DC Code 8-2103 requires property owners to keep premises free of rats, with the Rodent Control Division authorized to enter and abate at owner expense, especially after the 2017-2024 rat surge.
Under the Rodent Control Act of 2000, property owners must maintain premises free of conditions conducive to rats: open trash, ground burrows, structural rat harborage, or accessible food. DC's Rodent Control Division performs free baiting on public alleys but private property abatement is the owner's responsibility. Inspectors may issue Notice of Violation requiring abatement within 14 days. Failure to comply lets DC abate and bill the owner, with liens for unpaid bills. The 2023 Rodent Control Amendment Act expanded contraceptive bait pilots and tightened trash bin lid rules.
Unsecured trash, active rat burrows on private property, or refusing inspector access can trigger $500-$2,000 fines plus abatement charges with liens on the property under DC Code 8-2103.05.
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See how Washington's rodent control rules stack up against other locations.
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