Miami, FL Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 10-63(4), City Code
- Who must comply
- Owners of vacant/blighted/abandoned structures
- Enforcement body
- Code enforcement board or special master
- Penalty
- Fines, liens, possible city abatement
- Related duty
- Structure must be registered (Sec. 10-64)
Summary
Owners of vacant, blighted, unsecured or abandoned buildings in Miami must keep the premises free of rodents, insects, vermin and other wild animals under Sec. 10-63(4), enforced by the code enforcement board with fines and liens for violations.
(4)Every owner of a vacant, blighted, unsecured or abandoned structure shall keep the premises free from rodents, insects, vermin, and other wild animals.(5)The roof of every structure shall be well drained of rain water.(6)All materials used to secure blighted, unsecured or abandoned structures shall be painted in a skillful fashion in the same color as its other exterior walls. (Ord. No. 13032, § 2, 10-16-08; Ord. No. 13320, § 1, 5-10-12; Ord. No. 13599, § 2, 4-14-16; Ord. No. 13676, § 2, 4-27-17)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 | Ordinance 11000 (Previous Zoning Code): Supplement 22 | Miami 21 (Zoning Code): ?).
Full Breakdown
Under Miami Code of Ordinances Sec. 10-63(4), any owner of a vacant, blighted, unsecured or abandoned structure must keep the premises free from rodents, insects, vermin and other wild animals, alongside duties to secure entrances, remove graffiti and drain the roof. The requirement sits inside Article IV of Chapter 10, the same article requiring these structures to be registered with the city (Sec. 10-64) and to pay escalating annual fees once in default (Sec. 10-65). Failure to comply is a code enforcement violation under Sec. 10-67, referred to the code enforcement board or special master under Chapter 2, Article X, with fines, liens and possible city abatement at the owner's cost.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring the rodent-free duty on a vacant or blighted structure triggers a code enforcement board or special master case under Sec. 10-67, with escalating fines, liens on the property and potential city abatement billed to the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rodent rule apply to every property in Miami?
What happens if I don't secure my vacant building against rodents?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami to another location·View the Florida public health rules overview
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Rodent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle rodent control.