Knoxville requires property owners to keep premises free of rodent harborage, including stored materials, garbage, and overgrown vegetation. Codes Enforcement and KCHD respond to complaints about infestations affecting nearby properties.
Under the Knoxville Property Maintenance Code (Chapter 19) and state environmental health rules, owners must eliminate conditions that attract or shelter rats and mice. This includes sealing gaps in foundations, removing accumulated trash, storing firewood off the ground, securing pet food, and keeping grass below regulated heights. Knoxville Codes Enforcement investigates exterior conditions while the Knox County Health Department addresses public health nuisances and food establishment infestations. Inspectors typically issue a notice with ten to thirty days to abate. Persistent infestations affecting neighbors can trigger emergency abatement at the owner's expense.
Failure to eliminate harborage after notice can result in citations, civil penalties, abatement liens, and Environmental Court referral for repeat offenders under city code.
See how Knoxville's rodent control rules stack up against other locations.
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