The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene provides rat control guidance and information for homeowners and pest control professionals. You can get information on how to inspect for, prevent, and exterminate properties for rats, as well as learn what to do when you receive a Health Department violation.

Searchable data and printable maps are also available showing where rats have been found in New York City.

Learn more about rat control.

Pests Can Be Controlled Safely

New York City housing and health codes require that landlords maintain apartments free from pests. Pesticides should not be the only way you manage pests. Non-chemical methods of pest control are often more effective and safer than using pesticides. Landlords and families can take simple steps to reduce infestations and the use of pesticides.

Tips about safe pest control in the home are available in a report called "Pests Can Be Controlled Safely."

Download the Pests Can Be Controlled Safely brochure.

Rat Control Brochure

The "Preventing Rats on Your Property" brochure explains how to recognize signs of rat infestations in buildings and on property. It shows how you can prevent and correct the conditions that attract rats and enable their building access. It gives guidelines for selecting a qualified pest control professional and safely eliminating rats on your property.

Mouse and Roach Control Brochure

The "How to Control Pests Safely" brochure provides mouse and roach control tips for homeowners, tenants, and landlords. It shows step-by-step how you can protect your home from mice and cockroach infestations. It also explains how to choose and use safer pest control products in homes and lists products to avoid. 

You can get a copy of these brochures in English, Spanish, or Chinese.

Online

Download the Preventing Rats on Your Property brochure in:

• English
• Spanish
• Chinese

Download the How to Control Pests Safely brochure in:

• English
• Spanish
• Chinese

By Phone

Order Change

If your order was already shipped, you can return unwanted copies at no cost to you by writing "Return to Sender" on the package and putting it in the mail. To order additional items, you must place another order.

To update address, email, and organizational information customers can email their requests.

Send a message to dohmhliterature@health.nyc.gov.

To update a current order, be sure to include tracking order number.

Out of Stock Literature

If this publication is currently out of stock, you can contact the agency by phone.

Pest Control Training for Apartments and Houses

Free training is available to tenants, homeowners, and residential building supers and managers on how to safely control pests inside apartments and houses. Classes are provided upon request. Registration and schedule information is available by phone.

DOHMH provides technical assistance to multiple-unit residential building owners who are interested in implementing a building-wide integrated pest management (IPM) program.

IPM is a prevention-based pest management approach that provides long-lasting pest control, improves building conditions, and is less harmful to residents and pets than traditional pest control.

You can submit a request for help with developing an IPM plan by email or phone.

By Email

ipm@health.nyc.gov

By Phone