Rats are one of the most common pest problems in Toronto, and the City has been paying more attention to them. If you own a home, rent an apartment or run a business, here’s what the City’s guidance means for you and what to do if you see rats.
Quick Answer
In Toronto, property owners, landlords, tenants and businesses are responsible for preventing and dealing with rats on their own property. The City’s guidance says residents with rats on private property should hire a pest control company. Tenants in apartments should report rats to their landlord or property manager first, and call 311 if it isn’t dealt with. The City handles rats in parks and on City property, and inspects food businesses and institutions.
Who Is Responsible for Rats in Toronto?
| Situation | Who deals with it |
|---|---|
| Rats at your house or yard | The property owner, usually by hiring pest control |
| Rats in an apartment or condo | The landlord or property manager. Tenants report it to them first |
| Landlord won’t deal with it | Tenants can call 311 |
| Rats at a restaurant or food business | The business owner. Concerns go to Toronto Public Health |
| Rats in a park or on City property | The City |
What the City Asks Toronto Residents to Do
The City’s guidance focuses on removing what attracts rats. In plain terms:
- Garbage and green bins: use animal-resistant bins with tight lids, keep the green bin locked, and put bins out the morning of pickup when possible.
- Food sources: clean up fallen fruit, spilled grass seed and pet food left outside.
- Bird feeders: keep the ground under feeders and bird baths clean.
- Clutter: remove debris, wood piles and unused equipment where rats can hide.
- Lawn: keep grass and weeds cut. Toronto limits grass and weed height to 20 cm.
- Buildings: seal cracks and holes in homes, garages and sheds.
Toronto’s Rat Response Plan
The City has introduced a city-wide Rat Response Plan based on integrated pest management. It includes targeted inspections in areas with high rat activity, rat management requirements for construction projects, public education, and looking at safer alternatives to rat poison. For homeowners, the message is the same: prevention and professional help on private property.
Why Rats Are a Growing Problem in Toronto
- Construction: digging and demolition can push rats out of the ground and into nearby homes.
- Food waste: garbage, green bins and food left out in laneways and backyards.
- Older homes: many Toronto houses have aging foundations, basements and utility openings.
- Ravines and laneways: the Don and Humber valleys and the city’s laneways give rats cover and travel routes.
- Restaurants and dense neighbourhoods: more food and shelter close together.
Signs of Rats at Your Property
- Droppings about the size of a bean
- Burrows along the foundation, fence, shed or under decks
- Gnaw marks on doors, bins, wood or wiring
- Greasy marks along walls where rats travel
- Scratching or gnawing sounds at night
- Rats seen at dusk or at night along fences and laneways
Not sure if it’s rats or mice? Read our guide on mice vs. rats.
What to Do If You Have Rats
- Don’t wait. Rats breed quickly.
- Remove food and shelter: lock bins, clean up pet food and birdseed, clear clutter.
- Check entry points: the garage door, foundation cracks, and gaps around pipes. Read how to keep rats out of your garage.
- Tenants: report it to your landlord or property manager in writing, and call 311 if it isn’t handled.
- Homeowners and businesses: book a licensed pest control company.
How Professional Rat Control Works
- Inspection: we find burrows, entry points and what’s attracting rats.
- Treatment: we use targeted methods chosen for your property, with children and pets in mind.
- Exclusion: we seal entry points and can install barriers around foundations, sheds and decks.
- Follow-up: we monitor until activity stops.
For more on rodents in Toronto homes, read our Toronto mice and rat guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the City of Toronto remove rats from my house?
The City’s guidance directs residents with rats on private property to hire a pest control company. The City deals with rats in parks and on City property.
My landlord won’t deal with rats. What can I do?
Report it to your landlord or property manager first, ideally in writing. If it isn’t dealt with, contact 311.
Who do I contact about rats at a restaurant?
Concerns about food premises go to Toronto Public Health through its DineSafe program.
Is there a limit on how tall my grass can be in Toronto?
Yes. Toronto limits grass and weed height to 20 cm, and long grass can give rats cover.
Rat Control in Toronto
Quality Affordable Pest Control provides rat and mice control for homes, landlords, property managers and businesses across Toronto, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke and East York.
Call (647) 502-3950 for a free estimate, or visit our pest control in Toronto page.
Source: City of Toronto, Rat Control.
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