Winnebago County, IL Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Winnebago County's Property Maintenance Code, adopted by reference in Section 18-400 and amended in Section 18-401, sets the county's rodent and insect control standard. Amendment (32) rewrites Section 309.1 to read: "Structures shall be kept free from insect and rodent infestation. Structures in which insects or rodents are found shall be promptly exterminated through the use of approved processes that will not be injurious to human health by a licensed pest control operator. Safety data sheets shall be provided by the licensed pest control operator to the occupants of the structure upon application of chemicals. After pest elimination, proper precautions shall be taken to prevent reinfestation." The duty falls on the owner or occupant of the structure, and extermination must be carried out by a licensed pest control operator, not a do-it-yourself treatment, whenever an infestation is confirmed.

Enforcement runs through the Neighborhood Code Enforcement Program inside the Winnebago County Health Department, with the county's Public Health Administrator as code official under Section 103.2. An inspector who finds an active infestation issues a written notice of violation under Section 106.2, served under Section 4-4(b) and (d) of the county code. Section 106.4 ties the penalty to the general penalty ordinance, Section 1-11: a fine of up to $500.00, with each additional day of infestation counted as a separate offense. Section 106.3 lets the county proceed either through the Chapter 4 code hearing or through prosecution in court. An owner has 20 days under Section 111.1 to appeal a notice to the director of environmental health, and Section 111.8 stays enforcement while that appeal is pending.