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

Section 110.03 of the Surry County Code defines PUBLIC HEALTH NUISANCE broadly enough to reach rodent problems: accumulated junk, tires, trash, refuse or construction debris that can nest mosquitoes, insects or rodents; uncovered structures or containers holding stagnant water; and uncovered wells, open pits, unsecured vehicles, unsecured buildings or unsecured manufactured homes that can harbor pests or cause injury. Section 110.07 makes it unlawful for any person to create such a nuisance on any parcel of land in the county, or to allow one to remain on property they own or occupy.

Enforcement runs through § 110.02, which names the Local Ordinance Officer, the Development Services Director, the Sheriff of Surry County and authorized Environmental Health Department inspectors as the officials empowered to act on a complaint. Under § 110.99, an authorized agent may first issue a warning citation directing the property owner to correct the condition within a set time; if the condition is not fixed, a civil citation follows, and the cited party has 72 hours after service (or ten days after the citation is posted on the property) to respond and pay the fine to the Surry County Development Services Department.

Each day the rodent-breeding condition continues counts as a separate violation, and if the civil process does not resolve it, the county may pursue a misdemeanor criminal summons punishable by a fine, community service or both.