Baltimore County, MD Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Baltimore County Code Section 13-7-302 requires every building in the county to be free of rats and maintained in a rat-proof condition, and puts the burden on the occupant or owner to eliminate rat harborages and any condition conducive to one. Section 13-7-303 lets the Director of Environmental Protection and Sustainability or the Code Official inspect a building's interior and exterior on evidence of rat infestation, harborage, or inadequate rat-proofing, though they cannot force entry into a dwelling without a warrant. If infestation is confirmed, Section 13-7-305 requires the owner or occupant to institute rat eradication measures immediately upon written notice and maintain them until the Director confirms the building is clear; failing to begin within 5 days of the notice is a misdemeanor.

Section 13-7-306 separately addresses rat harborage conditions, giving the owner or occupant no less than 15 days to remove or abate a harborage once notified, with noncompliance again a misdemeanor. Related sections require rat-proof construction on any repair or remodel, and Section 13-7-310 bars storing garbage, manure, or animal feed in a way that becomes rat food, while allowing eartipped feral cats fed under the county's TNR Program guidelines to avoid a nuisance finding.