Rat Control

Rats are known to be common pests in Toronto. While the risk of illness to the general public is low, rats can contaminate food, damage property, negatively affect quality of life and contribute to unsanitary conditions. Preventing rat activity helps support healthier, safer neighbourhoods.

Rats need food and shelter, and large urban environments provide excellent habitats for them to survive and thrive. Below you will find information on how to identify, prevent and remove rats from your property and ways the City manages rat activity and reduces conditions that allow them to thrive.

Rodents, which include rats and mice, live in burrows or nests under or near ground level, usually around buildings. They prefer tight, narrow, dark pathways that run along the side of buildings or fences but occasionally runways through tall grass may be seen. Signs of a rodent infestation may include:

  • actual sightings of rats and mice
  • droppings
  • holes or burrows in the ground
  • bite marks on wood, concrete, vegetables or garbage containers, tracks or pathways

Description of Rats

Rats can live in burrows (nests) under or near ground level, usually around buildings. Rats are excellent swimmers, climbers and jumpers. Rats may travel up to 100 feet from their burrows.

  • Weight: 200 to 480 grams or 7 to 17 ounces
  • Length: 30 to 45 cm or 12 to 18 inches (including the tail)
  • Colour: Brown-grey back with white/grey belly (colour may vary)
  • Snout (nose): Blunt
  • Tail: Shorter than the body, 12 to 20 cm or 5 to 8 inches, dark with short hair
  • Droppings: Capsule shaped, often containing hairs, 2.5 to 3 cm or 3/4 of an inch long

Description of Mice

“House” mice generally stay within 10 to 30 feet of their nests. They can live anywhere throughout a structure, but the main areas include: inside walls, in between floors and cupboards or under counters.

  • Weight: 15 grams or 1/2 to 3/4 ounce
  • Length: 85 mm or 3.3 inches
  • Tail length: 90 mm or 3.5 inches
  • Colour: Fur is brownish grey above and light grey underneath
  • Snout (nose): Pointed
  • Tail: Dark, slightly longer than body
  • Droppings: Dark rod or spindle shaped (6 mm or 1/4 inches long)

Residents and business owners are responsible for maintaining their own properties to prevent issues with rats. Rats require food, water and shelter. The best way to prevent rats on your property is to:

  • Store garbage in animal-resistant containers with tight-fitting lids.
  • Dispose of food waste in green bin (if you have one) and keep it in a locked position.
  • Consider placing waste out for collection in the morning instead of overnight, if possible.
  • Remove clutter, construction debris and garbage piles as wood piles and garbage are common shelter sites.
  • Eliminate food sources such as fallen fruit, grass seed, etc. 
  • Do not leave uneaten pet food out in the yard 
  • Keep areas around bird feeders and bird baths clean.
  • Cut tall grass and weeds from around your property. It must not exceed 20 centimetres in growth. 
  • Seal cracks and small holes from around your house, garage or shed to prevent rats from entering the foundation and walls.

If you are having issues with rodents on your property, you may also want to consider hiring a pest control company.  

            Prevention for Restaurants/Food Premises

            Preventing rats is an important part of food safety. Every restaurant/food premise should have a proactive pest management program in place to help prevent infestations before they occur.

            An effective pest management program may include:

            • Regular inspections and monitoring for signs of rodent activity.
            • Sealing cracks, gaps, and holes in walls, floors, doors, and foundations to prevent rodents from entering.
            • Maintaining clean food preparation, storage, and dining areas.
            • Properly storing and disposing waste.
            • Using pesticides safely and responsibly, when needed.
            • Training staff well so that they know how to identify and prevent conditions that attract rats and promptly report any issues.

            Information on how restaurants/food premises can deter and control rats is available at Pest Control in Food Premises.

            Managing rats is a shared responsibility.

            The City is responsible for maintaining public property and ensuring bylaws are adhered to related to things like waste management and property standards. Property owners and businesses are responsible for managing rat issues on their property. 

            If you are experiencing problems with rats on your property, take steps to reduce conditions that attract them, such as removing food sources, securing garbage, and eliminating places where rats can nest. After attempting to reduce conditions, you may also wish to hire a licensed pest control company for assistance.

            Private property

            Residents should hire a pest control company for assistance with rodent infestations on private property.

            Apartments or Multi-Residential

            For issues in apartments or multi-residential buildings, tenants should speak to their landlord, building owner or property management first and contact 311 if issues are left unaddressed. Learn how to resolve an issue with pests in your apartment.

            Restaurants / Food Premises

            Issues or complaints related to restaurants/food premises can be directed to Toronto Public Health’s DineSafe program. Read more about pest control in food premises.

            The City is taking a coordinated approach to managing rat activity and reducing the conditions that help rats survive and spread. A new city-wide Rat Response Plan outlines actions that focus on preventing and addressing rats through Integrated Pest Management. This approach emphasizes clean environments, proper waste management, and public education.

            Managing rats is a shared responsibility. The City is responsible for maintaining City property and enforcing bylaws related to issues such as waste management and property standards. Property owners, landlords, tenants, and businesses are responsible for preventing and addressing rat activity on their own properties.

            The key Rat Response Plan actions to improve rat prevention and response across Toronto include:

            • A dedicated team to coordinate rat response efforts across City divisions.
            • Targeted inspections and enforcement in areas with higher levels of rat activity.
            • Rat management requirements for City-led construction projects.
            • Requests for private and Metrolinx construction projects to include rat management plans.
            • Public education campaigns for residents, tenants, landlords, and businesses.
            • Exploration of safer alternatives to rodenticides to help protect wildlife and the environment.

            The City continues to use a range of measures to reduce rat activity and control their population, including:

            • Responding to complaints about garbage, debris, and other conditions that attract rodents on private properties and apartment buildings.
            • Investigating complaints when property owners or landlords do not address rodent issues.
            • Monitoring parks as part of regular maintenance and hiring pest control services when rodents become a problem for park users.
            • Investigating reports of rodent infestations in food premises, schools, hospitals, long-term care homes, childcare centres, and other institutions.
            • Maintaining City facilities to keep them free of garbage and debris that can attract rodents.
            • Using pest control services to monitor and service bait stations at City facilities when needed.

            By working together, residents, businesses, property owners, and the City can help reduce rat activity and create cleaner, healthier neighbourhoods.
            Date modified: July 30, 2026