North Charleston, SC Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Section 9-106 defines the terms behind the duty: a 'business building' covers essentially any structure used for business, professional, amusement, sales, storage or work purposes, including hotels, stores, restaurants, warehouses, factories and the outbuildings on business premises. 'Rat-stoppage' or ratproofing means closing every opening in exterior walls, ground and first floors, basements, roofs and foundations that a rat could use to enter, with material the animals cannot gnaw through, and 'rat-harborage' is any condition that shelters or favors rat breeding. Section 9-107 states the core duty in one sentence: all business buildings in the city must be ratproofed, freed of rats, and kept in a ratproof and rat-free condition under the health officer's direction and supervision.

Section 9-108 backs that duty with a notice procedure: once the health officer sends a written notice or order, the owner must immediately begin ratproofing and finish within the time set in the notice, which by law cannot be less than fifteen days (or a longer period the health officer grants in writing); missing that deadline is a misdemeanor. Section 9-109 places a parallel duty on occupants when the health officer finds evidence of infestation, requiring immediate measures to clear the premises, and § 9-110 gives the health officer authority to do the extermination work directly if the occupant does not act within three days.

Section 9-111 lets the city bill the owner or occupant monthly for the labor, materials and equipment used, and § 9-113 authorizes unannounced inspections, with re-inspection of ratproofed buildings required at least every forty-five days.