Rodents in San Francisco Rentals: Who Does What

A lot of the rodent questions we hear are really about who has to fix it. The city's position is that building owners and tenants both have responsibilities to keep vermin out. Here's what the health department's pest prevention guidance says each side should do. This isn't legal advice. For a specific dispute, talk to a tenant or landlord attorney or a tenant counseling group.

Owners

Per the health department's guidance, building owners should:

• Look into a tenant's pest report within 72 hours
• Keep a written log of pest reports, including rodents
• Do routine inspections and keep up sanitation
• Seal openings around pipes and conduits, and gaps over a quarter inch at exterior doors and windows
• Provide pest-proof, watertight garbage containers with tight lids
• Use a licensed pest control operator for restricted pesticides and notify tenants before treatments

Tenants

Tenants are expected to keep their units reasonably clean, store garbage, pet food and other things that draw pests properly and not feed wildlife or pigeons. Tell the owner as soon as you see signs, in writing, with dates and where you saw them. Photos of droppings or damage help.

When to Call 311

The city says to call 311 to report health issues connected to apartments and other living and working spaces. The health department's rodent program says 311 records the complaint and routes it to Environmental Health. If you've reported rodents to your landlord and nothing has happened, that's the route.

Where a Pest Company Fits

The health department recommends pest services licensed by the San Francisco County Agricultural Commissioner that use Integrated Pest Management. Owners and managers can call us to get connected with one for a unit or the whole building. Tenants can call too, but the building shell and common areas are usually the owner's job. See apartment building rodents.

See also: Apartment Building Rodents, Mouse Control, Rodent Exclusion