Miramar, FL Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Code of Ordinances Article IV, Chapter 10 (§§ 10-66 through 10-75) makes rodent control mandatory rather than optional. Section 10-67 states that all business and nonbusiness buildings of the city shall be rodentproofed, freed of rodents and maintained in a rodentproof and rodentfree condition under the supervision of the building official. When the building official issues a written notice under § 10-68, the owner must begin rodentproofing or rodentstopping immediately, and the work must finish within a deadline the notice sets that can never be shorter than 15 days, or a longer period if the building official grants a written extension. Occupants of already-rodentproofed buildings have an independent duty under § 10-69 to keep the premises rodentproof and repair any breaks, and § 10-70 makes it unlawful to remove rodentproofing material without restoring it.

Section 10-73 targets the conditions that draw rodents in the first place. Under § 10-73(b), it is unlawful for any person to place, leave, dump or permit to accumulate any garbage, rubbish or trash in any building or premises so that it may afford food or harborage for rodents. Section 10-73(c) separately bars stacking lumber, boxes, barrels, bricks or similar materials on any improved or vacant lot unless raised at least 18 inches off the ground on open racks. If a building official finds a business building's rodent harborage extensive enough, § 10-71 lets the official close the building until it is rodentproofed and the harborage removed, which can require pouring concrete basement floors. The building official also coordinates with the Broward County Health Department under § 10-75, with cross-notification required within seven days of either agency taking action.