Spring Hill, TN Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

The rodent rule in the City of Spring Hill, Tennessee sits inside its refuse chapter rather than a stand-alone pest ordinance. Section 17-103 applies to each owner, occupant or other responsible person using or occupying any building or other premises where refuse accumulates or is likely to accumulate. That person must provide and keep covered an adequate number of containers, and the containers must be strong, durable and rodent and insect proof. Section 17-102 backs it up by requiring all persons within the city to keep their premises in a clean and sanitary condition, free from accumulations of refuse, except when stored as the chapter provides.

Section 17-101 defines refuse as garbage, rubbish, leaves, brush and refuse, and expressly excludes dead animals and fowls, body wastes, hot ashes, rocks, concrete, bricks and similar materials, which cannot be stored with it. Section 17-104 bars an unauthorized person from uncovering, rifling, digging into or turning over a refuse container belonging to another. Two other sections address vermin directly. Under § 13-201(A), junk stored in a junkyard must be kept so that it does not catch and hold water for mosquito breeding and does not harbor, rear or propagate rats, mice or other vermin, and § 13-201(B) requires a close-fitting plank or metal solid fence not less than six feet in height.

Section 10-104 requires animal feed to be stored and kept in a rat-proof and fly-tight building, box or receptacle. Section 13-103(D) requires dead animals to be buried promptly or reported to the Health Officer.