Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-150
Spreading of vermin poison (Chicago Health Nuisances Ordinance)
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful for any person to spread, or to cause or permit any agent or employee to spread, any poison for the purpose of killing rats, mice, insects, or other vermin, in any public way or public place in the city; and it shall be unlawful for any person to spread or to cause or permit any agent or employee to spread, any poison for such purpose in any yards, court, passageway, or other open place on private premises, or on the outside of any building or structure, or in any place within a building which is open to the general public, or where pet dogs, cats, or other domestic animals or fowls have access, without placing the same in a receptacle of such kind or character that it can be reached only by the kind of vermin which the poison is intended to kill, or without placing a wire or other guard about same in such way that no child, or domestic animal, domestic fowl, or other harmless creature can reach the same. (Prior code § 99-11)
Under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-150, spreading poison to kill rats, mice, insects, or other vermin is prohibited in public ways and public places throughout the city. On private property, poison may only be placed in outdoor areas, on building exteriors, or in publicly accessible interior spaces if it is secured inside a receptacle that only the target vermin can reach, or if a wire or other guard prevents children, pets, and other harmless creatures from accessing it. The rule applies to anyone who spreads poison directly or who directs an agent or employee to do so.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers in Chicago who contract with pest-control services or direct employees to apply rodenticides or insecticides must ensure compliance with Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-150. Compliant operators generally verify that any poison placed in yards, passageways, courtyards, building exteriors, or publicly accessible interior spaces is housed in a tamper-resistant bait station or surrounded by a guard that blocks access by children, domestic animals, and fowl. Keeping records of pest-control applications and the protective measures used can help demonstrate that placements met the standard the ordinance requires.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-150 gives tenants a basis to raise concerns when poison is placed in shared outdoor areas, hallways, or other accessible spaces without proper containment that prevents children or pets from reaching it. Tenants who observe unguarded poison on their property may report the condition to the Chicago Department of Housing or another relevant city enforcement body, or document the situation for use in a housing-code complaint. Tenant-rights organizations in Chicago can help residents understand what options are generally available when a property appears to be out of compliance with this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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