Troy, NY Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Section 176-18 of the Troy City Code, part of the Housing Code, requires buildings used for human habitation to be kept free from insect and rodent infestation, with prompt extermination by acceptable processes that are not injurious to human health and proper precautions afterward to prevent reinfestation. It then splits responsibility. The owner of a dwelling or multifamily dwelling pays for extermination of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests whenever infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units or in the shared or public parts of the structure. The occupant is responsible within the unit he or she occupies when that unit is the only one in the building that is infested. Whenever rodent infestation is caused by the owner's failure to maintain the building in a rodent-proof condition, extermination is the owner's responsibility regardless.

Outdoors, § 176-16(D) makes every owner of a dwelling or multifamily dwelling responsible for extermination in all exterior areas of the premises, except that the occupant is responsible in the exterior areas of a single-family dwelling. Exterior property areas must also be free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage and graded to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water.

The structure itself is part of rodent control. Section 176-17 requires foundations, exterior walls, roofs and other exterior surfaces to be kept in such condition as to exclude rodents, and every basement hatchway to be built and maintained to prevent the entrance of rodents, rain and surface drainage water. Every openable basement or cellar window needs corrosive-resistive rodent-proof shields or wire mesh screens with not more than one-half-inch mesh openings, or equivalent protection. Section 176-21 requires occupants to keep housing facilities clean and sanitary so as not to breed insects and rodents. The Director of Code Enforcement causes periodic inspections of dwelling premises to secure compliance and issues written notice of any violation.