Santa Clara, CA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- SCCC Chapter 6.20, Abatement of Animal Pests
- Enforcing officials
- Building Official and/or Health Officer
- Abatement trigger
- 5 days after City Council's order
- Lien interest
- 6% per year on unpaid abatement costs
- Alternative collection
- Added to property tax bill
- Governing law
- SCCC § 6.20.020
Summary
Santa Clara's General Code declares it a public nuisance, and unlawful, for any property owner to let real property become infested with rodents, animal pests, bugs, beetles or insects to the point of endangering nearby dwellings, under Municipal Code § 6.20.020. The Building Official and Health Officer can order the condition abated, and unpaid abatement costs become a lien against the property.
It is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and it shall be unlawful for any person owning or having control of any real property or premises in the city to suffer or permit said real property or premises, or any part thereof, to be maintained in a condition so infected or infested with animal pests, rodents, bugs, beetles or insects that there is caused thereby a danger of infection or infestation of, or an actual infection or infestation of, any inhabited and/or habitable dwellings with animal pests, rodents, bugs, beetles or insects.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 6.20, Abatement of Animal Pests, defines the Building Official as the Director of Planning and Inspection or a deputy under § 6.20.010, then makes rodent, insect and pest infestation a public nuisance in § 6.20.020 whenever it creates a danger of, or an actual, infection of inhabited or habitable dwellings. Section 6.20.030 lets the Building Official and/or Health Officer abate any dangerous or insanitary condition on a property. The process runs through the City Council: under § 6.20.040 the Building Official or Health Officer files a written complaint with the City Manager, who presents it to the City Council, and the Council sets a public hearing, with the resolution and complaint served on the owner or occupant at least five days beforehand.
Section 6.20.050 gives the Council authority, after the hearing, to dismiss the complaint or order abatement; if the owner does not start abatement within five days and diligently finish it, the City abates the condition itself and bills the owner under § 6.20.060, which requires an itemized notice and gives five days to pay. If unpaid, § 6.20.070 lets the City record a lien against the property in the County Recorder's office, and § 6.20.080 lets that lien draw interest at six percent per year, with no statute of limitations barring the City's right to enforce it or foreclose.
As an alternative, § 6.20.090 lets the City Council instead add the unpaid amount to the property's regular tax bill, collected under § 6.20.100 with the same penalties, interest and delinquency procedure as ordinary city and county taxes.
Violations & Fines
A rodent or pest infestation that endangers nearby dwellings is itself declared unlawful and a public nuisance under § 6.20.020, letting the City abate it directly if the owner does not act within five days of the Council's abatement order. Unpaid abatement costs become a recorded lien accruing 6% annual interest, subject to foreclosure, or can instead be added to the owner's regular property tax bill and collected with standard tax penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a rat or rodent infestation actually against the law in Santa Clara?
Who enforces the rodent-control rule?
What happens if I don't clean up an infestation myself?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara to another location·View the California public health rules overview
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Rodent Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle rodent control.