Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. ch. 341 (subchs. A, B, E, F) § 341.018
RODENT CONTROL.
Operative Text
Sec. 341.018. RODENT CONTROL. (a) A person who possesses an enclosed structure used or operated for public trade and who knows that the structure is infested with rodents shall:(1) attempt to exterminate the rodents by poisoning, trapping, fumigating, or other appropriate means; and(2) provide every practical means of eliminating rats in the structure.(b) A public building that is constructed after September 4, 1945, must incorporate rat-proofing features.(c) The department shall promote rodent control programs in rat-infested areas and in localities in which typhus fever has appeared. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.0862, eff. April 2, 2015.
Texas Health & Safety Code § 341.018 establishes rodent-control obligations for enclosed structures used for public trade. Anyone who possesses such a structure and knows it is infested with rodents must actively work to exterminate them—through poisoning, trapping, fumigating, or other suitable methods—and must take every practical step to eliminate rats. Public buildings constructed after September 4, 1945, are also required to include rat-proofing features, and the state health department is directed to promote rodent-control programs in infested areas and places where typhus fever has appeared.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators and owners of enclosed structures used for public trade should be aware that § 341.018 imposes an affirmative duty once rodent infestation is known. A compliant operator generally documents the discovery of an infestation promptly, engages licensed pest-control professionals to apply extermination methods such as trapping, poisoning, or fumigation, and takes structural or preventive measures to eliminate entry points and harborage. Owners of public buildings constructed after September 4, 1945, should also verify that rat-proofing features required under § 341.018(b) are present and maintained.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants and occupants of structures covered by § 341.018 have an interest in knowing that Texas law places the burden of rodent extermination on the person who possesses the structure, not on the occupant. If a known infestation goes unaddressed, this provision may be relevant when raising a habitability concern with a local health authority or code-enforcement office, which can inspect and compel compliance. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help individuals understand how § 341.018 interacts with lease terms and other state or local housing standards.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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