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San Benito County, CA Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Core duty
Storage must discourage rodent harborage
Container standard
Fly-tight, rodent-proof, tight lid
Extra step
Health Officer can require more pickups
Scope
Unincorporated county only

Summary

Unincorporated San Benito County requires solid waste to be stored so it doesn't harbor or breed rodents and insects, using rodent-proof, fly-tight containers.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of San Benito County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

the storage, accumulation, collection, keeping, handling or maintaining of solid waste on premises shall be performed in such a manner so as to discourage the harboring and breeding of rodents and insects and the ready access to the solid waste by dogs and other small animals, and so as not to objectionably and unreasonably pollute the air, or so as not to constitute a fire or health hazard.

(B)   Other than at an approved solid waste facility, in any premises where the volume of solid waste accumulates in excess of two cubic yards between intervals of collection or disposal, the solid waste shall be stored in fire- resistant containers approved by the local fire authority and in a manner approved by the county’s Health Officer.

(C)   Any industrial, commercial or business establishment wherein solid waste is handled, produced or stored in large quantities shall have the solid waste operation reviewed by the county’s Health Officer. The person in possession of the establishment shall comply with such requirements as the county’s Health Officer may deem necessary for the sanitary storage, collection or disposal of solid waste on the premises in compliance with this chapter. Any special requirements of the Health Officer shall be specified in writing and transmitted to the person in possession of the solid waste operation. (1966 Code, § 25-5) (Ord. 619, § 2(part); Ord. 724, § 1(part))

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-28: current through Ordinance 1078).

Full Breakdown

County Code § 15.01.022(A) requires that solid waste storage, accumulation, and handling on any premises discourage the harboring and breeding of rodents and insects and keep waste from being readily accessible to dogs and other small animals. Section 15.01.021 backs this up at the container level: solid waste containers must be watertight, in good repair, free of holes, fly-tight, and rodent-proof, with a tight-fitting lid. If waste volume or nature risks rodent or insect infestation, the county's Health Officer can require more frequent collection under § 15.01.024. These storage duties apply only in unincorporated San Benito County. Hollister and San Juan Bautista set their own rules.

Violations & Fines

Storing solid waste in a way that lets rodents or insects harbor and breed, or using containers that aren't rodent-proof, violates §§ 15.01.021-15.01.022.

Frequently Asked Questions

What container keeps rodents out of my trash?
A watertight, tight-lidded container that's free of holes, fly-tight, and rodent-proof, per § 15.01.021.
Who do I contact about a rodent problem from a neighbor's waste?
The county's Health Officer, who can order more frequent collection to stop infestations under § 15.01.024.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in San Benito County

All San Benito County rules

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