Catawba County, NC Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

' That standard is reinforced by the container requirements in § 32-6(a)(1), which mandate rodent-proof, watertight containers with fly-tight covers and cap perishable garbage storage at one week, since decaying, exposed or poorly contained waste is what typically attracts rodents in the first place. The chapter also targets specific harborage risks beyond ordinary garbage: § 32-6(a)(3) bars leaving dilapidated furniture, appliances or similar wrecked items outside a building for more than 72 hours, and property owners managing five or more premises in a residential building or manufactured home park must contract with a licensed solid waste hauler for regular collection at every unit under § 32-6(a)(7), preventing the kind of uncollected accumulation that draws rodents to multi-unit sites. Enforcement of the anti-harborage standard rests with the county under Chapter 32's general violation provisions rather than a separate health department rodent-control program.