Jacksonville Trash and Property Rules That Affect Rats

Rats need food and cover, and city trash and property rules decide a lot of both. In Jacksonville, Section 382.415 of the Ordinance Code sets when carts go out: no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before collection and no later than 6 a.m. on collection day, with empty carts back off the curb by 6 a.m. the day after. The city's Solid Waste Division also says cart lids must be fully closed, and to save extra garbage for the next week.

On the property side, Municipal Code Compliance enforces Chapter 518, the Property Safety and Maintenance Code, which treats properties that provide uncontrolled breeding places for pests as nuisances, along with overgrowth and accumulated trash. This guide covers what those rules say and the habits that keep rats away from your house.

Cart set-out and pickup times

The city's Solid Waste Collection Quick Reference Guide cites Section 382.415 of the Jacksonville Ordinance Code for these standards:

• Place items at the curb no later than 6 a.m. on collection day and no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before
• Remove empty receptacles by 6 a.m. the day after collection
• Place items within 5 feet of the curb or edge of pavement
• Keep the cart 3 feet from bulk items, recycling and obstructions, with the wheels facing away from the road

The time limits matter for rodents. A cart that sits at the curb for days is a feeding station, especially if the lid doesn't close. Household garbage is collected weekly, according to the Solid Waste Division.

Lids, bags and overflow

In areas with automated collection, the Solid Waste Division says garbage must be placed in city-issued carts and lids must be fully closed. Excess waste waits for the next week. A lid propped open by an extra bag is an open buffet for rats and raccoons, and the extra bag may not get picked up anyway.

In areas without automated carts, the city says garbage must go in plastic bags or cans with handles and tight-fitting lids, and each container can't exceed 45 gallons or 40 pounds.

Rodent-wise habits that go beyond the rules:

• Bag food waste and tie the bag before it goes in the cart
• Rinse the cart now and then, since food residue at the bottom draws rats even when it's empty
• Store the cart away from the house wall and off a path that leads to the garage
• If your cart is cracked or the lid is broken, ask the city about a replacement through 630-CITY

Yard waste and bulk items

The city's quick reference guide sets these yard waste rules:

• Yard waste must be natural and vegetative, not mixed with garbage, lumber, fencing, recycling or bulk items
• There is a 5 cubic yard limit per week
• Limbs, logs and stumps must be 5 feet or less in length and less than 6 inches in diameter
• It is unlawful for a hired contractor to leave tree debris for the city to collect, under Ordinance Section 380.206

Bulk items like furniture, mattresses, carpet and fencing are picked up every other week in automated areas and weekly in non-automated areas, depending on the service area. Check your schedule before you put a couch at the curb. Piles of brush, old furniture and lumber that sit for weeks become rat shelter, especially against a fence or the side of the house.

Overgrowth, debris and vacant lots

Municipal Code Compliance lists the property conditions it enforces. Those that relate to rodents include:

• Excessive growth of weeds, grass or noxious vegetation
• Accumulated garbage, rubbish or debris, including on vacant lots
• Properties that provide uncontrolled breeding places for pests, which are declared nuisances
• Failure to maintain minimum residential and commercial standards

The division says nuisance conditions must be corrected within 15 days of a notice unless the notice sets another deadline, and that unresolved cases can lead to citations, a Special Magistrate hearing with fines of up to $250 per day, or city cleanup with a lien. To report a property, call 630-CITY. The reporting guide has the details.

Garbage the Health Department handles

The Florida Department of Health in Duval County investigates sanitary nuisances related to improperly stored and collected garbage, along with mosquito breeding and sewage from faulty plumbing. If a neighbor's garbage is piling up or a dumpster is overflowing, that program is another option. Its listed phone number is 904-253-1280.

Bird feeders, compost, fruit and pet food

None of these appear in the city rules cited above, but they feed more rats around Jacksonville homes than trash carts do.

Bird feeders drop seed on the ground every day. If you keep one, use a tray to catch seed, hang it away from the house, and bring it in at night when roof rats feed.

Compost piles and open bins give rats warm cover and food scraps. Use a closed bin with a solid bottom or wire mesh underneath, and keep meat, dairy and oily food out of it.

Fruit trees are a big draw. UF/IFAS says hollowed-out fruit is the most common sign of roof rats and that roof rats will travel about 150 yards from their den to reach food or water. It advises using or removing all fallen fruit.

Pet food left outside overnight feeds rats. Feed pets indoors or pick up bowls before dark, and store pet food and birdseed in metal or heavy plastic bins with tight lids.

Outside the City of Jacksonville

Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Baldwin have their own solid waste and code rules. So do Orange Park, Clay County and St. Johns County. The habits above apply everywhere, but check with your city or county for set-out times and code rules. For rodents already in or around the house, see rat burrow treatment and exclusion and sealing.

If you rent, the lease and Florida Statute 83.52 put garbage removal from the unit on the tenant, while 83.51 puts outside receptacles and garbage removal on the landlord in most buildings other than single-family homes and duplexes. The tenant and landlord guide covers who handles what.

Common questions

Related reading

• Reporting rats in Jacksonville
• Rat Burrow Treatment
• Rats in palm trees
• Seasonal rodent problems