Sammamish, WA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Baseline duty
- SMC 16.25.230(1) infestation-free structures
- Landlord duty
- Exterminate before renting (16.25.230(2))
- Owner defect exception
- Owner pays if structural defect causes infestation
- Exterior rule
- SMC 16.25.200(4) rodent harborage
- Noncompliance fine
- $250-$1,000 per day
Summary
Sammamish requires every structure to stay free of rodent infestation, with the owner or occupant on the hook for extermination depending on who controls the space. SMC 16.25.230 splits that duty by occupancy type, and SMC 16.25.200(4) adds a parallel rodent-harborage rule for exterior property.
(1) Infestation. All structures shall be kept free from insect and rodent infestation. All structures in which insects or rodents are found shall be promptly exterminated by approved processes that will not be injurious to human health. After extermination, proper precautions shall be taken to prevent reinfestation.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance O2026-598, and legislation passed through August 18, 2026).
Full Breakdown
230(1) sets the baseline: 'All structures shall be kept free from insect and rodent infestation. ' The section then assigns who pays for that extermination. A landlord must exterminate before renting or leasing a unit (subsection (2)); the occupant of a single-family home or single-tenant nonresidential structure is responsible for extermination on the premises (subsection (3)); and in a building with two or more dwelling units, a rooming house or a multi-tenant structure, the owner covers shared and exterior areas while an occupant who causes an infestation in their own space is responsible for that space (subsection (4)).
200(4) covers rodent harborage on exterior property, requiring structures and exterior property to be 'kept free from rodent harborage and infestation' and requiring prompt extermination and follow-up precautions against reinfestation where rodents are found. 020 lists Title 16 among the titles that chapter enforces.
Violations & Fines
Rodent infestation left uncorrected is a Chapter 16.25 violation. Under SMC 23.100.010, the City can issue an infraction of up to $1,000, and unresolved noncompliance after a notice and order climbs to $250 per day for the first 15 days, $500 per day through day 31, and $1,000 per day beyond that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to pay to get rid of rats in a Sammamish rental?
Is a homeowner responsible for rodents in a single-family house?
What counts as a rodent violation outside the building?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sammamish
Compare Sammamish to another location·View the Washington public health rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Rodent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle rodent control.