§ 26-11. Rodent control.

(a)

Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Hardware cloth means wire screening of such thickness and spacing as to afford reasonable protection against the entrance of rodents.

Owner or manager. Whenever any person shall be in actual possession of or have charge, care or control of any property within the town, as executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or agent, such person shall be deemed and taken to be the owner of such property within the true intent and meaning of this section and shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this section to the same extent as the owner, and notice to any such person of any order or decision of the building inspector or his designee shall be deemed and taken to be a good and sufficient notice, as if such person were actually the owner of such property; except that whenever an entire premises or building is occupied as a place of business, such as a store, factory, warehouse, roominghouse, junkyard, lumber yard or any other business under a single management, the person, firm or corporation in charge of such business shall be considered the owner or manager.

Rodent means all nuisance animals.

Rodent harborage means any place where rodents can live and nest without fear of frequent molestation or disturbance.

Rodentproof container means a container constructed of concrete or metal, or the container shall be lined with metal or other material that is impervious to rodents, and openings into the container such as doors shall be tight-fitting to prevent the entrance of rodents.

Rodent-proofing consists of closing openings in building foundations and openings under and around doors, windows, vents and other places which could provide means of entry for rodents, with concrete, sheet iron, hardware cloth or other types of rodent-proofing material approved by the town.

(b)

Elimination of rodent harborages. Whenever accumulations of rubbish, boxes, lumber, scrap metal, car bodies or any other materials provide rodent harborage, the person, firm or corporation owning or in control of such materials shall cause the materials to be removed or the materials shall be stored so as to eliminate the rodent harborage. Lumber boxes and similar materials shall be neatly piled. These piles shall be raised at least a foot above the ground. When the owner of the materials cannot be found after a reasonable search, the owner or manager of the premises on which the materials are stored shall be responsible for disposal, or proper piling, of the materials.

(c)

Elimination of rodent feeding places. No person, firm or corporation shall place, or allow to accumulate, any materials that may serve as food for rodents in a site accessible to rodents. Any waste material that may serve as food for rodents shall be stored in rodentproof containers. Feed for birds shall be placed on raised platforms, or such feed shall be placed where it is not accessible to rodents.

(d)

Extermination. Whenever rodent holes, burrows or other evidence of rodent infestation are found on any premises or in any building within the town, it shall be the duty of the owner or manager of such property to exterminate the rodents or to cause the rodents to be exterminated. Within ten days after extermination, the owner or manager shall cause all of the rodent holes or burrows in the ground to be filled with earth or other suitable material.

(e)

Rodent-proofing. It shall be the duty of the owner or manager of any building in the town to make such building reasonably rodentproof, to replace broken basement windows and, when necessary, to cover the basement window openings with hardware cloth or other suitable material for preventing rodents from entering the building through such window openings.

(Prior Code, § 8-1-6)