Fall River, Mass., Code of Bylaws art v rodents § 34-284
Rat eradication in connection with building demolition (Fall River Art. V Control of Rodents and Other Vermin)
Operative Text
[Amended 2-25-1997 by Ord. No. 1997-4 ] A. Assessment by Building Inspector; initial extermination. (1) It shall be unlawful to raze any building within the City until such time as an assessment is made by the Building Inspector regarding the possible infestation of rodents. (2) In areas where infestation has been determined, the Building Inspector shall authorize the placement of a toxic material which has been approved by the State Food and Drug Administrator, Pesticide Board, with a suitable bait to be used. (3) The treated bait shall be placed in all structures to be demolished so as to attract the greatest possible number of rodents, and in accordance with best practices. (4) All extermination operations shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the City and State Health Departments and shall be considered complete when a certificate is presented confirming no infestation and a subsequent inspection by the Building Inspector has been conducted. The demolition must then take place within 30 days of the issuance of the permit. B. Maintenance. (1) One week (more or less, as directed) after the initial treatment, the contractor shall start a program of maintenance to rid the structure and adjacent areas of any remaining rodents and their carcasses and to prevent their migration to other adjacent areas. The toxic material should be an acute anti-coagulant pre-mixed bait and used with the labeled and regulatory laws. (2) All visible carcasses of rodents shall be removed and disposed of satisfactorily. The toxic bait shall be renewed whenever necessary or directed throughout the maintenance period until the structure has been demolished and, if applicable, until cellar holes have been filled to the extent required.
Fall River, Mass., Code of Bylaws Art. V § 34-284 establishes that no building in the city may be torn down until the Building Inspector has assessed the site for rodent infestation. Where infestation is found, state-approved toxic bait must be placed throughout the structure before demolition begins, and extermination is not considered complete until a no-infestation certificate is issued and a follow-up inspection is conducted. Once a demolition permit is issued, the actual demolition must occur within 30 days, and a contractor-led maintenance program must continue removing carcasses and preventing rodent migration until the structure is fully demolished and any cellar holes are filled.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and demolition contractors operating under Fall River, Mass., Code of Bylaws Art. V § 34-284 generally coordinate with the Building Inspector before any razing activity begins to ensure a rodent assessment is completed. Compliant operators arrange for state-approved bait placement in all structures slated for demolition, obtain the required no-infestation certificate, and schedule demolition within the 30-day window following permit issuance. Throughout the demolition process, operators typically maintain an ongoing rodent-control program—renewing bait as needed and removing carcasses—until the site is fully cleared and cellar holes are filled as required.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents and neighbors near a planned demolition site in Fall River may find § 34-284 of the city's Code of Bylaws relevant, as it is designed to prevent rodent migration into surrounding areas during building teardowns. If a demolition appears to be proceeding without the required Building Inspector assessment or rodent-control measures, concerns can generally be raised with the Fall River Building Department or the City or State Health Department, which oversee compliance with this provision. Tenant-rights organizations and local housing advocacy groups can also help residents understand what steps are available when they believe a nearby demolition is not following the rodent-eradication requirements.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.