# Subdivision 3. Rodent-Proofing Regulations

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Subdivision 3. Rodent-Proofing Regulations

### Sec. 12-155. Maintenance of rodent-proof conditions

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 12-155 (2026)

(a) After business buildings and premises have been rodent-proofed or rodent-stopped as prescribed in this Division, or have previously complied with the specifications for rodent-stoppage, the occupant of each business building or premises, or any part or fraction thereof in which there is evidence of rodents, shall immediately take steps to free such buildings or premises thus occupied of all rodents. They shall keep the buildings or premises they occupy in a rodent-free and rodent-proof condition. The person having custody of a vacant business building or premises, or the vacant portion of a business building, shall be responsible for carrying out all the measures prescribed in this Subdivision for keeping such vacant building or portion thereof in a rodent-free and rodent-proof condition.

(b) Immediately upon receipt of a written notice from the Health Officer that there is evidence of rodent infestation, or that a leak or break has developed in the rodent-proofing of a business building or other structure on the premises, the person designated in this Section as being responsible for correcting the conditions reported by the Health Officer shall take immediate steps to abate the condition.

(c) The eradication of rodents and sealing of leaks or breaks by which rodents may enter buildings shall be carried out under the general direction of the Health Officer. If the proper corrective measures are not under way within seven (7) days following delivery of the notice to abate the condition, or if the necessary procedures are not being properly carried on and achieving satisfactory results fourteen (14) days after the notice was issued, the Health Officer is authorized to take over the work of rodent eradication or rodent-proofing and to make a charge against the responsible person which will cover the costs of labor, materials, use of equipment and overhead.

### Sec. 12-156. Inspections; notice to eradicate

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 12-156 (2026)

(a) The Health Officer, or his designee is authorized to make frequent and unannounced inspections of existing business building within the County for the purpose of determining signs of rodent infestation, and order by written notice either the owner, occupant, agent or any other person in custody of a business building showing any evidence that rodents have been present, to have such building rodent-proofed immediately, regardless of the need for remodeling of or repairs to such buildings. He shall also order that such rodent control measures as may be deemed necessary by him to eradicate all rodents present on the premises be undertaken immediately, and to maintain them free of rodents.

(b) The written notice or order shall specify the time, in no event less than fifteen (15) days, for completion of the rodent-stoppage work. Unless such work and improvements are completed in accordance with the written order or notice by either the owner, whether an individual, partnership, corporation, or the occupant, agent or any other person in custody of the business building and, therefore responsible for the upkeep or repair of the building, within the time so specified, or within the time to which a written extension may have been granted by the Health Officer, such owner, occupant, agent or other person shall be in violation of this Division.

(c) The Health Officer is authorized to make inspection during the course of and upon completion of any construction, repair, remodeling or installation of rodent control measures to business buildings to insure compliance with the provisions of this Division. No person shall interfere with or refuse to permit such inspection. If the construction, repair, remodeling or installation fails to comply with the standards of this Division, they will have to be altered according to the directions of the Health Officer.

### Sec. 12-157. Periodic inspections

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 12-157 (2026)

In order to alleviate the general unsanitary conditions associated with the rodent infestation of business buildings the Health Officer is directed to make or cause to have made periodic inspections of all rodent-stopped buildings at intervals of not less than once every forty-five (45) days in order to determine whether or not such buildings show any evidence of rodent infestation and locate any breaks or leaks that may have developed in the rodent-proofing.

### Sec. 12-158. Removal of rodent-proofing

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 12-158 (2026)

(a) No contractor, public utility or other person shall make any alterations or repairs of a business building or install any wires, conduits, pipes or make installation or for any other reason remove existing rodent-proofing, and not restore the rodent-proofing in a proper condition.

(b) No such person shall make new openings by which rodents may enter business buildings from the ground, or by climbing or burrowing.

### Sec. 12-159. Animal feed in containers

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 12-159 (2026)

All food or feed kept within the County for feeding chickens, cows, pigs, horses and other animals shall be kept and stored in rodent-free containers, compartments or rooms unless the entire building is rodent-stopped.

### Sec. 12-160. Garbage, litter, and refuse material; protection; civil monetary fine

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 12-160 (2026)

(a) The occupants of all business buildings and private residences shall provide an adequate number of covered containers of a type prescribed by the Health Officer according to existing conditions in which all garbage, litter, or refuse, including waste vegetables or animal matter of any kind and all small dead animals, that may serve as food for rodents, shall be placed and stored so that such items are not accessible to rodents until removed from the premises by the garbage collectors.

(b) No person shall dump or place on any land or in any waterway within the County any dead animals, butchers' offal, or any waste vegetable or animal matter or any other food product whatsoever.

(c) All establishments where employees eat lunches on the premises are required to provide a sufficient number of suitable covered containers in which the employees shall cause to be placed any remnants of such lunches so that they will not be accessible to rodents at any time.

(d) Whenever there is evidence of rodent infestation of any moving picture theater or other place of amusement wherein the audience eats peanuts, popcorn, or other foods, the Health Officer may require that all particles of or all such foods be removed from the floors of the place of amusement immediately after the last performance each evening.

(e) The owner and/or operator of every commercial business establishment and the owner and/or operator of any vending machine where readily consumable food items are offered for sale shall be responsible for providing an adequate number of covered containers for the disposal of garbage, litter, and refuse at locations in front of each such establishment or machine, or at such locations as otherwise approved by the County Health Officer, and reasonably accessible to the establishment's clientele. Said owners and/or operators shall also be responsible for the routine maintenance and disposal of the contents of said containers. The responsibilities assigned in this paragraph shall not apply where otherwise prohibited by law.

(f) Any person found in violation of this Section 12-160 shall be liable to a civil fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). Each day of violation shall constitute a separate violation. The County Attorney shall be authorized to prosecute a violation of this Division by instituting a civil proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction. The court, upon a finding of a violation, may impose a civil fine, in addition to the granting of any other relief authorized by law.

### Sec. 12-161. Accumulation of garbage, litter, or refuse

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 12-161 (2026)

(a) No garbage, litter, rubbish, trash or manure shall be placed, left, dumped or permitted to accumulate or remain in buildings or premises in the County so that it shall or may afford food for a harborage, shelter, or breeding place for rodents.

(b) No person shall permit any premises, improved or unimproved, and all open lots and alleys within the County to accumulate lumber, boxes, barrels, bricks or stones, and similar materials that may be permitted to remain thereon, unless the same shall be placed on open racks that are elevated not less than eighteen (18) inches above the ground or not less than six (6) inches above a weed-free surface on property improved by a one or two-family dwelling, and evenly piled so that these materials will not afford a shelter or harborage for rodents.