San Antonio guides · Updated November 4, 2026

How to report rats and mice in San Antonio, and what happens next

Call 3-1-1 or use the city's 311 website to report the property conditions that feed and hide rats, like trash, junk and tall weeds. Code Enforcement inspects, issues a notice, and gives the owner time to fix it.

In San Antonio you report rodent problems on someone else's property through 311. Dial 3-1-1 or use the city's 311 website, and the complaint goes to Development Services' Code Enforcement. An officer visits, takes notes and photos, and if there's a violation, issues a notice that gives the owner time to correct it. If nothing gets fixed, the city can fine the owner, do the work itself, or cite the owner to court.

What the city acts on is the condition of the property: trash, junk, tall weeds, harborage. It isn't a trapping service for the rats in your own attic. This guide explains what to report, which rules apply, and what to do about your own house while the case runs.

Who handles rodent complaints in San Antonio

Code Enforcement Services, part of the city's Development Services Department, handles property use and maintenance. Its own page lists the ways to reach it: call 3-1-1, report online through the 311 service request site, use a contact form, mail, or visit the One Stop office on South Alamo Street on weekdays. For most people, 311 by phone or online is the fastest route.

The rules the officers enforce are in the San Antonio Property Maintenance Code, the city's version of the International Property Maintenance Code. The current edition is the 2021 code, which took effect February 9, 2023. Several sections deal directly with rodents and the conditions that attract them.

If you live in one of the small cities surrounded by San Antonio, like Alamo Heights, Olmos Park, Terrell Hills, Castle Hills, Leon Valley or Windcrest, those cities run their own city halls and code rules. Call your own city about a neighbor's property.

What the property maintenance code says about rodents

The code is direct about it. Section 302.5 says all structures and exterior property must be kept free from rodent harborage and infestation, that rodents must be promptly exterminated, and that afterward the owner has to eliminate the harborage and prevent re-infestation. Section 309.1 says structures must be kept free from insect and rodent infestation.

Other sections cover the things that feed and hide rats. These are the ones most rodent complaints touch:

• 302.4: weeds and plant growth over 12 inches on improved premises are a violation
• 302.5: rodent harborage and infestation on structures and exterior property
• 304.5: foundation walls kept free of open cracks and breaks, and kept so as to prevent rodent entry
• 308.1: no accumulation of rubbish or garbage on exterior property or inside structures
• 308.2.1: owners of occupied premises supply approved covered containers for rubbish, unless a contract or the city provides otherwise
• 309.1: structures kept free from insect and rodent infestation

What to report through 311

Report what you can see and describe. A rat running along a fence is hard for an officer to verify a week later. A yard full of junk, a pile of old furniture, a broken shed full of trash or a lot with waist-high weeds is something an officer can see and write up.

The city's Code Facts booklet lists common violations, and several of them line up with rodent problems: tall grass and weeds over 12 inches, trash in yards and storage buildup, and junk or old furniture stored outside. The booklet notes that overgrowth can attract pests like rats. It also says residents should keep trash in bins with lids.

When you file, give the exact address, describe the condition in plain words, and say where on the property it is. If you've seen rats, burrows or droppings near the condition, say so. Keep the service request number. You'll need it to check the status.

What happens after you report

The Code Facts booklet lays out the process. An officer visits the property, checks it, and takes notes and photos. If the officer sees a violation, the owner gets a notice. The booklet says owners usually get 7 to 30 days to correct the problem, depending on the violation. A re-inspection follows to see whether it was fixed.

If the owner doesn't fix it, the city may issue a fine or arrange the repair, and failing to comply can lead to a citation and a court date. The booklet states a goal of fixing 90 percent of violations within 45 days, while noting that some cases, like dangerous buildings or zoning, can take six months or longer. Owners can contest property maintenance violations through the Building Standards Board.

So expect weeks, not days. A complaint filed on Monday won't clear a junk pile by Friday.

Vacant buildings and vacant lots

Empty properties are a big source of rats on older blocks. The property maintenance code points vacant property to other parts of the city code. Section 301.3 says vacant structures in the Central Business District, historic districts, neighborhood conservation districts, certain TIRZ areas and within a half mile of active military bases fall under City Code Chapter 12, Article I. Other vacant buildings fall under Chapter 6, Article VIII and the Building Standards Board. Vacant lots fall under the Building Standards Board and Chapter 14, Article V, lot clearance.

You don't need to know which chapter applies. Report it through 311, say the property is vacant, and describe the condition. Code Enforcement Services also runs a vacant building program, listed on its department page.

Apartments and rentals

If you rent and the rats are in your building, start with your landlord, in writing. Texas law sets out how repair requests work. Our tenant and landlord guide walks through it. The property maintenance code also splits responsibility for extermination: in buildings with two or more units, section 309.4 makes the owner responsible for public and shared areas.

Code Enforcement Services lists a proactive apartment inspection program on its department page, and the Code Facts booklet says apartment owners must keep outdoor areas clean. Trash enclosures and dumpster areas that overflow can be reported through 311.

Meanwhile, deal with your own house

A code case fixes the condition next door. It won't remove the rats that already moved into your attic or garage. Start with the cheap steps: pick up fallen fruit, store pet food and bird seed in metal containers, keep trash cart lids closed, and trim limbs back from the roof. Our year-round prevention article has a checklist.

If you're hearing them every night or finding droppings inside, call a provider to trap and seal the entry points. Sealing your house is what keeps the neighbor's rats from becoming your rats.

Related reading

• San Antonio trash, yard and property rules that affect rodents
• Rats and mice in a San Antonio rental: tenant and landlord responsibilities
• How to get rid of rats in San Antonio

Related services: Norway Rat Control, Sealing and Exclusion, Rodent Inspection