Louisville, KY Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LMCO § 156.056 Extermination
- Owner duty
- Exterminate before renting/leasing
- Single-family occupant
- Handles own extermination
- Multi-unit buildings
- Owner covers shared/exterior areas
- Penalty
- Civil fine, Appendix A schedule
Summary
Louisville Metro's property maintenance code makes extermination mandatory once insects or rodents show up, and splits the duty between owner and occupant depending on whether the structure is single-family, multi-unit, or a rooming house.
(A) Infestation. Every reasonable precaution available should be taken to keep all structures from insect and rodent infestation. All structures in which insects or rodents are found shall be promptly exterminated by approved processes that will not be injurious to human health. After extermination, proper precautions shall be taken to prevent re-infestation. (B) Owner. The owner of any structure shall be responsible for extermination within the structure prior to renting or leasing the structure.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-47: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinances passed by the Council and approved by the Mayor as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under LMCO § 156.056, any structure with an insect or rodent infestation must be exterminated promptly by approved, non-injurious methods, with precautions taken afterward to prevent re-infestation. Owners must exterminate before renting or leasing a unit. Occupants of one-family homes or single-tenant nonresidential structures handle extermination on the premises themselves. In buildings with two or more units, a rooming house, or nonresidential space, the owner covers shared and exterior areas, while an occupant who causes an infestation in their own space through neglect becomes responsible for that infestation.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Chapter 156 draw a civil penalty under the Appendix A penalty schedule, or on conviction a criminal fine up to $250 for an individual or $500 for a corporation, plus up to 50 days imprisonment; each day a violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays for pest control in a Louisville rental: the landlord or the tenant?
Does Louisville Metro's extermination rule apply to Jeffersontown or St. Matthews?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Louisville
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