Washington County, MN Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Public Health Nuisance Ordinance No. 165
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Public Health and Environment
- Abatement deadline
- 10 working days after notice (§6.2)
- Right of entry
- Inspection authority under Minn. Stat. §145A.04 subd.7
- Cost recovery
- Civil action or property tax assessment (§8.1)
- Scope
- Applies in cities and townships countywide (§2.1)
Summary
Washington County's Public Health Nuisance Ordinance No. 165 bans conditions that harbor rats, mice and other vermin. A property owner who lets garbage go uncontained, matter accumulate, or an infestation take hold faces a Department of Public Health and Environment abatement order with a ten-working-day deadline before the county steps in and bills the cleanup back to the property.
4.1 The creation or maintenance of a Public Health Hazard or Public Health Nuisance is prohibited. 4.2 The following are hereby expressly declared to be Public Health Hazards or Public Health Nuisances, without limitation by reason of such enumeration: (1) Failure to keep waste, refuse, or garbage in an enclosed building or properly contained in a closed insect and rodent proof container designed or reasonably adapted for such purpose, except for the immediate time preceding pick-up by a refuse hauler... (3) Accumulation of decayed animal or vegetable matter, animal or human feces, trash, rubbish, garbage, rotting lumber, packing material, scrap metal, tires or any other substances in which flies, mosquitoes, other disease carrying insects, rodents or other vermin can harbor... (5) Infestations of flies, fleas, cockroaches, lice, ticks, rats, mice, fly larvae, and hookworm larvae;
Full Breakdown
Ordinance No. 3). 2(5)). 3, has statutory right of entry to inspect a suspect property under Minn. 04, subd. 7. 2 orders abatement within ten working days of that notice, unless the Health Authority shortens the period because immediate action is needed to protect public health. 7 lets the Health Authority post notice directly on the property.
Violations & Fines
If the owner or occupant ignores the abatement order, §6.10 lets the Health Authority remove or abate the nuisance itself, pursuant to Minn. Stat. §145A.04, subd. 8, and recover the cost under §8.1: through a civil action, or, at the County Board's discretion, by assessing the cost against the property and collecting it on the tax roll through the County Auditor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Washington County require rodent-proof garbage containers?
How long do I have to fix a rodent problem after the county issues an order?
What happens if I don't clean up a rodent nuisance the county has cited?
Does this ordinance apply if I live inside Stillwater or Woodbury?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Minnesota public health rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.