Oak Park, IL Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Chapter 16 of the Oak Park Village Code treats rodent infestation as a public nuisance the Village itself can act on, not just a private matter between neighbors. Section 16-1-4(G) declares all infestations of flies, fleas, roaches, lice, ticks, rats, mice, fly maggots and mosquito larvae a nuisance on any Village property, and subsection N separately makes it a nuisance to use poison outside a structure unless it sits in a receptacle only rodents can reach, protecting pets, wildlife and children from exposed bait. Enforcement runs through section 16-1-2: the Village Manager or an agent serves written notice on the owner, occupant, agent or person in control of the property, requiring abatement within a reasonable time the Manager sets, without having to spell out exactly how to abate it unless the Manager chooses to.

If the property owner or occupant is unknown or cannot be found, the Manager can skip notice and abate the infestation directly. Once the notice period lapses without action, the Village proceeds with abatement itself, or refers the matter to the Village Attorney for court action if there's no emergency, and bills the cost to whoever created, continued or allowed the nuisance, on top of any separate fine, with the expense becoming a lien on the property. Section 16-1-5 folds sanitation-related nuisances generally, including garbage, food establishments and health and sanitation violations, into this same abatement scheme.