Marin County, CA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Marin County Code §§ 7.08.040-7.08.120
- Adopted
- Ordinance 141 (1908), still in force
- Duty holder
- Owner, lessee, occupant or agent
- Lumber storage rule
- 2 ft of open space required underneath
- Manure limit
- Cannot accumulate more than 3 days
- Inspection hours
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with badge
Summary
Marin County Code § 7.08.040 requires every building and premises in the county to be kept positively free from rats by the owner, lessee, occupant or agent. Section 7.08.050 backs that up with a general sanitation duty, and § 7.08.110 declares rat-harboring conditions a public nuisance the health officer must abate.
7.08.040 - Premises to be kept free from rats. All buildings and all premises of whatever kind and for whatever use within the county of Marin shall be positively freed from rats by the owner, lessee, occupant or agent thereof by such means as may be prescribed by the board of health. 7.08.050 - Sanitary conditions required. All buildings and premises of whatever kind and for whatever use, shall be put and kept in a clean, sanitary state and shall be made and kept free from conditions which harbor rats or which promote or permit their multiplication. 7.08.110 - Nuisance declared-Abatement. The presence of rats or of the conditions which afford them refuge or harbor or which permit or promote their multiplication is hereby declared to be a public nuisance. It shall be the duty of the health officer to abate such nuisance immediately and completely.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 2026 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
08, dating to Ordinance 141 of 1908 and still in force, is Marin County's rat and vector-control code. 050 requires premises to be kept in a 'clean, sanitary state' and free from conditions that harbor rats or let them multiply. 090 requires stables and other animal-keeping areas to be kept clean, with manure not allowed to accumulate for more than three days. 120 lets the health officer quarantine any rat-infested building, warehouse, stable, dwelling or place of business until the condition is corrected.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 7.08 does not set its own fine schedule; the health officer's remedy is abatement rather than a fixed penalty table. Under § 7.08.110, the health officer must abate a rat-harboring nuisance immediately and completely, and § 7.08.120 authorizes quarantining any rat-infested building, warehouse, stable, dwelling or business until the owner corrects the sanitary conditions or removes the harborage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for keeping a property free of rats in Marin County?
Can the county health officer inspect my property for a rat problem?
What happens if my property is found rat-infested?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marin County
California rules heatmap·Compare Marin County to another location·View the California public health rules overview
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