La Grange, MO Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Section 220.010(A) lists sixteen conditions 'declared to be nuisances affecting health.' Item 6 targets containers directly: 'Garbage cans which are not fly-tight, that is, garbage cans which do not prevent the entry of flies, insects and rodents.' Item 12 goes further, declaring 'any and all infestations of flies, fleas, roaches, lice, ticks, rats, mice, fly maggots, mosquito larvae and hookworm larvae' a nuisance regardless of the container involved. Item 4 adds animal carcasses not buried or destroyed within twenty-four hours, and Item 5 covers accumulations of manure, rubbish, garbage and other organic waste that would draw the same pests.

Subsection B makes it 'unlawful for any owner, lessee or occupant... having control of any occupied lot or land... to cause, permit or maintain a nuisance,' and extends that duty to land within one-half mile of the City limits; 'each day that a nuisance shall be maintained is a separate offense.' Enforcement runs through the City's Abatement Officer under Subsection C: on learning of a nuisance, the officer serves written notice giving the owner or occupant at least fifteen days to abate it, and failure to comply, or unnecessary delay in complying, 'shall be deemed an ordinance violation.' If the nuisance threatens public health immediately, the City may skip notice and abate it directly, then bill the cost as a special tax against the property. An owner may instead ask the City Council for a hearing before any nuisance finding becomes final.