Littleton, CO Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 7-1-3(A)
- First violation penalty
- Not less than $100
- Repeat violation penalty
- Up to $500 per notice
- Appeal window
- 7 days to Administrative Hearings officer
- Abatement notice period
- At least 10 days to correct
Summary
Littleton's nuisance code makes it unlawful to accumulate junk, rubbish or debris on any property because that accumulation attracts rodents, pests and vermin. City Code Section 7-1-3(A) declares such buildup a public nuisance unless the site is properly zoned and fenced for storage, and code compliance officers can order abatement and impose escalating civil penalties for noncompliance.
1. Policy. The accumulation of junk, rubbish, and debris facilitates rodent, pest, and vermin harborage, comprises public health resulting from dangerous and unsanitary conditions, constitutes a threat to public safety and quality of life, and otherwise erodes the aesthetic conditions of the community, degrading the quality of life of the citizens of the City. ... 2. Prohibition. It shall be deemed a public nuisance and unlawful to deposit, accumulate, store, keep, abandon, or to permit the accumulation, storage, keeping or abandonment of junk, rubbish, or debris on private or public property within the City, unless such area is specifically used and appropriately zoned for such deposit, accumulation, storage, or keeping junk, rubbish or debris, and all applicable fencing, setback, and other applicable requirements are met.
Full Breakdown
Section 7-1-3(A) of the Littleton City Code opens with a policy finding: the accumulation of junk, rubbish and debris on any lot facilitates rodent, pest and vermin harborage, creates unsanitary and dangerous conditions, and threatens public safety and the aesthetic quality of the community. Building on that finding, the ordinance declares it unlawful and a public nuisance for a responsible party (an occupant, tenant, agent or owner) to deposit, accumulate, store, keep or abandon junk, rubbish or debris on private or public property anywhere in the City, unless the property is specifically zoned for that storage and meets applicable fencing and setback requirements.
A code compliance officer who finds a violation can enter the property under Section 7-1-4 with consent or a municipal court search warrant, then serve a written notice under Section 7-1-6 giving the responsible party at least ten days to correct the condition, with seven days to appeal to a hearing officer under Title 1, Chapter 20, Administrative Hearings. If the nuisance is not abated in time, the City can abate it directly and bill the cost to the property under Section 7-1-7, in addition to civil penalties.
Because rodent harborage is one of the conditions the ordinance specifically calls out in its policy statement, code compliance regularly cites this section against woodpiles, discarded furniture and stored appliances left in yards.
Violations & Fines
Violations carry escalating civil penalties under Section 7-1-8(D): not less than $100 for a first notice of violation, not less than $250 for a second notice of the same violation within twelve months, and not less than $500 for a third or subsequent notice within that period. Each day the nuisance continues is a separate offense, and the City can also pursue municipal court prosecution or recover abatement costs plus attorneys' fees as a charge against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be cited for storing junk in my backyard in Littleton?
What happens if I don't clean up after a notice of violation?
Can I appeal a nuisance notice in Littleton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Littleton
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Rodent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle rodent control.