Wichita, KS Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- Wichita Municipal Code Sec. 20.04.070(9)
- Single unit infested
- occupant must exterminate
- 2+ units infested
- owner must exterminate
- Termite structural damage
- always owner's responsibility
- First-offense fine
- $300 to $1,000
Summary
Wichita's Housing Code makes tenants responsible for exterminating insects and rodents in their own unit, but shifts that duty to the property owner once two or more units are infested.
The occupant of a single family dwelling shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests therein or on the premises, and every occupant of a dwelling unit in a dwelling containing more than one dwelling unit shall be responsible for such extermination whenever his dwelling unit is the only one infested. Whenever infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility of the owner.(10)It shall be the responsibility of the owner to effectively correct any conditions of termite infestation. In cases of extreme visible damage to structural members of the dwelling, treatment must be done by a licensed and certified exterminator.(11)Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall be responsible for maintaining existing supplied smoke detectors in working condition, provided that if the smoke detector is hard wired, the electrical wiring shall remain the responsibility of the owner.(12)All existing installations and/or repairs made to conform to this and all other applicable city codes, must be installed in a workmanlike manner. (Ord. No. 44-967 § 7; Ord. No. 52-863, § 9, 12-16-25)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35).
Full Breakdown
Under Wichita Municipal Code Sec. 20.04.070(9), an occupant of a single-family dwelling must exterminate any insects, rodents, or other pests on the premises. In a multi-unit dwelling, the occupant handles extermination only if their unit alone is infested; once two or more units in the same building are infested, the owner must handle it instead. Nonresidential buildings follow a parallel rule under Sec. 18.40.530: owners must exterminate before a vacant space is reoccupied, and occupants handle ongoing insect control (except termites) afterward. Termite damage repair always falls on the owner under Sec. 20.04.070(10).
Violations & Fines
Violating the Housing Code is a misdemeanor: fines start at $300-$1,000 for a first conviction and climb to $2,000-$2,500 for a fourth, plus up to 12 months in jail; each day counts separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays for pest control in a Wichita rental?
Does Wichita require landlords to treat vacant units before move-in?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wichita
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