Manitou Springs, CO Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty
- keep unit insect, pest, and wildlife-resistant
- Multi-unit trigger
- one infested unit requires treating all units, common areas
- Structural rule
- foundations, walls, roofs must stay rodent/insect-resistant
- Governing section
- § 15.08.080(K), Housing Habitability Code
- Max penalty
- $500 fine or 90 days jail, or both
- Cost recovery
- city can abate and lien the property, § 15.08.190
Summary
Owners and occupants of every Manitou Springs dwelling unit must keep it in insect, pest, and wildlife-resistant condition, Municipal Code section 15.08.080(K). In a building with more than two units, an infestation found in one unit triggers extermination or removal across every unit and common area in that building.
K.Pest Extermination or Wildlife Removal. All owners or occupants of a dwelling unit must maintain the unit in insect, pest, and wildlife-resistant condition. In a dwelling containing more than two dwelling units, where one dwelling unit has an infestation, extermination or removal shall encompass all dwelling units and common areas within that dwelling.
Full Breakdown
030 as the control and elimination of insects, rodents, or other pests by eliminating harborage places, removing or making inaccessible food sources, and poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping, or using any other legal method approved by the neighborhood services officer. 080(K) puts the duty on the owner or occupant to keep the unit pest-resistant and, critically, requires that a single infested unit in a building of more than two units be treated together with every other unit and every common area in that same building. 100(C) and (D) reach the structure itself, requiring every foundation, floor, wall, ceiling, roof, window, exterior door and basement hatchway to stay rodent- and insect-resistant, weathertight, and in sound repair, so a gap that lets pests in is its own maintenance violation apart from any active infestation. 030 further requires areas to be free from rubbish, garbage, debris, vermin, and rodents, tying pest control to the code's broader cleanliness standard. 140.
Violations & Fines
Violating the pest-control duty is punishable under section 15.08.210 by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, imprisonment of not more than ninety calendar days, or both, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. The city can also abate the condition itself and recover the cost by placing a lien on the property under section 15.08.190's abatement and cost-recovery procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for exterminating pests in a Manitou Springs rental?
If one apartment has mice, does the landlord have to treat the whole building?
Does the building itself have to be built to keep pests out?
What can the city do if a landlord ignores a pest complaint?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manitou Springs
Compare Manitou Springs to another location·View the Colorado public health rules overview
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How other cities in El Paso County handle rodent control.