Roswell, GA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 8.8.2, item (9)
- Trigger
- Property that harbors rats or vermin
- Cure window before repeat offense
- 24 hours
- Notice before city abatement
- 72 hours
- Rental checklist also requires
- Extermination, rodent-proof windows
Summary
Roswell, Georgia treats a property that harbors rats or other vermin as a 'blighted property' and public nuisance under § 8.8.2, item (9), letting code enforcement order the owner to abate the infestation or face the same nuisance penalties, liens and abatement powers as any other blight violation.
(9)Property which is likely to or does harbor rats or other vermin, feral pets, or other non-domesticated animal nuisances.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 17 | Unified Development Code: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
Roswell's blight definition folds rodent infestations directly into its public-nuisance framework. 2 lists as a blighted property any property that is likely to or does harbor rats or other vermin, feral pets, or other non-domesticated animal nuisances, item (9) of nineteen conditions that can trigger a nuisance finding. 4 gives the responsible person 24 hours after notice to abate the condition; failing to do so within that window makes every additional 24-hour period a separate violation of maintaining a public nuisance. 4(h), Exhibit A, requires 'extermination as needed' and windows that are in good repair and rodent proof, with no open cracks or holes, before a rental unit can pass inspection.
12 if it ends up doing the work itself. 9 that a rodent-infested dwelling or structure is unfit for habitation because of uncleanliness or defects that increase the hazards to occupants, opening the door to a vacate-and-secure order.
Violations & Fines
Allowing a property to harbor rats or other vermin is a public nuisance under § 8.8.2(9), punishable under § 8.8.13's general penalty tied to § 1.1.3: up to $2,000.00 in fines, up to 180 days in jail or community service, with each 24-hour period the infestation continues after notice under § 8.8.4 counted as a separate offense. Rental units that fail the extermination or rodent-proofing checks under § 10.3.4(h) cannot be leased until they pass inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Roswell cite me for a rodent problem on my property?
How long do I have to fix a rodent infestation once Roswell notifies me?
Does Roswell require pest control in rental units specifically?
What can happen if I don't fix a rodent nuisance in Roswell?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Roswell
Compare Roswell to another location·View the Georgia public health rules overview
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Rodent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle rodent control.