New Berlin, WI Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

New Berlin enforces insect and rodent control through parallel provisions in Chapter 201, Property Maintenance. Section 201-22, in Article II's residential property maintenance rules, states: "Buildings and exterior property area shall be kept free from insect and rodent infestation. Where insects or rodents are found, they shall be promptly exterminated or trapped and removed by legal processes which will not be injurious to human health. " An identical duty applies to commercial and other nonresidential property under Section 201-7 in Article I, so the obligation reaches essentially every building in the City regardless of use.

Responsibility for compliance rests with the owner or occupant, who under Section 201-19 must maintain the structure and exterior property, including keeping the part of the premises they occupy in a clean, sanitary and safe condition. The chapter also targets the physical entry points that let rodents in: Section 201-11 requires every window, exterior door and basement entry to be tight and maintained so as to prevent the entrance of rodents, and any other opening within four feet of ground level must be constructed and maintained to avoid the entry of insects and rodents.

Agriculture-zoned properties and vacant land are exempt from the residential article under Section 201-15, and the Department of Community Development has discretion to account for time of year, drainage, topography and weather when applying the residential maintenance standards under Section 201-14.