Montebello, CA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- MMC § 8.16.010(A)(2)
- Owner duty
- Must prevent/abate under § 8.16.020
- Appeal window
- 10 days from notice to abate
- Civil penalty
- Up to $1,000 per violation/day
- Cost recovery
- Lien against the property
Summary
Montebello declares overgrown vegetation, dead or hazardous trees, weeds, and any vegetation likely to harbor rats or vermin a public nuisance under Municipal Code Section 8.16.010(A)(2), placing a duty on property owners to prevent and abate it.
2.a.Overgrown vegetation,b.Dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous trees,c.Weeds,d.Other vegetation likely to harbor rats, vermin or nuisances or which may be a fire hazard; ... It shall be and remain the duty of the owner or any person or entity in control of any property within the city to prevent and abate public nuisances on such property.
Full Breakdown
Section 8.16.010(A)(2) of the Montebello Municipal Code designates overgrown vegetation, dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous trees, weeds, and any other vegetation likely to harbor rats, vermin or nuisances, or that may create a fire hazard, as a public nuisance on any lot within the city. Section 8.16.020 places an ongoing duty on the owner, or any person or entity in control of the property, to prevent and abate that nuisance before the city has to act. When city staff investigates and confirms the condition under Section 8.16.030, the city manager or a designee issues a written notice to abate under Section 8.16.040, giving a reasonable compliance period and a right to request a hearing within 10 days.
If the vegetation is not cleared voluntarily, the city can abate the property directly and recover its costs, including administrative and legal fees, as a lien against the property under Sections 8.16.070, 8.16.120 and 8.16.150. Because rodent-harboring vegetation is grouped with fire-hazard vegetation in the same subsection, the same notice and abatement machinery covers both concerns without a separate rat-control chapter in the code.
Violations & Fines
An owner who leaves vegetation that can harbor rats or vermin uncorrected after a notice to abate faces direct city abatement, cost and attorney's fee recovery as a lien against the property under Section 8.16.120, and the citywide civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation under Section 8.16.110, assessed separately for each day the condition continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Montebello cite me for weeds that attract rats?
Who has to clear rat-harboring brush, the tenant or the owner?
What's the process before Montebello removes overgrown vegetation itself?
What can Montebello charge me if it clears my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montebello
California rules heatmap·Compare Montebello to another location·View the California public health rules overview
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