Texarkana, TX Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 105-313, Texarkana Code
- Civil penalty
- Up to $1,000 per day
- Trigger condition
- Refuse/vegetation breeding insects and rodents
- City remedy
- Abate nuisance and place a lien
- Enforcing body
- Building and standards commission
Summary
Property in Texarkana with piled refuse or overgrown vegetation that breeds rats and insects is declared a public nuisance and must be mowed and cleared immediately under the city's substandard-property code.
Property with accumulations of refuse, vegetation or other matter as defined herein that creates breeding and living places for insects and rodents are hereby declared public nuisances and illegal and must be immediately mowed and cleared of all such refuse.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 105-313 of the Texarkana Code, any property where accumulated refuse or vegetation creates breeding and living places for insects and rodents is declared a public nuisance and illegal, and the owner must mow and clear it immediately. Code enforcement can also flag a structure as substandard under Sec. 105-316(14) if it harbors rats, mice or other disease-carrying pests. If the owner does not comply after notice, the city may do the abatement work itself and place a lien on the property, or the building and standards commission can assess a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per day under Sec. 105-327.
Violations & Fines
Violating the nuisance/substandard-property rules is enforced by the building and standards commission, which can assess civil penalties up to $1,000 per day; unresolved conditions let the city abate the property and file a lien.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Texarkana force me to clear rodent-attracting refuse from my property?
What happens if I ignore the notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Texarkana
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