Orangeburg County, SC Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Section 9-77(e), one of the exterior property standards in Chapter 9's community development code, requires that all structures and exterior property in unincorporated Orangeburg County be kept free from insect and rodent harborage and infestation. Where insects or rodents are found, the section requires prompt extermination by approved processes that will not injure human health, and it requires taking proper precautions after elimination to eliminate the harborage and prevent re-infestation. The duty tracks the general responsibility scheme in Section 9-76: the owner of the premises must maintain the structure and exterior property in compliance with the chapter, while an occupant of a dwelling, rooming, or housekeeping unit is responsible for the part of the premises that occupant controls.

The requirement sits alongside Section 9-78's rubbish and garbage rule, which bars any accumulation of rubbish or garbage on exterior property and requires that a discarded refrigerator have its doors removed before storage, both aimed at removing debris that creates rodent harborage in the first place. The Community Development Division's code official enforces Section 9-77(e) the same way as the rest of Chapter 9: a written notice of violation under Section 9-25 describing the infestation and setting a correction deadline, followed by prosecution under Section 9-24(c) as a strict liability misdemeanor if the owner does not comply, object, or appeal in time.