Pierce County, WA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- General duty
- Rat-proof docks, buildings, warehouses, residences
- Construction standard
- Screens/cement approved by Director of Health
- Traps
- Required, inspected daily
- Dock/vessel rule
- Boats breasted 6 ft off dock, metal rat guards
- Enforcement
- Director of Health inspections, PCC 8.20.120
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $300 fine or 90 days
Summary
Pierce County's rodent control code, Chapter 8.20 PCC, makes it unlawful to keep food, run a dock or warehouse, or live in a residence in the county without complying with rat-proofing and sanitation rules the Director of Health can inspect and enforce. Buildings must be rat-proofed with approved materials, food kept out of rats' reach, and traps supplied and checked daily, with violators facing up to $300.00 and 90 days in jail.
It is unlawful for any person to keep, store or expose for sale any food products or other goods, or to occupy or maintain any dock, building, storeroom or warehouse or to reside in any residence without complying with the provisions of this Chapter.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-515, and legislation passed through May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
20's rodent-control rules. 050 lets the Director of Health order poison placed where needed. 060 requires food products to be protected from rat access wherever they're kept. 090 requires gangplanks to be withdrawn between uses unless guarded against rats. 110 extends the same screening and cement-sealing duties to slaughterhouses. 120 gives the Director of Health and Public Health Department staff a standing right to inspect any covered premises "at all reasonable times" to check compliance.
Violations & Fines
PCC 8.20.130 makes any violation of Chapter 8.20 a misdemeanor: a person convicted "shall be fined in any sum not exceeding $300.00 or imprisoned in the County jail for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both, in the discretion of the court." The Director of Health enforces the chapter through inspections under PCC 8.20.120, and the officer or person in charge of a watercraft is separately responsible under PCC 8.20.100 for keeping that vessel's rat guards and breasting distance in compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to rat-proof their property in Pierce County?
What rat-proofing standard does the county require?
Does the rodent code cover boats and docks?
What's the penalty for violating Pierce County's rodent control code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pierce County
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