Penn Hills, PA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- § 1060.04(a)
- Penalty
- $500–$2,000 fine + cleanup costs
- Applies to
- All households, landlords, businesses
- Enforced by
- Municipality of Penn Hills Code Enforcement
Summary
Penn Hills requires all solid waste storage to prevent rodent and insect harborage, odors, and nuisances under the Municipality's solid waste code.
The storage of all solid waste shall be practiced so as to prevent the attraction, harborage or breeding of insects or rodents, and to eliminate conditions harmful to public health or which create safety hazards, odors, unsightliness or public nuisances.
(b) Any person producing municipal waste shall provide a sufficient number of approved containers to store all waste materials generated during periods between regularly scheduled collections and shall place and store all waste materials therein.
(c) Any person storing municipal waste for collection shall comply with the following preparation standards:
(1) All municipal waste shall be drained of free liquids before being placed in storage containers.
(2) All garbage or other putrescible waste shall be securely wrapped in paper, plastic or similar material or placed in properly tied plastic bags.
(3) All clear, brown, and green glass containers, and jars are to be placed out as solid waste.
(4) All plastic jugs, jars, and containers 1 and 2, HDPE and PET must be recycled, not placed out as solid waste.
(5) Magazines and newspapers, unless recycled, are to be securely tied or placed in a closed container.
(6) When specified by the Municipality or its designated representative, special preparation and storage procedures may be required to facilitate the collection and resource recovery of certain waste materials.
(d)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4434863; v5 updated 2025-07-21; through 07-21-2025).
Full Breakdown
Code of the Municipality of Penn Hills § 1060.04(a) requires that storage of all solid waste be practiced so as to prevent the attraction, harborage, or breeding of insects or rodents, and to eliminate conditions harmful to public health. The rule applies to every household, landlord, and business in Penn Hills, Allegheny County, and ties directly into container standards requiring tight-fitting, rodent-proof lids and prompt replacement of damaged bins. Code Enforcement cites this section when trash accumulates, containers sit open, or storage conditions create pest harborage on a property.
Violations & Fines
Violating the solid waste chapter is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $500 to $2,000 plus cleanup costs, or up to 30 days in jail; each day counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Penn Hills regulate trash storage to prevent rodents?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Penn Hills
Compare Penn Hills to another location·View the Pennsylvania public health rules overview
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Rodent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Allegheny County handle rodent control.