For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply:
Business building.
Any structure, whether public or private, regardless of the type of material used in its construction, located within the boundaries of the city, that is adapted to occupancy for the transaction of business, whether vacant or occupied, for the rendering of professional services, for the display, sale or storage of goods, wares or merchandise, or for the performance of work or labor, including hotels, roominghouses, beer parlors, office buildings, public buildings, stores, markets, restaurants, grain elevators, abattoirs, warehouses, workshops and factories.
Opening.
Any opening in the foundation, side or walls of any business building, including roof, chimney, eaves, grills, windows, sidewalk grates and sidewalk elevators, through which a rat may pass.
Premises.
Includes all business buildings, outhouses, sheds, barns, garages, docks, wharves, piers, grain elevators and abattoirs, whether public or private, and any and all other structures used in connection with the operation of any business building.
Rat harborage.
Any condition found to exist under which rats may find shelter or protection, and shall include any defective construction which would permit the entrance of rats into any business building.
Rat stoppage.
An inexpensive form of ratproofing designed to prevent the ingress of rats into business buildings. It is essentially the closing or protecting of all openings in exterior walls and foundations or the grates in a sidewalk of business buildings with ratproof materials installed in such a manner as to prevent rats from gaining entrance.
(1987 Code, sec. 15-36)
When the health officer shall find any building, structure or premises so heavily infested with rats as to constitute a present menace to public health, he shall have authority to close the same to any occupancy or use, until the rats have been eradicated, or while the rats are being eradicated.
(1987 Code, sec. 15-37)
It shall be unlawful for any person to dump or place on any land or on any water or waterway within the city any dead animals, butchers’ offal, seafood, or any waste vegetables, animal matter or any food products whatsoever so as to afford food for or a harboring place for rats. No garbage, rubbish, waste or manure shall be placed, left, dumped or permitted to accumulate or remain in any building or premises in the city so that the same shall or may afford food for or a harboring or breeding place for rats.
(1987 Code, sec. 15-39)
It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any premises, improved or unimproved, or any open lot or alley in the city to accumulate lumber, boxes, barrels, bricks or stones and similar materials that may be permitted to remain thereon and that may be used as a harborage by rats, unless the same shall be placed on open racks and elevated not less than eighteen (18) inches above the ground, with a clear intervening space underneath, to prevent the harborage of rats.
(1987 Code, sec. 15-40)
It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, within the corporate limits, any business building or curb or farmers’ market, unless such construction shall render the business ratproof in accordance with the regulations prescribed by this division.
(1987 Code, sec. 15-56)
The health officer or his representative is authorized to make frequent and unannounced inspections of existing business buildings within the corporate limits for the purpose of determining any rat infestation, and order, by written notice, either the owner, occupant, agent or any other person in custody of any rat-infested business building to protect the building by rat stoppage, regardless of the need for the remodeling or repairing of the building, and further order that such other rat-control methods be employed as may be deemed necessary by the health officer or his representative to maintain the building free from rats. The written notice and order shall specify the time, in no event less than thirty (30) days, for completion of such work and improvements. Failure to comply with such written notice or order within the time specified shall constitute a misdemeanor.
(1987 Code, sec. 15-57)
The health officer or his representative is authorized to make inspections during the course of and upon completion of any construction, repairs, remodeling or installation of rat-control measures to business buildings to ensure compliance with the provisions of this article, and no person shall interfere with or refuse to permit such inspection.
(1987 Code, sec. 15-58)
For the purpose of obtaining maximum rat stoppage at a minimum cost to the owner or occupant of business buildings, the following regulations are set forth as the minimum requirements for applying rat stoppage to business buildings:
(1) 
Approval of materials and method of installation.
The health officer or his representative shall approve all materials used and the method of installation.
(2) 
Protective coating for metal and wire cloth.
Solid sheet metal, expanded metal and wire cloth specified in this section shall have a rust-resisting protective coating, preferably galvanized.
(3) 
Covering for foundation wall ventilator openings.
All foundation wall ventilator openings shall be covered for their entire height and width with perforated sheet-metal plates of a thickness not less than fourteen (14) gauge, or with expanded sheet metal of a thickness not less than eighteen (18) gauge, or with cast-iron grills or grates, or with any other material of sufficient strength and equal rat-resisting properties. The openings therein shall be small enough to prevent the ingress of rats, and in no instance shall be larger than one-half inch.
(4) 
Covering for other openings in foundation or exterior wall.
All foundations and exterior wall openings, excluding those used for the purpose of ventilation, light, doors and windows, such as those openings around pipes, electric cables, or conduits, or openings due to deteriorated walls, broken masonry or concrete, shall be protected against the ingress of rats by closing such openings with cement mortar, concrete or masonry, or close-fitting sheet metal or suitable pipe flanges or other material with equal rat-resisting properties, which shall be securely fastened in place.
(5) 
Requirements as to doors.
All exposed edges of the lower eight (8) inches of wooden doors and door jambs, serving as front, rear or side entrances into business buildings, from the ground, basement or cellar floors, and other doors accessible to rats, shall be protected against the gnawing of rats by covering such doors and jambs with solid sheet metal of not less than twenty-four (24) gauge thickness. The same material shall be used on door sills or thresholds, or such door sills or thresholds may be constructed of cement, stone, steel or cast iron. Doors, door jambs and sills of coal chutes and hatchways that are constructed of wood shall be covered with solid sheet metal of twenty-four (24) gauge or heavier installed in such manner as will prevent the ingress of rats. All doors on which metal flashing has been applied shall be properly hinged to provide for free swinging. When closed, doors shall fit snugly so that the maximum clearance between any door, door jamb and sill shall not be greater than three-eighths inch. Door jambs and sills constructed of metal, concrete, masonry, stone or cement mortar, or cast iron and steel, when fitting closely to exclude rats, are not required to comply with this subsection.
(6) 
Requirements as to windows.
All windows and other openings for the purpose of light or ventilation located in the side or rear of exterior walls, and within thirty (30) inches above the existing ground level immediately below such opening, shall be covered for their entire height and width, including frame, with wire cloth of nineteen (19) gauge or heavier, having a mesh of not larger than one-half inch. All windows and other openings for the purpose of light or ventilation in the exterior walls that may be accessible to rats by way of exposed pipes, wires, conduits and other appurtenances shall be covered with guards of wire cloth of nineteen (19) gauge or heavier, having a mesh of not larger than one-half inch, or in lieu of wire cloth covering, such pipes, wires, conduits and other appurtenances shall be blocked from rat usage by installing sheet-metal guards of twenty-four (24) gauge or heavier. Such guards, when used on horizontal pipes, wires, conduits or other appurtenances, shall be placed in a vertical position, and shall be snugly fitted around the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenance. Such guard shall measure not less than twelve (12) inches beyond and on all sides of the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenance where the intervening space between the wall and pipe permits, and shall extend thirty (30) inches in an upward direction and twelve (12) inches in a downward direction, and shall be securely fastened to the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenance and also to the adjacent wall, wherever practicable, so that the guard will remain in a vertical position at all times. Such guards, when used on vertical pipes, wires, conduits or other appurtenances, shall be fitted snugly around the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenance, shall be placed in a horizontal position, at a right angle to the pipe, etc., and shall extend horizontally from the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenance for a minimum distance of twelve (12) inches beyond and on all sides of the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenance, and also to the adjacent wall, wherever practicable, in such manner that guard will remain in a horizontal position at all times.
(7) 
Protection of light wells.
Light wells with windows in exterior walls that are located below the outside ground level shall be protected from the ingress of rats by one of the following methods:
(A) 
Installing over the light wells cast-iron or steel grills or steel gratings, or other material of equal strength and rat-resisting properties, with openings in grills or gratings not to exceed one-half inch in shortest dimension.
(B) 
Installing securely to and completely covering existing metal grills that are broken or have openings larger than one-half inch in shortest dimension, or are otherwise defective, with expanded metal of eighteen (18) gauge or heavier, having openings not greater than one-half inch in shortest dimension, or with sixteen (16) gauge or heavier wire cloth with one-half-inch mesh.
(C) 
At the option of the owner, the opening in the wall of the building below the grate may be entirely closed with brick or concrete or partially closed and the remaining open space covered with nineteen (19) gauge or heavier wire cloth with mesh not to exceed one-half inch.
(8) 
Protection of space between floor sill and ground where sill is less than twelve inches above ground.
Business buildings constructed on piers having wooden floor sills less than twelve (12) inches above the surface of the ground shall have the intervening space between floor sill and ground protected against the ingress of rats by installing a solid masonry or concrete curtain wall not less than four (4) inches thick or solid sheet-metal curtain wall of twenty-four (24) gauge or heavier around the entire perimeter of the building and extending such curtain wall to a depth of not less than thirty-six (36) inches below the surface of the ground level and fastening the same securely to the exterior wall of the building, in such manner as will prevent rats from entering the building. In lieu of the installation of curtain walls, all ground floors of wood construction may be replaced with concrete of not less than three (3) inches in thickness with the exterior walls protected for a height of twenty-four (24) inches above the concrete floor with masonry, concrete or solid sheet metal of twenty-four (24) gauge or heavier. Exterior wall protection shall be securely tied into the concrete floor at all points.
(9) 
Protection of space between floor sill and ground where sill is twelve inches or more above ground.
Business buildings constructed on piers having wooden floor sills twelve (12) inches or more above the ground level shall have the intervening spaces between the floor sill and ground protected against the ingress of rats by installing curtain walls in accordance with subsection (8) or by protecting the building against the ingress of rats by installing solid sheet metal coverage of twenty-four (24) gauge or heavier snugly around each pipe, cable, wire, conduit or other utility service passing through a wooden ground floor. Such metal coverage shall not be less than eight (8) inches in diameter larger than the diameter of the pipe, cable, wire, conduit or other utility service, and shall be securely fastened to the wooden floor.
(10) 
Protection of miscellaneous openings.
All other openings in wooden ground floors through which rats may gain entrance into double walls or the interior of business buildings, such as openings that may exist in floors and double walls above floor sills, shall be closed with twenty-four (24) gauge or heavier solid sheet metal or sixteen (16) gauge or heavier wire cloth of one-half inch mesh or masonry or with concrete. Wood frame constructed business buildings having concrete or masonry foundation walls shall have ventilators in foundation walls protected as provided in subsection (4). All miscellaneous wall openings, doors and windows shall be protected in accordance with this section.
(1987 Code, sec. 15-59)
Curb or farmers’ markets in which fruit or vegetables or any other food products are exposed and offered for sale on racks, stands, or platforms and in vehicles outside of business buildings shall have floors paved with concrete or asphalt for the entire surface area of the market. Display racks, stands or platforms on which fruit or vegetables or any other food products are displayed or offered for sale shall be of sufficient height that all such fruits, vegetables or other food products shall be kept at a distance of not less than eighteen (18) inches above the floor pavement and be so constructed that rats cannot harbor therein or thereunder.
(1987 Code, sec. 15-60)
(a) 
In order to protect business buildings from what is commonly called the “climbing” or “roof” rat, it shall be unlawful to permit fishing poles, ladders, or any other object that a rat could climb on in order to reach the roof of any business building to lean against the side of the walls of any business building.
(b) 
The owner of business buildings shall also protect elevator shafts, fire escapes and guy wires in such manner that rats will not be able to gain ingress into any business building.
(c) 
It shall be the duty of any person in charge of a business building to trim the branches of all trees extending over and against such building, and the same shall be cut and trimmed and kept trimmed and cut so that no part of any branch or any part of such tree shall be closer than ten (10) feet to the building, and the tops of all trees shall be cut back ten (10) feet from a line extending perpendicularly from any exterior wall of the building.
(1987 Code, sec. 15-61)
(a) 
For the purpose of eliminating all rats that may remain in any business building after rat stoppage has been carried into effect, all storerooms, warehouses or other business buildings in the city shall be provided by the owner, occupant, agent, or other person in custody of such building with one (1) or more traps, which shall be kept set and freshly baited at frequent intervals, and maintained in good working condition. Such traps shall be inspected daily, and any rats caught therein shall be killed, removed daily and disposed of in a manner acceptable to the health officer and such trap or traps reset and rebaited.
(b) 
Rats may also be destroyed by poisoning and fumigating in a manner approved by the city health officer or by any authorized agency of the United States Public Health Service, or the department of state health services, subject to applicable laws and ordinances relating to poisonous substances and fumigators.
(1987 Code, sec. 15-62)