harborage and avoids creating a fire hazard, per Section 4-131(f)(2); a common collection site provided by the owner must be cleared out on a regular basis under Section 4-131(h)(2). The housing inspector, appointed by the county manager under Section 4-132, enforces these standards through the same complaint-driven inspection and hearing process used for other minimum-housing violations, and can order repair or vacating of a dwelling that fails the rodent-proofing standards under Section 4-133.