Permits, Approvals and Inspections
Rodent Control Regulation Enforcement
Rid Rat Enforcement Procedures
- The program is complaint driven. When a complaint is received via the Rid Rat telephone line, the online complaint form or from an investigating inspector in the field, the information is entered into a County-wide database. (The Rid Rat telephone number and online complaint form are for rodent complaints only.) It is important that the complainant provide as much specific information as possible regarding the location of the infestation.
- The investigator for that area will normally respond within 10 working days.
- Properties adjacent to or behind the site identified in the complaint may be surveyed for infestations or conditions which might support an infestation.
- Should an infestation exist on the property of the County citizens who have asked for assistance, they will be given information to help them correct the problem, and will be asked to take any necessary actions to correct the problem. The property will be re-inspected and should the inspector find that no progress has been made, a Notice of Violation will be issued.
- Notices of Violation for other properties will be issued at the time of the initial inspection and must be addressed within the time allotted on the notice or further legal action may be instigated by the County to ensure compliance.
- A person who fails to make the required corrections may be found guilty of a misdemeanor and/or be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $500 per day as assessed by The Baltimore County Code Enforcement Hearing Officer.
Extensive Problems
- In the event that the information in the County-wide database or the observations of inspectors in the field indicates an extensive problem in a particular area, a block-wide or neighborhood survey or “sweep” may be initiated by the County. This action will entail the inspection of all of the properties in the affected area, the issuance of applicable Notices of Violation and the distribution of rodent control information.
County Code
The sections of the Baltimore County Code which are most often applied to rodent control issues (The following codes will open in a new window.):
13-7-302. Buildings to be free of rats and rat-proof
13-7-303. Inspections
13-7-304. Abatement in an emergency
13-7-305. Rat Eradication
13-7-306. Rat harborage
13-7-307. Rat proofing-in general
13-7-308. Same – maintenance; removal; remodeling
13-7-309. Storage and dumping of vegetable and animal waste
13-7-310. Garbage; manure; animal and bird feed
13-7-312. Lumber; boxes; bricks; and other materials
13-7-314. Penalty
13-7-315. Enforcement
1-2-217. General Penalties
Revised December 20, 2011
