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TN Rodent Control

Rodent Control in Brentwood, TN

Brentwood's own code declares uncut grass and weeds averaging over one foot high on improved property or a smaller vacant parcel a nuisance, because they may let the property serve as a refuge for rodents, snakes and other vermin. Cutting that growth takes away an outdoor refuge, but rats or mice already inside a Brentwood house call for removal indoors and sealing of the gaps they use, from the garage door to the shed.

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Statewide rules and background: Tennessee rodent guide

The house, the outbuildings and the curb

In Brentwood, TN, most homes are detached houses: Census estimates put 87.8% of housing units in single-family detached buildings, compared with 58.0% in Franklin and 49.0% in Nashville. So plan the inspection around one whole house and anything else on the lot, such as a garage or a shed. Indoors, rat control or mouse control deals with the animals already in the house, while rodent exclusion shuts the openings they use to get in.

For trash, the City's garbage page says residents can contract with private companies for curbside pickup.

What the City asks of lots, cans and brush

Overgrowth and trash on a lot

Section 30-32 of Brentwood's code is the City's own lot rule, and the Codes FAQs list it for property and premises maintenance. In this article, improved property means a parcel under 15 acres with a structure suitable for people to occupy.

Situation: Overgrowth over one foot high on average, on improved property or a vacant parcel under 15 acresWho must act: Unlawful to leave uncut. The code calls it a nuisance that may let property serve as a refuge for rodentsCode section: 30-32(1)
Situation: Any other vacant parcel next to improved propertyWho must act: Kept cut within 100 feet of the improved propertyCode section: 30-32(1)
Situation: A heavily wooded parcel where equipment cannot maneuver because of the natural density of the vegetationWho must act: Its weeds and grass are exempt from the cutting ruleCode section: 30-32(1)
Situation: Trash, garbage or other refuse left to build up on improved property or a vacant parcelWho must act: Not allowed where it would serve as a place for rodents, snakes or other verminCode section: 30-32(2)
Situation: Written notice of a violation from the City's code enforcement supervisor or a designeeWho must act: The owner and occupant have ten days to cut and clear it. A hearing request is due within ten days of receiving the noticeCode section: 30-33, 30-34
Situation: Still not done ten days after noticeWho must act: The City may enter, have it remedied and charge the owner, the occupant or both. An invoice the owner leaves unpaid 30 days goes to the city attorney for a lienCode section: 30-36

To report a lot, the Codes FAQs direct residents to the Citizen Comment Form, and for property maintenance questions that need a fuller answer they give (615) 371-2204, ext. 2570. The table paraphrases the City code; it is not legal advice.

Picking a hauler and keeping cans shut

Brentwood's garbage page says residents can contract with private companies for curbside trash and recycling pickup. It names Republic Services, Waste Management, GoRecycles and Brentwood Disposal as examples, and suggests asking your HOA or a neighbor who they use.

  • Covered containers that resist gnawing: Section 54-3 has each owner or occupant keep enough refuse containers, kept covered, and says the containers must be strong, durable, rodentproof and insectproof.
  • A registered hauler: Unless exempt, anyone who picks up or hauls refuse in the city must register with the city manager and keep a certificate of insurance on file there, under Section 54-5. Ask a new company whether it has.
  • Daylight pickup only: Section 54-6 allows collection only in daylight, no earlier than 7:00 a.m. and no later than 7:00 p.m., unless the city manager gives written permission for other hours. Ask your hauler which day it comes.
  • When the trash becomes theirs: Under Section 54-6, responsibility for disposal passes to the collector once the refuse is in the truck or taken from your containers or premises.
  • Changing companies: Section 54-5 says no one has an exclusive right to collect solid waste in the city or any section of it. If lids are left open or cans come back damaged, raise it with the company.

Brush waiting for the monthly pickup

The City's Brush Program picks up brush once a month, January through December, on residential streets. It is meant for trimming and pruning that homeowners living in the home do themselves.

  • Out on the right Sunday: Put the pile out by the Sunday evening of your neighborhood's assigned week.
  • One pile near the curb: Make one pile, no further than 10 feet from the curb, and not under a tree or power line.
  • Paper bags for clippings: Leaves, grass clippings and small clippings go in paper bags.
  • Hired crews haul their own: The City does not pick up piles left by a hired contractor. It says to have the company remove the debris when its work is done, and to get hauling included in the price estimate.

A missed week means waiting until the next month or taking the brush away yourself. While a pile waits, keep it within the 10 feet of the curb the City asks for, away from the garage door, the foundation and any shed, where it could give rodents cover next to the walls.

Garage, outbuilding and roofline gaps

Detached houses make up 87.8% of Brentwood's housing units. On a detached house, the inspection should cover every side of the building and its garage. Zoning Section 78-22 allows one accessory building on a parcel under three acres and two on a parcel of three to under five acres, so ask for any shed or similar building to be checked as well.

  1. The door from the garage into the house

    Rodents that get past a worn garage door seal still have to pass the inner door. Check its sweep, threshold and weatherstripping, and look for gnawing at the corners of both doors.

  2. Sheds and other outbuildings

    If your lot has a shed or other accessory building, have its door, floor edges and wall gaps checked. Keep any seed, pet food or bird feed stored there in sealed metal or glass containers.

  3. Tree limbs near the roof

    Per UT Extension, branches should be cut back from buildings so that roof rats, squirrels and carpenter ants cannot use them to get in. Note any limb that touches the roof or gutters.

  4. Firewood and brush against the walls

    UT Extension's home pest guide, PB1303, says to move wood piles and other debris away from the structure. Stack firewood on a rack well out from the house, and keep brush piles off the foundation.

  5. Walk-out and lower-level doors

    If the house has a basement or a walk-out lower level, check its door sweeps and window wells as closely as the front door.

Rodent exclusion · Guide to rodent entry points in a house

Services that fit a Brentwood house and lot

  • Rodent Exclusion

    Zoning Section 78-22 lets a parcel under three acres have one accessory building. If yours has a shed or similar building, ask for it in the sealing plan, with each opening and the material for it listed in writing.

  • Rat Extermination

    Section 30-32 of the City code treats tall overgrowth and piled-up trash as possible refuges for rodents. A rat plan here pairs trapping with mowing, clearing debris and covered cans, so the yard stops offering the refuge the code describes.

Related services

  • Mouse Extermination
  • Rodent Removal

    To trap out rats or mice already living in the house, the garage or a shed.

  • Attic Rodent Removal

    For scratching overhead, or droppings in the attic or above a garage ceiling.

  • Commercial Rodent Control

    For offices and shops. Section 78-20 keeps their dumpsters inside masonry or stone enclosures closed off by a solid gate, so ask for the enclosure to be part of the plan.

Owners, build years and lot minimums

Most Brentwood homes are lived in by their owners. Census estimates put 9.6% of occupied homes as rented, compared with 36.2% in Franklin and 47.6% in Nashville. The median home was built in 1996, later than Nashville's 1987 and earlier than Franklin's 2002, and 35.0% of the city's housing units date from 1980 to 1999.

Housing is also less dense. With 15,557 housing units on 42.162 square miles of land, Brentwood averages about 369 per square mile, compared with about 813 in Franklin and 725 in Nashville.

The zoning code sets a one-acre minimum lot in the R-2 suburban district and two acres in R-1. These are minimums, not typical lot sizes. On a larger lot, ask for the yard edges and any outbuildings to be walked as well as the house.

Year built, share of housing units

  • 1.7%

    Built before 1960

    ±0.8 points

  • 20.6%

    Built 1960 to 1979

    ±2.5 points

  • 35.0%

    Built 1980 to 1999

    ±2.6 points

  • 42.7%

    Built 2000 or later

    ±2.5 points

Building type, share of housing units

  • 87.8%

    Single-family detached

    ±0.1 points

  • 7.5%

    Buildings of 5+ units

    ±1.4 points

What Professional Rodent Control Covers

Your call reaches a trusted local pro. Ask how they handle each step.

  1. 1. Inspection

    A trusted local pro checks inside and out. Ask about a free inspection.

  2. 2. Identification

    Droppings, tracks and gnaw marks show whether rats or mice are inside.

  3. 3. Trapping and removal

    Trapping removes the rodents already in the building.

  4. 4. Entry points

    The gaps and openings rodents use are found and marked.

  5. 5. Exclusion

    Sealing those openings keeps new rodents from following.

  6. 6. Cleanup

    Ask what cleanup of droppings and nesting material the pro recommends.

  7. 7. Monitoring

    Follow-up checks confirm the activity has stopped.

How a call works

What Affects Rodent Control Cost in Brentwood?

  • Each building on the lot

    A shed, detached garage or other outbuilding adds its own openings to seal. Ask for each building to be priced as its own line, so you can decide what to include.

  • Openings high on the house

    Gaps at a second-story eave or a tall gable take ladders and more time to reach. Ask how high openings will be reached and what will cover them.

  • Yard work you handle first

    Mowing, clearing brush and moving firewood away from the walls before the visit can keep the quote to work you cannot do yourself.

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 Brentwood Rodent Control

  • The City's garbage page says residents can contract with private companies for curbside pickup, and suggests asking your HOA or a neighbor who they use. Whichever company you choose, Section 54-3 of the City code wants refuse kept in covered containers that are strong, durable, rodentproof and insectproof, so ask about lids and replacement cans when you sign up.

  • Better not. The City collects brush once a month, January through December, and does not come back for a missed week, so a pile can wait a long time. Build one pile near the curb, as the Brush Program asks, rather than against the garage, a fence line or a shed, where it could give rodents cover close to the walls.

  • Section 30-32 declares tall overgrowth a nuisance because it may let property serve as a refuge for rodents, snakes and other vermin. It covers smaller vacant parcels outright, and a larger vacant parcel next to a lot with a building on it must be kept cut for a set distance from that lot. Heavily wooded parcels where equipment cannot maneuver are exempt. The Codes FAQs send reports to the Citizen Comment Form.

  • Yes, if they have openings. An outbuilding that holds seed, pet food or firewood can shelter rodents close to the house. Ask for every building on the lot to be inspected, its openings listed, and the sealing priced building by building, so you can choose what to include.

  • The rodents are the same, but the likely openings shift. On an older house, look at worn door sweeps, weathered garage door seals and gaps left where lines were added over the years. On a newer house, check where pipes, vents and cables pass through the walls, and whether those gaps were ever closed.

  • Mostly the number of buildings to seal, how high the roofline openings sit, and how much yard clearing is needed first. A house with a detached garage and a shed has more openings than one without. Ask for a written quote that lists each building, each opening and each follow-up visit.

Nearby City Guides

Free Brentwood Rodent Inspection

Before you call, note where you have seen droppings or gnawing, which outbuildings stand on the lot, and when your hauler and the City brush crew last came by.

What happens next

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

  1. Sec. 30-32. Prohibited practices (Chapter 30, Article II, Lot Cleanliness). City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  2. Sec. 30-31. Definitions. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  3. B25024: Units in Structure - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables (Brentwood city, Tennessee). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  4. B25024: Units in Structure - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables (Franklin city, Tennessee). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  5. B25024: Units in Structure - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables (Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), Tennessee). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  6. Garbage/Trash Service Information. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Public Works. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  7. Codes FAQs. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Planning and Codes Department. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  8. Citizen Comment Form. City of Brentwood, Tennessee. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  9. Sec. 30-33. Duty of owner and occupant to clear on notice. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  10. Sec. 30-34. Hearing rights. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  11. Sec. 30-36. City's right to remedy violations; collection of costs. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  12. Sec. 54-3. Storage. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  13. Sec. 54-2. Premises to be kept clean. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  14. Sec. 54-5. Registration for refuse removal. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  15. Sec. 54-6. Collection and transportation of refuse. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  16. Brush Program. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Public Works. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  17. Public Works FAQ's. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Public Works. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  18. Sec. 78-22. Accessory buildings. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  19. PB1303: Managing Pests Around the Home. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, UT Extension. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  20. Sec. 78-20. Solid waste storage and screening. City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  21. B25034: Year Structure Built - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables (Brentwood city, Tennessee). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  22. B25035: Median Year Structure Built - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables (Brentwood city, Tennessee). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  23. B25003: Tenure - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables (Brentwood city, Tennessee). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  24. B25003: Tenure - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables (Franklin city, Tennessee). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  25. B25003: Tenure - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables (Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), Tennessee). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  26. B25035: Median Year Structure Built - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables (Franklin city, Tennessee). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  27. B25035: Median Year Structure Built - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables (Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), Tennessee). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  28. 2024 Gazetteer Files: Tennessee Places. U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  29. B25034: Year Structure Built - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables (Franklin city, Tennessee), with 2024 Gazetteer land area. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  30. B25034: Year Structure Built - 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables (Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), Tennessee), with 2024 Gazetteer land area. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  31. Sec. 78-161. Intent (R-2 Suburban Residential). City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  32. Sec. 78-164. Technical standards (R-2). City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  33. Sec. 78-141. Intent (R-1 Large Lot Residential). City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  34. Sec. 78-124. Technical standards (AR). City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  35. Sec. 78-181. Intent (OSRD). City of Brentwood, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library); text read through the Municode API (client 12055, product 12774, job 492890 "Supplement 58 Update 1", codified through Ord. No. 2026-01, adopted February 23, 2026). Retrieved 2026-09-28.

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