Washington County, OR Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Declared nuisance
- Property infested by rats, mice, other vectors
- Related clause
- Vector-harborage material accumulation, (A)(8)
- Abatement notice period
- 15 days
- Max fine
- $500 ($1,000 repeat within 2 yrs)
- Enforcing agency
- Washington County Health Department
- Code section
- Washington County Code § 8.20.030(A)(7)
Summary
Any unincorporated-area property infested by rats, mice or other vectors, or piled with material that could harbor them, is a declared county nuisance; the health department can order the infestation cleared within 15 days or abate it and bill the owner.
A.It shall be unlawful for any owner or person in charge of property to maintain or allow to exist, the following things, practice, or conditions on his property, which are declared to be nuisances:...7.Any property, whether vacant or improved, building or structure that is infested by flies, fleas, rodents, lice, ticks, rats, mice, fly maggots, mosquito larvae, or other vector and their hosts;8.Accumulation of any materials capable of providing vector harborage or which may create a fire hazard.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Community Development Code: Supplement 2 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
" Subsection (A)(8) reinforces this by separately banning accumulations of material capable of providing vector harborage or creating a fire hazard, even before an infestation takes hold. 080). 100 permits immediate abatement if the officer finds the infestation an extreme hazard to public health. 120). 160. 210), doubling to $1,000 for a repeat violation within two years, with each day of continuing infestation a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
A conviction for maintaining a vector-infested property carries a fine of up to $500 under § 8.20.210, rising to $1,000 for a second conviction within two years, with each day of the infestation charged as a separate offense. If the owner fails to act on the 15-day notice, the county can abate the infestation itself and bill the owner for the cost plus a 25% surcharge, with an unpaid bill becoming a lien on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the county cite me for a rat infestation on my unincorporated property?
How much time do I get to deal with a rodent problem before enforcement?
Who investigates rodent complaints in unincorporated Washington County?
What's the penalty if I ignore a rodent-nuisance notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Oregon public health rules overview
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