Salt Lake County, UT Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty
- owner must rat-proof building
- Material standard
- 19-gauge hardware cloth, half-inch mesh
- Notice period
- minimum 15 days to fix
- Nonpayment
- county attorney sues owner
Summary
Salt Lake County requires every building owner to rat-proof it and keep it rat-free, with the health department inspecting, ordering fixes, and, if ignored, doing the work itself and billing or suing the owner.
All buildings in the county shall be rat proofed by the owner and freed of rats and maintained in a rat proof and rat-free condition by the occupant or tenant to the satisfaction of the director of health.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 49).
Full Breakdown
County Code §9.64.030 puts rat-proofing on the building owner, who must seal openings with approved materials, cement, sheet metal or 19-gauge hardware cloth with a mesh no larger than half an inch, and keep the structure rat-free to the health director's satisfaction. The health officer can make unannounced inspections, and if evidence of rats or a breach turns up, must give written notice with at least fifteen days to fix it. If the owner or occupant doesn't act, the health department can free the building of rats itself, bill the cost to the owner, and have the county attorney sue for the amount if it goes unpaid.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring a rat-infestation notice lets the health department do the rat-proofing or extermination work itself and bill the owner; unpaid bills are referred to the county attorney, who can sue to collect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for rat-proofing a building in Salt Lake County?
What happens if a building isn't rat-proofed after a county notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake County
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