Signal Hill Municipal Code Ch. 8.24 Rat and Vermin Control

It is unlawful for any person to maintain any building, lot, premises, vehicle, or any place in such an insanitary condition as to permit the breeding or harboring therein or thereon of flies, rats, bedbugs, cockroaches, lice, fleas or any vermin. It is unlawful for any person to permit an accumulation of rubbish or material that may serve as a harborage for rats unless such material is elevated not less than eighteen inches above the ground, with a clear intervening space thereunder.

(Prior code § 6.16.060 (Ord. 270 § 6, 1945))

No person shall use any building or structure or portion thereof for the storage, handling, preparation or sale of any grain or grain products which in the opinion of the health officer is or is likely to become infested with rats, unless such building or structure or portion thereof is ratproofed.

(Prior code § 6.16.020 (Ord. 270 § 2, 1945))

No person shall use any building or structure or portion thereof for a slaughterhouse, packing house or bakery, or for the manufacture, preparation, storage, handling or display of any food or food product for human or animal consumption which, in the opinion of the health officer, is or is likely to become infested with rats, unless such building or structure or portion thereof is ratproofed.

(Prior code § 6.16.040 (Ord. 270 § 4, 1945))

A. When determined by the health officer or his duly authorized representative that any building or structure constitutes a rat harborage, he may serve upon the person in charge or control thereof a notice in writing to ratproof such building or structure, as set forth in Sections 8.24.050 through 8.24.080, within a reasonable time, as stated in such notice.

B. When determined by the health officer or his duly authorized representative that it is unnecessary to ratproof such building or structure in its entirety, he may specify in such notice that portion which is to be ratproofed.

(Prior code § 6.16.030 (Ord. 270 § 3, 1945))

A. Rat-proofing as required in this chapter, shall be interpreted to mean a continuous masonry foundation of the size and depth required by the building ordinance and the other requirements for a new 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.

B. In addition to the other requirements set forth in this chapter, any building or structure or portion thereof used for the storage or handling of any grain or grain product, or of any food or food products for human or animal consumption, except dwellings or apartments, shall be ratproofed as provided in Sections 8.24.060 through 8.24.080.

(Prior code §§ 6.16.050, 6.16.070 (Ord. 270 §§ 5, 7, 1945))

All underfloor vents, openings in foundations, roof vents, and skylights shall be screened by use of screening of at least one-half inch mesh hardware cloth.

(Prior code § 6.16.080 (Ord. 270 § 7 (part), 1945))

A. All foundations, except otherwise provided in this chapter, shall be continuous foundations.

B. Buildings erected without a continuous foundation and upon a slab of cement or asphaltic concrete not less than three inches in thickness need not be ratproofed as required, if a concrete curb not less than one foot in depth below finished grade is run continuously around and under the outside edges of such slab.

C. Buildings under four hundred square feet in area having an eighteen-inch clearance under the floor joists and supported on piers need not have the required continuous foundation.

(Prior code § 6.16.090 (Ord. 270 § 7 (part), 1945))

A twelve-inch strip of noncorrosive metal lath weighing not less than three quarters of a pound per square yard shall be placed under wall coverings on both the inside and outside of all exterior stud walls and the floor level except that the strip need not be placed on the outside face where there is maintained a clearance of eighteen inches under the floor joists or when the exterior wall covering is stucco.

(Prior code § 6.16.100 (Ord. 270 § 7 (part), 1945))

No person shall refuse, resist, or attempt to resist the entrance of the health officer into any railway car, vehicle, building, room, lot, or other place, or portion of a room thereof in the city in the performance of his duties or refuse to obey any lawful order of the health officer made in the performance of his duties within the power conferred upon him by the law or by this chapter.

(Prior code § 6.16.010 (Ord. 270 § 1, 1945))

The penalty for the violation of any provision of this chapter shall be as prescribed in Chapter 1.16.

(Ord. § D (part), 1966: prior code § 6.16.110 (Ord. 270 § 8, 1945))