ARTICLE II. - RODENT CONTROL

Part of the Code of Ordinances of East Providence, RI.

Local law · 2,200 sections

The text

Footnotes:

--- (2) --- Cross reference— Animals, ch. 3; responsibilities of owner and occupant of residences for rodent, pest, etc., extermination, § 4-140; dwelling maintenance to prevent infestation, § 4-237; extermination of rodents, vermin, etc., in roominghouses, § 4-279; responsibilities of occupant of nonresidences for elimination of infestation, § 4-313; rodent control in nonresidences, § 4-334.

State Law reference— Rodent control, G.L. 1956, § 23-7.1-1 et seq.; responsibility of city as to rodent control programs, G.L. 1956, § 23-7.1-2.

Sec. 7-26. - Definitions.#

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

Buildings means any structure, whether public or private, that is adapted for occupancy, transaction of business, rendering of professional service, amusement, the display, sale or storage of goods, wares or merchandise or the performance of work or labor, including hotels, apartment buildings, tenement houses, roominghouses, office buildings, stores, theaters, markets, restaurants, grain elevators, abattoirs, warehouses, workshops, factories and all outhouses, sheds, barns and other structures on premises used for business purpose.

Occupant means the individual, partnership or corporation that has the use of or occupies any business building or a part or fraction thereof, whether as actual owner or tenant. In 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.

Owner means the actual owner of the business building, whether an individual, partnership or corporation or the agent of the building, or any other person having custody of the building or to whom the 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.

Rat eradication means the elimination or extermination of rodents within buildings such that the buildings are completely freed of rodents or there is no evidence of rodent infestation remaining by any or all of the accepted measures such as poisoning, fumigation, trapping, clubbing, etc.

Rat harborage means any condition that provides shelter or protection for rodents, thus favoring multiplication and continued existence in, under or outside of a structure of any kind.

Ratproofing means a form of construction to prevent the ingress of rodents into buildings from the exterior or from one building or establishment to another. It consists essentially of treating all actual or potential openings in the exterior wall, ground or first floors, basements, roof and foundations that may be reached by rodents from the ground by climbing or burrowing with material impervious to rodent gnawing.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 7-26)

Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1-2.

Sec. 7-27. - Rodent infested premises.#

It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any premises within the city to maintain such premises in a rodent-infested condition or permit any such premises to become infested with rodents.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 7-27)

Sec. 7-28. - Ratproofing of new buildings or structures.#

After the adoption of this article, no building or structure shall be erected, repaired, altered or extended unless provision is made for ratproofing such structure.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 7-28)

Sec. 7-29. - Inspection by director of environmental control; notice of rodent infestation.#

(a)

It shall be the duty of the director of environmental control to cause an inspection of any premises in the city which he has good reason to believe is not in a ratproof condition.

(b)

If such premises are found to be infested with rodents, a notice in writing bearing the date of issue and signed by the director of environmental control or his duly authorized representative shall be served upon such owner or occupant. Such notice shall state the conditions of such premises and the required corrections.

(c)

Any such notice may be served by any agent of the director of environmental control or the police or it may be served by depositing such notice, enclosed in a post-paid envelope addressed to the person to be notified, in the post office in the city.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 7-29)

Sec. 7-30. - Duty of owner upon receipt of notice of rodent infestation.#

After the owner or occupant of any premises found to be rodent infested has been notified by the director of public works or his duly authorized representative that such premises are rodent infested, it shall be the duty of such owner and occupant to take immediate measures to remedy the condition by rat eradication, ratproofing or such other action as may be necessary.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 7-30; Ch. 781, § I, 9-15-20)

Sec. 7-31. - Unlawful removal of rodent protection.#

It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, damage or destroy any part of any building or other appurtenance of improved real estate premises intended to protect such premises against ingress of rodents or in any other way to create a condition by which ingress for rodents is made possible, provided that this section shall not apply where the interference with ratproofing is made necessary in connection with a lawful construction and when such ratproofing is promptly restored.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 7-31)

Sec. 7-32. - Protection of bird feed from rodents.#

No person shall feed wild birds other than in suitable containers for the food, elevated at least 48 inches above the ground level.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 7-32)

Cross reference— Animals, ch. 3.

Sec. 7-33. - Protection of animal feed from rodents.#

No person shall place food in the open for the feeding of any domesticated fowl, birds or animals, except in such containers as will prevent the scattering of such food upon the ground. After such feeding, such food shall not be allowed to remain where it is accessible to rodents.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 7-33)