Springfield, OR Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Springfield Municipal Code section 5.001 in Chapter 5, Public Protection, treats several structure and yard conditions as public health nuisances that can attract rodents. The chapter defines vermin in section 5.000 as animals detrimental to humans, including insects and rats or other rodents, and section 5.001 separately lists garbage and refuse not removed within a reasonable time as a nuisance, requiring every person who generates household waste to store it in leakproof, close fitting containers and remove putrescent waste at least every seven days. Interior conditions that let debris, rubbish, or garbage accumulate to the point they breed insects and rodents are likewise a nuisance under section 5.001(11), as are exterior conditions that allow, attract, or are likely to attract, feed, or harbor vermin under section 5.001(5).

The city's enforcing officer, the city manager or a Development and Public Works designee, investigates complaints and, under section 5.006, posts and serves a written notice giving the person responsible 10 days to abate the rodent attracting condition or file a written protest. An unresolved protest goes to a hearings officer under section 5.008, whose decision may be appealed by writ of review to the Lane County Circuit Court. If the condition is not corrected, section 5.010 lets the city abate it directly and bill the owner for the cost plus a 10 percent administrative overhead charge, which section 5.014 turns into a lien recorded with Lane County Deeds and Records if unpaid within 30 days.

Abatement runs separately from citation: section 5.016 allows both at once, and section 1.205(3) caps the fine for this non-criminal violation at $720, with every day the condition continues counting as a separate offense under section 1.205(5).