San Clemente, CA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard set by
- Orange County Vector Control
- Governing rule
- IPMC § 309.1, adopted at § 8.78.040(F)
- Enforcer
- Code Compliance Manager
- Notice required
- Yes, under Chapter 1.20 procedure
- Max misdemeanor penalty
- $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
San Clemente's Property Maintenance Code requires every structure to stay free of insect and rodent infestation, measured against standards set by Orange County Vector Control, under Municipal Code Section 8.78.040(F). The Code Compliance Manager enforces the rule as part of the locally amended International Property Maintenance Code.
F.Subsection 309.1 is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows: 309.1 Infestation. Structures shall be kept free from insect and rodent infestation as determined and defined by Orange County Vector Control.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Traffic: Supplement 30 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 66 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
040 amends Chapter 3, General Requirements, of the adopted International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), 2018 Edition. 1, Infestation, to state that structures shall be kept free from insect and rodent infestation as determined and defined by Orange County Vector Control, tying the local standard to the county agency's own technical criteria rather than a City-set numeric threshold. 010 to regulate the conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings, and structures so they remain safe, sanitary, and fit for occupation. 020(E). 020(H) through (J). 020(K). 76 can also apply, letting the Public Works Director or Beaches, Parks and Recreation Director order cleanup and, on noncompliance, perform the work and lien the property.
Violations & Fines
A structure found infested can be cited by the Code Compliance Manager for an IPMC Section 309.1 violation. After the Chapter 1.20 notice period expires without correction, the violation is punishable under Section 1.16.010 as a misdemeanor, carrying up to a $1,000 fine and six months in county jail, or, if prosecuted as an infraction, administrative fines of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for each further offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides what counts as a rodent infestation in San Clemente?
What happens before I can be fined for a rodent problem?
What is the penalty for an uncorrected infestation violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Clemente
California rules heatmap·Compare San Clemente to another location·View the California public health rules overview
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Rodent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle rodent control.