Decision guide
How to Choose a Rodent Control Company
Choose a company whose proposal lists every entry point it will seal, the materials, the number of follow-up trap visits, the cleanup scope and written warranty terms, and check its license before you sign. In Contra Costa, the county vector control district also offers inspection and advice at no additional charge.
Free county option
What the vector control district does
The Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District lists rats and mice inspection and advice for county residents, provided at no additional charge because the district is funded by property taxes and benefit assessments. Request service online or call (925) 685-9301 (district services page).
What it doesn’t list: trapping, sealing or cleanup work. It is a useful second set of eyes, especially before a large quote.
Licenses
Check before you sign
The Structural Pest Control Board licenses pest control in California; it describes structural pest control as the control of household pests “including but not limited to rodents, vermin and insects” (SPCB). Household pest work falls under the board’s Branch 2 (general pest).
Some exclusion work is closer to construction, such as new vents or insulation. Ask each company which license it holds for which part of the job, then look it up with the SPCB and, for construction-type repairs, the CSLB.
The proposal
What a good written proposal lists
- Every entry point found, ideally with photos, and how each will be sealed
- Materials named: metal mesh gauge, sheet metal, door sweeps, vent covers
- Trapping plan: number of traps, where, and how many follow-up visits are included
- Cleanup scope in square feet, with photos of the contamination being priced
- Warranty: length, what it covers, what voids it, and whether re-sealing visits are included
- Separate prices for trapping, sealing and cleanup so you can compare
Red flags
Slow down if you see these
- A poison-first plan for a house (most anticoagulant baits are now banned for residential use)
- Pressure to replace all attic insulation without evidence
- A vague warranty, or one that only applies with a monthly contract you didn’t ask for
- No written list of entry points
- Same-day-only pricing
Questions to ask
Before you hire anyone
- Which license do you hold, and under what name?
- Will you trap and seal at the same time?
- How many follow-up visits are included?
- What exactly does the warranty cover, and for how long?
- Can I see photos of every entry point and any contamination?
- What happens if you find more gaps during the job?
Questions
Frequently asked
Is there free rodent control in Walnut Creek?
The Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District provides rats-and-mice inspection and advice at no additional charge to county residents. Trapping, sealing and cleanup are hired out separately.
Does rodent proofing require a pest control license?
It depends on the work. Pest control is licensed by the Structural Pest Control Board, and construction-type repairs can fall under the CSLB. Ask each company what license covers each part of the job and verify it.
How many quotes should I get?
Two or three for larger jobs is reasonable, especially when attic insulation replacement is proposed. Compare the entry-point lists and warranty terms, not just the total.
Next step
Get the house looked at
Call for the quickest answer, or send the form and expect a call back to set up an inspection and a written quote.
- Entry points found and listed
- Trapping, sealing and cleanup priced separately
- Warranty terms in writing
Sources used on this page
- Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District: Request Services
- Structural Pest Control Board: What is structural pest control?
- Structural Pest Control Board: Verify a company or licensee
- CSLB: Check a contractor license
- California DPR: Chlorophacinone and warfarin prohibitions and allowed uses (AB 2552)