There is no county trash pickup here. How do I get garbage collected?

In unincorporated Pinellas County, property owners choose one of the haulers the county licenses under Chapter 106 and set up service themselves, even when the mailing address names a city. Some licensed haulers serve only businesses and multifamily developments, so check before signing up. The county housing code also asks for garbage in containers with regular disposal service. Keep lids closed so rats and mice have less to find.

Is it a good idea to put rat poison out in the yard?

The Pinellas County Extension post described above treats poison bait as a last resort, to try only after less toxic steps such as sealing, removing food and shelter, and trapping. It also explains that predators such as owls can be poisoned by eating poisoned rats or mice. If bait is used, follow the label strictly. Ask any pro whether they plan to use it and how they will keep pets and owls away from it.

Should the gaps be sealed before any traps go down?

The county Extension post lists rodent proofing, removing food and shelter, and trapping among the less toxic options to try first, with poison bait as a last resort. Ask the pro how they will order the work so animals already inside are caught rather than sealed in, and whether they will come back to check the traps.

Does the county housing code say anything about keeping rodents out?

Yes. Section 22-299 sets a rodentproof standard for hatchways, outside doors and windows, and inside the home for the floors, walls and ceilings, as explained above. That gives you a list to walk through with a pro before any sealing work is priced.

I live in a condo or apartment building. What should I sort out before an inspection?

Find out who manages the building and whether the association or lease has its own rules about pest work, so the pro knows who to call about shared spaces. Note where you have seen droppings or chewing, and ask whether the inspection can include the areas next to your unit.

What should I do about scratching in the ceiling at night?

Note when you hear it and where, then check the attic, if you can reach it safely, for droppings, gnaw marks or torn insulation. Trim branches that touch the roof. An inspection can confirm whether it is rats before any work is priced.

Will the county enforce my HOA's rules about a neighbor's messy yard?

No. Pinellas County Code Enforcement, at 631 Chestnut St. in Clearwater, says it does not enforce homeowner association rules or deed restrictions, so take those to your association. The county can still look at junk, debris or overgrowth under its own code, as the checklist above shows. File through the Access Portal and let the county decide.

In a duplex or apartment building, who is supposed to call the exterminator?

Start with the table above. Section 22-301 of the county code draws its line at the number of dwelling units in the building, and Florida Statutes 83.51 adds a landlord rule for many rentals, with the conditions shown in the table's last row. For a condo or townhouse the code is silent, so read your lease or association documents and ask the county.

FL Rodent Control

Rodent Exterminators in Palm Harbor, Florida

Rat and mouse removal for Palm Harbor houses, townhouses and apartment buildings, and sealing the gaps rodents use to get back in. Read on for what the age of homes here means for an inspection, who must exterminate under the county housing code, and how to talk to a pro about bait.

Call Now: (888) 733-3114 Get Help

Free inspection · Same-day service in many areas

Statewide rules and background: Florida rodent guide

The county sets the rules for this community

Palm Harbor is not a city: it is unincorporated, and Pinellas County code applies here. About 46.4% of Palm Harbor's homes were built in the 1980s. Only about 54.1% are single-family detached houses; the others are mainly units in buildings of two or more units, townhouses and other attached single-family homes, and mobile homes.

The fix has the same two parts in a condo or a detached house: rat control, mouse control or rodent removal for the animals inside, and rodent exclusion for the gaps they came through.

Homes of one era, and who has to deal with pests

Built in one busy decade

About 46.4% of Palm Harbor's homes were built between 1980 and 1989, and about 60.6% between 1980 and 1999. The median year built is 1985, against 1977 across Pinellas County. So housing here is younger overall than the county's, but it is not new: only about 10.8% was built in 2000 or later.

The build decade alone will not show where rodents get in. Before any sealing starts, have the pro walk you through each gap they found on the roofline, around vents, at pipe and cable entries and under doors, and say which ones they plan to close.

Year built, share of housing units

4.2%
Built before 1960
±1.2 points
24.3%
Built 1960 to 1979
±1.7 points
60.6%
Built 1980 to 1999
±2.8 points
10.8%
Built 2000 or later
±1.3 points

Building type, share of housing units

54.1%
Single-family detached
±2.2 points
20.7%
Buildings of 5+ units
±2.2 points

Who must exterminate under the county code

Palm Harbor is unincorporated, so Pinellas County's housing code decides who handles pests in a home. Its Section 22-301 covers pests, clean premises and garbage. For rentals, Florida's landlord law, Section 83.51, adds a duty, shown in the last row.

Situation	Who must act	Code section
Situation: A building with just one dwelling in it	Who must act: The occupant deals with rodents, insects and any other pests, within the building or on its premises	Code section: 22-301(5)
Situation: A building holding two or more dwelling units	Who must act: The owner deals with rodents, insects and any other pests, anywhere within the building or on its premises	Code section: 22-301(5)
Situation: Shared or public areas of a building with two or more units	Who must act: The owner keeps them clean and sanitary	Code section: 22-301(1)
Situation: The part of the premises a resident occupies and controls	Who must act: That occupant keeps it clean	Code section: 22-301(2)
Situation: Garbage from any dwelling	Who must act: Every owner or occupant puts it in containers and arranges regular garbage disposal service	Code section: 22-301(3)
Situation: Rented homes, except a single-family house or duplex	Who must act: The landlord reasonably provides for rat and mouse extermination unless a written agreement says otherwise; not for problems the tenant, family or guests caused by negligence or wrongdoing	Code section: F.S. 83.51(2)(a)1, (4)

The county code does not say how these rules apply to a condo unit, a townhouse or a homeowner association. If you live in one, read your lease or association documents, and ask the county if it is still unclear. Treat this table as a plain-language summary, not legal advice.

Doors, windows and walls the code calls rodentproof

Under Section 22-299, the county wants hatchways, outside doors and windows kept in good repair and substantially rodentproof, and it applies the same standard to floors, interior walls and ceilings. An opening may stay boarded or covered for no more than 90 days, with exceptions for storm protection.

That standard makes a practical checklist for any home. A door that no longer closes tight at the bottom, a torn screen or a gap around a window frame is worth fixing before rodents find it.

Owls, bait and what to ask a pro

In July 2022, UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County wrote that several owls had died in local parks in the county, and that necropsy results confirmed rodenticide poisoning. Predators that eat poisoned rats or mice can be poisoned too. The same post sets out how residents should approach rodents at home.

Least toxic options first, and poison last. The options it lists are rodent proofing with rodent-resistant materials, removing food, water and shelter such as garbage, pet food, bird feed and fallen fruit, supporting natural predators, and trapping.
For trapping instead of poison, the post names snap traps and enclosed kill traps, and it calls glue boards inhumane.
It calls poison bait a last resort, used strictly by the label. The single-dose, second-generation anticoagulant baits are available only commercially.
If a pet may have eaten poison bait, the post says to call a veterinarian at once and bring the package.

Before work starts, ask whether the plan includes bait outdoors, what kind, and how it will be kept away from owls, pets and other animals. A plan built on sealing and traps may need no bait at all.

Sealing first, then the right kind of trapping

Rodent Exclusion
About 60.6% of homes here were built between 1980 and 1999. Exclusion closes the gaps an inspection finds on a house of that age, with the rodentproof standard in the county's Section 22-299 as a yardstick.
Mouse Extermination
About 20.7% of Palm Harbor's homes are in buildings of 5 or more units. If mice show up in an apartment or condo building, check the table above for who handles pests there, and tell the building's manager before you book.

Related services

Rat Extermination
Scratching above the ceiling after dark, or droppings along a garage shelf.
Attic Rodent Removal
Nests and soiled insulation up top, cleared out after the rats have gone.
Rodent Removal
Trapping out rats or mice that have already settled indoors.
Commercial Rodent Control
For managers of apartment and condo buildings and their common areas.

When the lot next door is the problem

The county's lot-clearing rule, Sections 58-328 and 58-331, names rats, and so does the stated purpose of its junk and debris rule, Section 58-300. Pinellas County Code Enforcement handles complaints under both.

Junk and debris: Section 58-304 bars letting garbage, rubbish, junk or debris pile up on any property, built on or not. Rubbish includes palm fronds and limbs. Its article has no exemption section, and its stated purpose names rats.
Overgrowth: Section 58-331 bars uncultivated weeds or plants over 12 inches, or untended debris, that create or may create a haven and breeding place for rats. The county's page applies it to growth covering most of the property.
Lots the overgrowth rule exempts: Section 58-332 exempts commonly owned contiguous land over five acres, land entirely more than 150 feet from a public road intersection, and land entirely more than 600 feet from improved property.
Natural land, with a condition: Section 58-332 also exempts unimproved land mainly in natural vegetation, but only if it is not also a fire or traffic hazard under Section 58-331(b) or (c).
Boundary strips still covered: For the five-acre and natural-vegetation exemptions, a 50-foot strip along the boundary stays covered where it lies within 150 feet of a road intersection or 600 feet of improved property.
Notice to the owner: Under Section 58-334 the county gives notice by certified mail and posted placards, with at least ten days to comply, or three days for a repeat.
Filing a complaint: Confirm the address is unincorporated with the county's My Neighborhood tool, then file through the Pinellas County Access Portal. Code Enforcement's office is at 631 Chestnut St. in Clearwater.

Because of those exemptions, the county may not be able to act on every overgrown lot. Describe what you see, including any junk or debris, and let Code Enforcement decide which rule applies.

What Affects Rodent Control Cost in Palm Harbor?

Bait stations or not
Ask whether the quote rests on sealing and trapping, the less toxic options the Pinellas County Extension post says to try before any poison, or adds bait stations outside, and what each part costs.
Your unit or the building
In an apartment or condo building, ask whether the price covers only your unit or the shared areas as well, and see the table above for who the county code assigns.

The provider sets the price after an inspection.

Building size, home or commercial
Rats or mice, and how widespread
Number of entry points and how hard to reach
Attic, crawl space or wall access
Trapping visits and dead rodent removal
Exclusion materials and amount of sealing
Droppings, nesting and insulation cleanup

How each part of a job is priced

Common Questions About Palm Harbor Rodent Control

In unincorporated Pinellas County, property owners choose one of the haulers the county licenses under Chapter 106 and set up service themselves, even when the mailing address names a city. Some licensed haulers serve only businesses and multifamily developments, so check before signing up. The county housing code also asks for garbage in containers with regular disposal service. Keep lids closed so rats and mice have less to find.
The Pinellas County Extension post described above treats poison bait as a last resort, to try only after less toxic steps such as sealing, removing food and shelter, and trapping. It also explains that predators such as owls can be poisoned by eating poisoned rats or mice. If bait is used, follow the label strictly. Ask any pro whether they plan to use it and how they will keep pets and owls away from it.
The county Extension post lists rodent proofing, removing food and shelter, and trapping among the less toxic options to try first, with poison bait as a last resort. Ask the pro how they will order the work so animals already inside are caught rather than sealed in, and whether they will come back to check the traps.
Yes. Section 22-299 sets a rodentproof standard for hatchways, outside doors and windows, and inside the home for the floors, walls and ceilings, as explained above. That gives you a list to walk through with a pro before any sealing work is priced.
Find out who manages the building and whether the association or lease has its own rules about pest work, so the pro knows who to call about shared spaces. Note where you have seen droppings or chewing, and ask whether the inspection can include the areas next to your unit.
Note when you hear it and where, then check the attic, if you can reach it safely, for droppings, gnaw marks or torn insulation. Trim branches that touch the roof. An inspection can confirm whether it is rats before any work is priced.
No. Pinellas County Code Enforcement, at 631 Chestnut St. in Clearwater, says it does not enforce homeowner association rules or deed restrictions, so take those to your association. The county can still look at junk, debris or overgrowth under its own code, as the checklist above shows. File through the Access Portal and let the county decide.
Start with the table above. Section 22-301 of the county code draws its line at the number of dwelling units in the building, and Florida Statutes 83.51 adds a landlord rule for many rentals, with the conditions shown in the table's last row. For a condo or townhouse the code is silent, so read your lease or association documents and ask the county.

Nearby City Guides

Free Palm Harbor Rodent Inspection

What happens next

Call and describe what you have seen and where.
A trusted local pro can set up an inspection and confirm whether you have rats or mice.
Ask them to explain trapping, removal and sealing, and what the work involves, before any work starts.

(888) 733-3114

Call Now Get Help

Free Inspection · Same-Day Service in Many Areas

Start again at RodentExterminator.com.

Sources

For Residents of Unincorporated Pinellas. Pinellas County, Florida. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
B25034: Year Structure Built - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
B25024: Units in Structure - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
B25035: Median Year Structure Built - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
Sec. 22-301. Sanitation (Chapter 22, Article VI, Housing Code). Pinellas County, Florida, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library; Supplement 124, codified through Ord. No. 26-13). Retrieved 2026-09-26.
The 2026 Florida Statutes, Section 83.51 Landlord's obligation to maintain premises. The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine). Retrieved 2026-09-26.
Sec. 22-299. Exterior and interior of structures. Pinellas County, Florida, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library). Retrieved 2026-09-26.
Code Enforcement Services and Common Code Violations. Pinellas County, Florida, Code Enforcement. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
Rodent management options in and around the home. UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
Chapter 58, Article IX. Lot Clearing (Secs. 58-326 et seq.). Pinellas County, Florida, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library). Retrieved 2026-09-26.
Chapter 58, Article VIII. Litter and Weeds (Secs. 58-300 to 58-304). Pinellas County, Florida, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library). Retrieved 2026-09-26.
Collection: Trash & Recycling (Who Picks Up My Trash and Recycling?). Pinellas County, Florida. Retrieved 2026-09-26.