Berkeley Municipal Code Ch. 11.32 Rodent Control

*See Chapter 1.24 for abatement of nuisance by City.

California Health and Safety Code, Division 3, Chapter 2, Sections 1800 through 1813 (Rodents, Pest Abatement) is adopted as part of this title. (Ord. 4883-NS § 1 Exhibit A, Ch. 5 Art. 1 § 1, 1976)

A. "Rodent harborage" means any condition which provides shelter or protection for rodents, or which favors their multiplication and continued existence.

B. "Rodentproofing" means permanent constructions, repairs, devices, methods or means to prevent the ingress of rodents into buildings or structures from the exterior or from one building to another. It consists of the closing with material or equipment impervious to rodent gnawing of all openings in the exterior walls, ground or first floors, basements, roofs and foundations that may be reached by rodents from the ground, by climbing, or by burrowing. As applied to buildings or structures, "rodentproofing" shall be interpreted to mean a continuous masonry foundation of the size and depth required by the Uniform Building Code, and the other requirements for a building of the same occupancy as regards clearance beneath wood joists, wall covering adjacent to the top foundation, protection of roof and foundation openings, or such other specifications as required by the Uniform Building Code, and the other requirements for a building of the same occupancy as regards clearance beneath wood joists, wall covering adjacent to the top foundation and protection of roof and foundation openings, or such other specifications as required by the Uniform Building Code and/or by the chief of environmental health. (Ord. 4883-NS § 1 Exhibit A, Ch. 5 Art. 2 § 1, 1976)

All buildings and structures shall be rodentproofed and maintained in a rodent-proof and rodent-free condition. (Ord. 4883-NS § 1 Exhibit A, Ch. 5 Art. 3 § 1, 1976)

All food or food products intended for human or animal consumption shall be kept or stored in rodent-free and rat-proofed containers, compartments, rooms, buildings or structures. No person shall use any building or structure which is infested with rodents or which, in the opinion of the chief of environmental health, is likely to become infested with rodents for the manufacture, preparation, storage, display or service of any food or food product, unless such building is made free of rodents and is rodentproofed. (Ord. 4883-NS § 1 Exhibit A, Ch. 5 Art. 3 § 2, 1976)

No person shall possess, occupy or maintain, or cause or permit another person to occupy or maintain, any building, structure, vehicle or any other place in such a condition as will permit the breeding or harboring therein, or thereon, of rodents or any other vermin. (Ord. 4883-NS § 1 Exhibit A, Ch. 5 Art. 3 § 4, 1976)

When determined by the chief of environmental health that any building or structure constitutes a rodent harborage, they may serve a notice in writing upon the person occupying and the person owning, in charge of or in control of same to rodentproof such building or structure, or any portion thereof, within a reasonable time. (Ord. 4883-NS § 1 Exhibit A, Ch. 5 Art. 3 § 3, 1976)

No person shall place, leave, dump or permit to accumulate any garbage or rubbish in or upon any building, structure or place so that the same shall afford food and/or harborage for rodents. No person shall accumulate or permit the accumulation on any place, premises or on any open lot any lumber, building material, boxes, paper, rags, excess or dense vegetation, or any material that may be permitted to remain thereon that may serve as a rodent harborage, unless the same shall be placed on open racks that are elevated not less than eighteen inches above the ground and evenly piled or stacked, or otherwise made reasonably unsuitable as a rodent harborage by such manner as may be approved by the chief of environmental health. (Ord. 4883-NS § 1 Exhibit A, Ch. 5 Art. 3 § 5, 1976)

It is unlawful for any person possessing any building or structure, or any contractor, utility company, plumber or any other person to remove any rodentproofing from any building or structure for any purpose and fail to restore the same in a satisfactory condition, or to make any new openings in the building or structure that are not subsequently closed or sealed against the entrance of rodents. (Ord. 4883-NS § 1 Exhibit A, Ch. 5 Art. 3 § 6, 1976)

Where complete rodentproofing of a building or structure is not feasible or practicable, as determined by the chief, of environmental health, a continuous and repeated rodent extermination program shall be maintained therein. (Ord. 4883-NS § 1 Exhibit A, Ch. 5 Art. 3 § 7, 1976)

Wherein or upon any building, structure or place is subject to repeated infestation with rodents, continuous and repeated rodent extermination shall be performed in addition to such rodentproofing as may be required. (Ord. 4883-NS § 1 Exhibit A, Ch. 5 Art. 3 § 8, 1976)

All public and private docks and wharves in the City of Berkeley, wherever located, shall be so protected as to prevent rats from gaining entrance to such docks or wharves at either high or low tide from vessels anchored or moored alongside of such docks or wharves, or from other sources, and all food products stored in docks or wharves shall be so kept and stored as to prevent rats from gaining access thereto or coming in contact therewith. (Ord. 4883-NS § 1 Exhibit A, Ch. 5 Art. 3 § 9, 1976)