Here are 12 Ways Worcester is Dealing with Rats, Rodents and other Nuisances

WORCESTER – The City of Worcester’s Inspectional Services and Department of Public Works have provided updates on 12 ways the City is dealing with rats and other rodents.

In January 2022, the Inspectional Services Department (ISD), the DPW and the city’s Law Department issued 12 recommendations and proposed ordinance changes for dealing with rodents and rubbish in yards and on public ways.

In May 2022, the city made changes to three ordinances: nuisance, graffiti and solid waste. The ordinance now gives property owners five days to remove any nusiance, and then the City can take action either by referring the enforcement letter to the Central Housing court or to the city contractor to abate the nuisance and then record a lien against the property in the Registry of Deeds.

Since July 1, 2022, the DPW has addressed 2,421 work orders associated with solid waste violations and there have been 43 liens recorded by Inspectional Services for work performed on private property since the change in the ordinance.

In a memo to Acting City Manager Eric Batista, the departments have listed updates on the recommendations, including keeping an updated map of all rat and rodent complaints in the city. From July through October 2022, there were 187 complaints about rats filed with the city.

Last month, the Public Health Council approved updates to the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code which requires owners of residences with two or more units to maintain the premises free from infestation and responsible for pest elimination, as well as conduct an inspection of each unit prior to new occupancy to identify the presence of pests.

The 12 recommendations are here:

1. Keep updated GIS map of all rat / rodent complaints as well as all areas where trapping, poisoning, or other abatements are taking place or have taken place. 
2. Update educational brochures and enhance DPW & ISD websites to contain additional information on rat and rodent  infestation, abatement , and prevention—including links for request for ISD  inspections and abatement for exterior areas.
3. Distribute brochures to areas where rat complaints have been logged and verified, where trash complaints are recurring, or where other conditions would provide harboring opportunities for rats. 
4. Regularly inspect all food establishments to review trash handling, storage, and containers.  
5. Create a Rat abatement program for all residential properties with four (4) or fewer residential properties, with coordination of Inspectional Services and private rodent abatement contractors. 
6. Develop and distribute educational materials aimed at preventing rats’ access to dumpsters. Request dumpster locations from waste disposal companies.
7. Require all demolition projects to certify that a rodent inspection and abatement program has been completed prior to demolition.
8. Require all major construction projects that include gutting, selective demolition, or ground disturbance to certify that a rodent inspection and abatement program has been completed prior to the issuance of any building permits.
9. Require all major infrastructure projects to certify that a rodent inspection and abatement program has been completed prior to the issuance of any permits or commencement of work.
10. Bait sewers in areas or or along corridors where rat complaints have been most prevalent. 
11. Require all residential properties to keep trash bags in a weather and rodent proof container, prior to putting bags to the curb for municipal pick-up or private contracted pick-up.
12. Propose changes to ordinance to facilitate removing solid waste or rubbish, obstructions, brush or other in a timely manner from public and private property to improve health, safety, and quality of life.