Santee, CA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Section 9.02.230(A) of the Santee Municipal Code puts the rodent-control duty directly on the property owner, operator, or occupant: solid waste, organic waste, and recyclables accumulated on any premises, vacant or occupied, must be stored so as not to constitute a fire, health, or safety hazard, and specifically so as not to promote the propagation, harborage, or attraction of flies, rodents, or other vermin, or create litter or other nuisances. The code targets one common attractant by name in § 9.02.230(B)(2): any container used for animal manure must be kept tightly covered and sealed at all times to prevent access by flies, rodents, and other vermin, a stricter standard than the general container rule in § 9.02.230(B)(1), which only requires containers to be kept clean and free of graffiti.

Because Chapter 9.02 treats improper storage as part of the same solid-waste scheme as illegal dumping, a property that lets waste sit unsecured and draws rodents can also run afoul of § 9.02.200's ban on allowing garbage, dead animals, or offensive matter to remain on a lot, street, or waterway. Development Services and the City's code compliance staff enforce these storage standards, and San Diego County Animal Services handles rodent and vermin complaints that cross into an animal-control response, since the County provides Santee's animal services under contract.