Tonawanda, NY Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted
- L.L. No. 6-2006, May 22, 2006
- Firewood stacking
- At least 12 inches above ground
- Nonresidential duty
- Active program with licensed exterminator
- Demolition permits
- Require prior rodent abatement certification
- First offense penalty
- Written warning, then escalating fines
Summary
Since 2006, Town of Tonawanda property owners have been barred from storing or accumulating anything that can feed or shelter rodents under Code § 181-17.1A, and firewood must be stacked at least 12 inches off the ground under § 181-17.1B. Nonresidential owners need an active rodent-control program run by a licensed exterminator, and a demolition permit cannot issue until rodent abatement is confirmed.
A. No owner/occupant of residential and nonresidential property shall store, place or allow to accumulate any materials that may serve as food or harborage for rodents in a site accessible to rodents. B. Firewood or woodpiles shall be stacked at least 12 inches above the ground, away from walls or fences, shall be reasonably secure and shall be stabilized in a structurally sound manner so as to avoid a risk of harm from collapse or movement. ... ... D. Owners of nonresidential property must have a rodent control program in effect which provides for abatement and control of rodents by a licensed exterminator. E. Prior to the issuance of a demolition permit, the applicant for the permit must establish that a licensed exterminator has completed rodent abatement at the site or certify that the property is free from rodents or other vermin.
Full Breakdown
Local Law No. 6-2006 added § 181-17.1 to the Town's solid waste chapter specifically to address rodent harborage. Subsection A bars any owner or occupant, residential or nonresidential, from storing, placing or letting accumulate materials that could serve as food or harborage for rodents anywhere rodents can reach them. Subsection B targets a common harborage spot: firewood and woodpiles must sit at least 12 inches above the ground, kept away from walls or fences, and be stacked securely enough that they will not collapse or shift.
Subsection D imposes a heavier duty on nonresidential property owners, requiring an active rodent-control program that provides for abatement through a licensed exterminator, not just occasional cleanup. Subsection E ties rodent control to the demolition process: before the Town issues a demolition permit, the applicant must show a licensed exterminator has already completed rodent abatement at the site, or certify in writing that the property is free of rodents and other vermin, closing off the option of demolishing a structure and scattering an existing rodent population into the neighborhood.
The rodent-control provisions sit inside the Town's general waste-management chapter, so the Superintendent of Highways and Code Enforcement Officer share responsibility for investigating complaints of unsecured food sources, unstable woodpiles or noncompliant demolition sites.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the rodent-control measures is punishable under the chapter's general penalty section, § 181-22A: a written warning for a first offense, then escalating fines of $50, $100, $150 and $250 for repeat violations within twelve months, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep birdseed or pet food outside in the Town of Tonawanda?
How should I stack firewood so I don't violate the code?
Do commercial property owners have extra rodent-control obligations?
Can I get a demolition permit without addressing rodents first?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tonawanda
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