Environmental Health Property Inspection and Rodent Control

City of Berkeley Logo

Division of Environmental Health, 1947 Center St., Third Floor, Berkeley, CA 94704
TEL: (510) 981-5310, FAX: (510) 981-5305, TDD: (510) 981-6903
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., E-mail: envhealth@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Property Inspections and Rodent Control Program

This grant-supported program is complaint driven and mandated by the Berkeley Municipal Code (BMC). Vector Control Technicians respond to complaints of rodents and requests for service concerning overgrown vegetation, trash, garbage and debris accumulations by conducting in-depth inspections, providing consultation, education, literature, and issuing inspection reports.

Proactive efforts include leaving door knob reminders for occupants at properties that need attention, maintaining membership in the Coordinated City Services and Anti-Blight Task Forces, and meeting with the Dwight-Hillside Neighborhood Associations.

Sewer Baiting:

Sewer Baiting A grant from Alameda County requires that 30% of all sewer man holes be inspected and baited to control the population of sewer rats in the City. Vector Control Technicians are certified by the State and trained in safe handling of bait. Two teams of two employees inspect and bait over 1800 sewers each year, as necessary.

Requests for service from the public include complaints but also include requests from tenants or property owners for assistance in removing rodents or insects from their property. Vector staff educate people on a one-to-one basis but also in groups of tenants, neighborhood associations, or property owners. The message that they deliver to the public is that citizens can make a difference.

Enforcement:

Although voluntary compliance with legal notices and orders is achieved in 98% of cases, enforcement requires the consistent efforts of Vector Control Technicians. Enforcement includes issuing a notice of violation, scheduling and attending administrative hearings, issuing infraction citations, obtaining and posting warrants, liening properties for costs of abatement and/or inspections, and authorizing contract vendors to clear properties of BMC sanitation violations.

Do you need assistance or wish to report a complaint?

Complete an on-line Request for Service form, or phone Environmental Health at (510) 981-5310 and TDD (510) 981-6903, or send an email to envhealth@ci.berkeley.ca.us.

Pest Facts

Roof Rat:

The roof rat has a slender body, is from 12 to 17 inches in length with a long tail, longer than the body. Roof rats live above ground in overgrown vegetation, ivy, blackberry vines, wood piles, garages, etc. They enter structures through holes in the roof and around foundations. The roof rat has a diet of fruit, berries, snails, pet food, vegetables, and garbage.

Control Measures:

Eliminate overgrowth of vegetation and harborage sites such as wood piles, trash and debris.
Harvest and pick up all fallen fruit.
Place all storage 12 to 18 inches off the ground and one foot from any siding.
Restrict bird feeders to a cleanable area.
If pets are fed outside, feed only the amount they will eat and take dishes in at night.
Seal all openings around pipes, wires, and cables that enter walls and foundations.
Provide a tight fitting cover around vent screens and crawl space doors.

These control measures will help reduce rodent activity on the property and will also aid in reducing the attractions for wildlife such as skunks, raccoons and opossums.

Rodents:

During the 14th century, rats carried the plague that killed 25 million people, half of Europe's population
Each year rats and mice destroy enough food to feed 200 million people.
Rats only need one ounce of food and one ounce of water daily.

Cockroaches:

Roaches have existed for over 300 million years.
there are 3,500 species of roaches worldwide, 55 in the U.S.
In a German roach's life span of one year, an adult female can produce up to 384 offspring.
German roaches spend approximately 80% of their lives hiding in cracks and crevices.

Houseflies:

The average life cycle of a fly is 10 days. A female fly can lay up to 600 eggs, 2-3 days after she hatches.
During summer, dumpsters left unattended for one week can foster up to 30,000 flies.