Paramount, CA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Chapter 8.37 regulates vacant, abandoned and foreclosed property in the City of Paramount. Section 8.37.030(C) lists conditions no responsible party for vacant real property, building, structure or tenant space can cause, permit, allow or suffer at any time. Item 9 is pest or rodent infestation. Item 10 covers swimming pools, spas, fountains and other bodies of water maintained so as to be likely to harbor mosquitoes, insects or vector, including water that is clouded or green or contains bacterial growth, algae, insect larvae, insect remains or animal remains. Item 4 adds accumulations of lumber, junk, trash, debris, cardboard boxes, discarded furniture and similar material on exterior portions of the property, and item 7 reaches overgrown, dead or decaying vegetation. The owner stays liable regardless of any contract with a third party, and the Building Official and the Public Safety Director are authorized to enter at reasonable times to make inspections, to the extent authorized by law.

The duties grow with vacancy time. After 15 consecutive calendar days, owners must provide a responsible contact and drain or cover pools and spas so water cannot collect. After 30 consecutive calendar days, a Vacant Property Mitigation Plan is due, and the property must be inspected at least once each calendar week with results submitted in writing to the Planning and Building Department within 48 hours of each inspection. A structure vacant for more than 365 consecutive calendar days is deemed a public nuisance subject to summary abatement.

Other chapters carry rodent rules for specific uses. Kennels must keep buildings and grounds clean and sanitary to prevent or eliminate flies, rodents and odors (§ 6.36.150) and must maintain an effective program for control of insects, ectoparasites, and avian and mammalian pests (§ 6.36.180). Feed for homing pigeons must be stored in containers that offer protection against rodents (§ 6.44.020). Title 11 of the Los Angeles County Code is adopted as the City's Health Code (§ 8.04.010).