Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-38
Infestation and screening
Operative Text
A. Grounds, buildings and structures shall be maintained free of insect, vermin and rodent harborage and infestation. Methods used for exterminating insects, vermin and rodents shall conform to generally accepted practice. B. Where the potential for rodent or vermin infestation exists, windows and other openings in basements and cellars shall be appropriately screened with wire mesh or other suitable materials. C. From May 1 to October 1, entrances to residential buildings other than multiple dwellings shall be provided with self-closing-type devices or screens, and windows and other openings used for ventilation shall be appropriately screened. Screens shall not be required in rooms located sufficiently high in the upper stories of multiple dwellings as to be free of mosquitoes, flies and other flying insects.
Mount Vernon Code ch. 149 § 149-38 establishes that all grounds, buildings, and structures must be kept free of insects, vermin, and rodents, with extermination methods following generally accepted practices. Basement and cellar windows and openings must be screened with wire mesh or suitable materials wherever rodent or vermin infestation is a risk. Between May 1 and October 1, entrances to non-multiple-dwelling residential buildings must have self-closing devices or screens, and ventilation openings must be screened, though upper-story rooms in multiple dwellings high enough to be free of flying insects are exempt from the screening requirement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Mount Vernon Code ch. 149 § 149-38 generally ensure that all grounds and structures are kept free of pest harborage through extermination methods consistent with accepted industry practice. Compliant operators inspect basement and cellar openings for rodent or vermin vulnerability and install appropriate wire mesh or equivalent screening where needed. During the May 1 through October 1 season, operators of non-multiple-dwelling residential buildings typically equip entrances with self-closing devices or screens and verify that ventilation openings are properly screened, while assessing whether any upper-story multiple-dwelling rooms qualify for the flying-insect exemption.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Mount Vernon Code ch. 149 § 149-38, tenants in residential buildings have a right to live in premises maintained free of insect, vermin, and rodent infestation, with properly screened openings where required. If a tenant observes unaddressed pest conditions or missing screens during the applicable season, they may document the conditions and raise the violation with local housing or code enforcement authorities in Mount Vernon. Tenants can also contact a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options, including whether such conditions may be raised as a defense in relevant housing proceedings.
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 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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