New York City is preparing to strengthen enforcement against rat infestations, with new rules that would require faster inspections and impose escalating fines on properties found with active signs of rodents.

Under Local Law 8 of 2026, the Department of Health would generally have to inspect a property within 14 days after receiving a complaint or request concerning a suspected rat infestation. Inspectors would also be required to document specific findings during each inspection.

The proposed regulations spell out what inspectors will look for, including fresh droppings, burrows, rat trails, gnaw marks, visible rodents and other evidence of active infestation.

Property owners and others responsible for a building would be required to take steps to eliminate conditions that attract rats. Those measures include properly storing garbage in sealed, durable containers, removing clutter and debris, closing holes and cracks, securing doors and windows, protecting vents and drains and bringing in a licensed exterminator when necessary.

Simply taking those steps, however, would not protect a property from a violation if inspectors subsequently discover active signs of rats.

Penalties would increase with repeated violations, starting at $300 for a first offense, $600 for a second and $1,200 for a third. Properties with four or more violations could face fines of up to $2,000.

The legislation was introduced by Brooklyn Councilwoman Susan Zhuang following complaints from residents who said rat-related 311 reports were not being investigated quickly enough. The law also requires the city to make another inspection attempt within 20 days when inspectors cannot initially gain access to a property.

The new rules come as the city says it is making progress in reducing its rat population. Approximately 9,900 rat-related calls were recorded during the first seven months of 2026, the lowest figure for that period since 2020 and the first time the number has fallen below 10,000 in that timeframe.

The effort builds on the city’s broader push to reduce rodents by changing how garbage is stored. More than 70% of residential trash is now required to be placed in sealed containers, according to the Department of Sanitation.

That initiative began with a 10-block pilot in West Harlem in 2023 and expanded throughout Community Board 9 by June 2025. The containerization program currently focuses on residential buildings with more than 30 units, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani has set a goal of expanding sealed trash containers citywide by 2032.

The Health Department says rats are primarily attracted by accessible food and water, accumulated garbage, clutter, unsanitary conditions and openings such as cracks, gaps and holes that provide access to buildings.

The proposed regulations are scheduled for a public hearing on September 14 before they are implemented.