Is the landlord responsible for pest control? That’s a question many tenants ask themselves when insects, rodents, or other vermin make their way into their unit. If you are wondering the landlord or tenant is responsible for pest control, here’s what you need to know.
Is the Landlord Responsible for Pest Control?
Regretfully, the answer to “Is the landlord responsible for pest control?” is that it depends. State law governs pest control responsibilities in some areas, while other states have little if any legislation specifically discussing pest treatments or extermination.
Typically, landlords do have to ensure the unit remains safe, healthy, and habitable. However, what constitutes that can vary.
Additionally, whether the tenant is responsible for the infestation can play a role. For example, a tenant that fails to keep a property clean might contribute to the infestation, in which case pest control may be on them.
Ultimately, you’ll need to review state and local law to determine if there are any rules. It’s also wise to consult your lease, as that may include clauses addressing pest control, providing clarity when state law doesn’t.
State-by-State Guide to Landlord-Tenant Pest Control Laws and Responsibilities
Pest control responsibilities by state:
- Alabama—Landlord's responsibility: Comply with health and safety standards; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Alaska—Landlord's responsibility: Rats, mice, roaches, and "pests"; Tenant responsibility: No clear laws regarding pest control responsibility
- Arizona—Landlord's responsibility: Rodent, insect, and vermin, infestations; Tenant responsibility: No clear laws regarding pest control responsibility
- Arkansas—Landlord's responsibility: Only for compliance with local housing safety codes; Tenant responsibility: Fully responsible unless the issue violates local housing safety codes
- California—Landlord's responsibility: Infestation and seasonal prevention treatments; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Colorado—Landlord's responsibility: Extermination in response to infestation not caused by the tenant; Tenant responsibility: Unless it involves bed bugs, if pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Connecticut—Landlord's responsibility: Extermination in response to infestation not caused by the tenant; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Delaware—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Florida—Landlord's responsibility: Extermination of rats, mice, roaches, ants, wood-destroying organisms, and bed bugs; Tenant responsibility: No clear laws regarding pest control responsibility
- Georgia—Landlord's responsibility: Does not mention pests specifically, but landlords must keep premises in good repair; Tenant responsibility: No clear laws regarding pest control responsibility
- Hawaii—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Idaho—Landlord's responsibility: Insect infestations must be addressed; Tenant responsibility: No clear laws regarding pest control responsibility
- Illinois—Landlord's responsibility: Extermination in response to infestation not caused by the tenant; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Indiana—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Iowa—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Kansas—Landlord's responsibility: Laws vary by city; Tenant responsibility: Laws vary by city
- Kentucky—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: No clear laws regarding pest control responsibility
- Louisiana—Landlord's responsibility: Must maintain "suitable" condition, but doesn't mention pest control specifically; Tenant responsibility: No clear laws regarding pest control responsibility
- Maine—Landlord's responsibility: Aside from bed bugs, it doesn't mention pest control specifically, though must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: Unless it involves bed bugs, if pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Maryland—Landlord's responsibility: In structures containing two or more units, must handle exterminations of insects, rodents, and other pests unless infestation is caused by the tenant; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Massachusetts—Landlord's responsibility: In structures containing two or more units, must handle exterminations of insects, rodents, and other pests unless infestation is caused by the tenant; Tenant responsibility: In one unit rentals, the tenant is responsible
- Michigan—Landlord's responsibility: Responsible for keeping building free of vermin unless infestation is caused by the tenant; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Minnesota—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Mississippi—Landlord's responsibility: Comply with local building health codes; Tenant responsibility: No clear laws regarding pest control responsibility
- Missouri—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Montana—Landlord's responsibility: Comply with local building health codes; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Nebraska—Landlord's responsibility: Comply with local building health codes; Tenant responsibility: Unless it involves bed bugs, if pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Nevada—Landlord's responsibility: Before move-in, must handle all extermination. Beyond move-in, must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- New Hampshire—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- New Jersey—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- New Mexico—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: No clear laws regarding pest control responsibility
- New York—Landlord's responsibility: In structures containing two or more units, must handle exterminations of insects, rodents, and other pests; Tenant responsibility: In one unit rentals, the tenant may be responsible
- North Carolina—Landlord's responsibility: Must treat rat infestations not caused by the tenant; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- North Dakota—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Ohio—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Oklahoma—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Oregon—Landlord's responsibility: Extermination of rodents and vermin; Tenant responsibility: No clear laws regarding pest control responsibility
- Pennsylvania—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Rhode Island—Landlord's responsibility: In structures containing two or more units, if more than one unit is impacted, landlord is responsible; Tenant responsibility: In one unit rentals or when the problem only affects the tenant's unit in a multi-unit building, tenant is responsible
- South Carolina—Landlord's responsibility: Comply with local building health codes; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- South Dakota—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Tennessee—Landlord's responsibility: Up to twice per year, unless the tenant is responsible; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Texas—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Utah—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Vermont—Landlord's responsibility: Extermination for infestations in single-unit dwellings not caused by tenant. Extermination of infestations in two more units, regardless of tenant responsibility; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Virginia—Landlord's responsibility: Must comply with local building health codes, and primary responsibility falls on the landlord; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Washington—Landlord's responsibility: In structures containing two or more units, landlord is responsible if issue not caused by tenant; Tenant responsibility: In one unit rentals or when the tenant is responsible for the infestation, tenant may be responsible
- West Virginia—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Wisconsin—Landlord's responsibility: Must comply with local building health codes; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible
- Wyoming—Landlord's responsibility: Doesn't mention pests specifically, but landlords must maintain a habitable environment; Tenant responsibility: If pests result due to a failure by the tenant to maintain clean premises, the tenant may be responsible