Rat Mitigation Zones
Rats can contaminate food, spread disease and reduce our quality of life. Rat Mitigation Zones (RMZ) are areas with high levels of rat activity, where City agencies focus resources to address rats and the conditions that support them.
Choose an RMZ on the map below to view data on complaints and NYC Health Department rat control activity.
Rat Mitigation Zones
NYC has a robust approach to rat control and uses different techniques depending on the level of rat activity in a neighborhood.
Areas with high levels of rat activity are considered RMZs, where the City focuses a data-driven, coordinated, multiagency effort to address rats and the conditions that cause them. The NYC Health Department, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Sanitation, Department of Education, and Housing Authority work together to improve neighborhood sanitation by eliminating the food, water and habitat that rats need to survive. The goal is to address the underlying conditions that support rat colonies, while also exterminating rats. By dramatically reducing the available habitats and food sources, the numbers of rats will decline.
Download data:
Inspections are of all properties that have a tax lot, including privately-owned property, public property, parks, schools, and vacant lots.
311 complaints
For rat sighting, mouse sighting, signs of rodents, or conditions attracting rodents.
Initial inspections
Initial inspections follow a 311 complaint, or are initiated proactively by the Health Department. Properties that fail may fail for active rat signs, garbage, or conditions that harbor rats. When a property fails an initial inspection, the owner receives an abatement order.
Compliance inspections
Compliance inspections follow failed initial inspections, 2 to 3 weeks after an abatement order. If a property fails a compliance inspection, the owner is issued a summons. A property may fail for active rat signs, garbage, or conditions that harbor rats.
Exterminator visits
The Health Department may send exterminators to visit a property when an owner fails a compliance inspection. These may result in bait applied (rodenticides), or the exterminator may monitor the property to see if remediation is working. The owner is billed for this work.
Are you in an RMZ? Here's what you need to know.
If you live or work in an RMZ, you can expect more frequent inspections for rats and the conditions that attract them. The NYC Health Department will work with the NYC Departments of Parks and Recreation, Department of Sanitation, Department of Education, and Housing Authority to address rat conditions on city-owned property.
The Health Department also works to control rats in areas that are not RMZs. Get information and resources on how to address rats in your neighborhood, or to sign up for a free Rat Academy training.