Chapter 21 - Refuse Collection and Disposal
Division 5 - Rat Control
SEC. 21.5-1 DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
Business Buildings - The term business buildings shall mean any structure, whether public or private, that is adapted for occupancy for transaction of business, for rendering of professional service, for amusement, for the display, sale or storage of goods, wares or merchandise, or for the performance of work or labor.
Ratproofing - The term ratproofing applies to a form of construction to prevent the ingress of rats into business buildings from the exterior or from one business building or establishment to another. It consists essentially of treating all actual or potential openings in the exterior walls, ground or first floors, basements, roof and foundations, that may be reached by rats from the ground by climbing or by burrowing, with material impervious to rat gnawing.
Rat Harborage - The term rat harborage shall mean any condition which provides shelter or protection for rats, thus favoring their multiplication and continued existence in, under or outside of a structure of any kind.
Rat Eradication - The term rat eradication means the elimination or extermination of rats within buildings so that the buildings are completely freed of rats or there is no evidence of rat infestation remaining, by any or all of the accepted measures, such as poisoning, fumigation, trapping and clubbing.
Owner - The term owner shall mean the actual owner of the business building, whether individual, partnership or corporation, or the agent of the building or other person having custody of the building or to whom rent is paid. In the case of business buildings leased with a clause in the lease specifying that the lessee is responsible for maintenance and repairs, the lessee will be considered in such cases as the owner for the purpose of this division.
Occupant - The term occupant shall mean the individual, partnership or corporation that has the use of or occupies any business building or a part or fraction thereof, whether actual owner or tenant. In the case of vacant business buildings or any vacant portion of a business building the owner, agent, or other person having custody of the building shall have the responsibility of an occupant of a building.
SEC. 21.5-2 BUSINESS BUILDINGS TO BE RATPROOFED AND FREED OF RATS WHEN DIRECTED. It is hereby provided and required that all business buildings in the Town shall be ratproofed and freed of rats when directed by the Health Inspector or as required in this Division.
SEC. 21.5-3 NOTICE TO OWNER TO RATPROOF; FAILURE TO COMPLY. Whenever the Health Inspector notifies the owner of any business building in writing that there is evidence of the need for ratproofing of the building, such owner shall take immediate measures of ratproofing the building. Unless such work has been completed by the owner, then the owner shall be deemed guilty of an offense under the provisions of this Division.
SEC. 21.5-4 NOTICE TO OCCUPANT OF RAT INFESTATION; DUTY TO INSTITUTE RAT ERADICATION MEASURES. Whenever the Health Inspector notifies the occupant of a business building in writing that there is evidence of rat infestation of the building, such occupant shall immediately institute rat eradication measures and shall continuously maintain such measures in a satisfactory manner until the premises are ratfree.
SEC. 21.5-5 MAINTENANCE OF RATPROOFED BUILDINGS. The owner of all ratproofed business buildings are required to maintain the premises in a ratproof condition and to repair all breaks or leaks that may occur in the ratproofing without a specific order of the Health Inspector.
SEC. 21.5-6 INSPECTION OF BUILDINGS; NOTICE OF EVIDENCE OF RATS. The Health Inspector is hereby empowered to make unannounced or announced inspections of the interior and exterior of business buildings as, in his opinion, may be necessary to determine full compliance with this Division. When any evidence is found indicating the presence of rats or openings through which rats may again enter business buildings, the Health Inspector shall serve the owners or occupants, or both, with notices or orders to abate the conditions found.
SEC. 21.5-7 FUTURE CONSTRUCTION TO BE RATPROOF. It is hereby made unlawful for any person to hereafter construct, repair or remodel any business buildings, unless such construction, repair or remodeling shall render the building ratproof; provided, that only such repairs or remodeling as affect the ratproof condition of any such building shall be considered as subject to the provisions of this section.
SEC. 21.5-8 REQUIREMENTS AS TO STORAGE OF FOOD. All human food or animal food or feed within the Town shall be stored in ratfree and ratproof containers, compartments or rooms, unless stored in a ratproof building.
SEC. 21.5-9 DISPOSAL OF WASTE, GARBAGE AND REFUSE. Within the Town, all waste, garbage or refuse upon which rats may feed, and all small dead animals, shall be placed and stored until collected in covered metal containers of the type prescribed by Division 1 of Chapter 21 of this Code.
SEC. 21.5-10 REQUIREMENTS AS TO LUMBER, BOXES, BARRELS, ETC. It is hereby unlawful for any person to place, leave, dump or permit to accumulate on any private or public premises, improved or vacant, or on any open land, street or alley in the Town, any lumber, boxes, barrels, bottles, cans, containers or similar materials unless the same shall be placed on open racks that are elevated not less than 18 inches above the ground and evenly piled or stacked so that these materials will not afford harborage for rats.
SEC. 21.5-11 PENALTY. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this Division or fail to comply with any notice given by the Health Inspector shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not less than $5.00 nor more than $200.00. Each day that any such violation or failure continues shall be considered as a separate and distinct offense and shall be punishable as such. (Amended 6/3/02 by Ord. No. 4797)