Most often through the open ends under the first row of barrel tile, along the ridge, or through soffits and vents with no screen. Roof rats climb palms, trees and power lines to reach the roof. Closing those spots with metal and tile closures is the main fix.
Boca Raton, Palm Beach County
Rodent Control and Rat Removal in Boca Raton, FL
Barrel tile roofs from the Mizner era, deep-water canal estates on the Intracoastal and quiet golf course streets all give roof rats a way in. We find the exact openings, close them with metal and trap the rats already living in the attic.
Boca in one paragraph
In Boca Raton, the rat in your attic is almost always a roof rat, and it got in high: under a tile, through a soffit or along a palm frond. Sealing those spots is what ends the problem.
Boca Raton gets about 57 inches of rain a year and stays warm all winter. Add 3 lakes on the old lagoon, miles of canals and yards full of palms, fruit trees and hedges, and rodents never have a slow season.
Our rodent control in Boca Raton has 3 parts. We close every gap with sheet metal, hardware cloth or mortar, trap the rats inside and clean up droppings and nests. You see the plan and the price first, and nothing starts until you approve it.
- County
- Palm Beach County, south end
- Population
- 97,422 (2020 census)
- Rain
- About 57.27 inches a year
- Most common rodent
- Roof rat (Rattus rattus)
- Also seen
- House mice (Mus musculus), Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) near docks and dumpsters
- Main entry points
- Tile roof edges, soffits, ridge and gable vents, AC line holes
- Call
- (561) 562-7607, open 24/7
Sources: Wikipedia, Boca Raton, Florida (2020 census, climate normals); UF/IFAS Extension, Roof Rats UW120.
Addison Mizner’s city
Barrel Tile, Stucco and Arches: The Mizner Look Has Weak Spots
Addison Mizner became town planner right after Boca Raton incorporated in 1924, and his Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival style still sets the look of the city. In Old Floresta, the city’s first historic district (1990), Mizner designed 29 Spanish style houses in 1925 with rough stucco walls, wrought iron balconies and barrel tile roofs.
Newer homes copy the same style. That is great for curb appeal and good for roof rats. A curved barrel tile leaves a hollow tunnel at the eave and at the ridge. If the first row of tile is not closed off, a rat can walk right under the roof and into the attic. Flat roof sections behind parapet walls, decorative vent grilles and old wood rafter tails add more openings.
Boca Raton is known for a strict development code. When a repair could change how your home looks from the street, we tell you first so you can check with the city or your association.
Sources: Wikipedia, Boca Raton, Florida; Florida Historical Marker, Old Floresta (markers.flheritage.com).
Where we check first on a Mizner style home
- Open ends under the first row of barrel tile (the eave closure)
- Ridge and hip lines where tile meets tile
- Parapet walls and flat roof drains (scuppers)
- Decorative clay or metal vent grilles with no screen behind them
- Stucco cracks around AC lines, pipes and cable
- Palms, bougainvillea and ficus touching the roof
Lakes, canals and the inlet
Lake Boca, the Intracoastal and the Canals Around the City
Boca Raton is framed by water. Lake Boca Raton, Lake Rogers and Lake Wyman sit on the old lagoon that became the Intracoastal Waterway. The Hillsboro Canal forms the south city limit, the El Rio Canal runs past FAU and Old Floresta, and the C-15 canal marks part of the north line. Seawalls, docks and thick shoreline plants give rats water and cover.
3
Lakes on the old lagoon
Lake Boca Raton, Lake Rogers and Lake Wyman, all part of the Intracoastal today.
2.41sq mi
Water inside city limits
Out of 31.59 square miles of total city area.
150yd
Roof rat range
A rat living on a seawall can reach the next few homes for food and water.
5-8
Young per litter
Roof rats breed all year in Florida, so a dock colony grows fast.
Waterfront homes
On canal and lake lots we check the seawall cap, dock boxes, boat lift covers, pool equipment pads and the base of the house. The goal is simple: keep shoreline rats on the ground and off the roof.
Bait near the water
Near canals and lakes we lean on sealing and snap traps. Any outdoor bait goes only in locked, tamper-resistant bait stations, used exactly as the label says.
Sources: Wikipedia, Boca Raton, Florida (lakes, Hillsboro, El Rio and C-15 canals, area); UF/IFAS Extension, Roof Rats UW120.
Gated and country club living
Rat Control Inside Boca’s Gated Country Club Communities
A guard gate keeps out strangers, not rats. Big lots, golf course edges, lakes and lush landscaping actually make many gated communities easier for rodents. When you call, tell us how your gate handles service visits so the inspection goes smoothly.
| Property type | What it looks like in Boca | Where rats usually get in |
|---|---|---|
| Deep-water canal estates | Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club: gated, with canals that reach the Intracoastal and the ocean through the Boca and Hillsboro inlets, and homes up to 15,000 square feet | Large, complex rooflines with many tile valleys, plus docks, boathouses and summer kitchens near the water |
| Golf course homes | Country club neighborhoods with fairway and lake lots, like the Jack Nicklaus signature course at Royal Palm | Roof rats travel along the tree line and hedges at the course edge, then up palms to the roof |
| Seasonal homes | Houses closed up for the summer while the owners are away | Months of quiet let a colony settle in the attic or garage before anyone notices |
| Villas and townhomes | Attached homes with shared roofs and walls | Rats move through the shared attic, so one unit sealed alone does not last |
If you are away part of the year, have the roofline and attic checked before you leave and again when you come back. A house manager or neighbor can also watch for droppings in the garage and gnawed fruit under the trees.
Sources: Waterfront Properties, Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club community page; Wikipedia, Boca Raton, Florida (Forbes ranking of Royal Palm). Entry points are based on the homes we inspect.
FAU and the burrowing owls
Near FAU? Protected Owls Change How Rats Should Be Handled
Florida Atlantic University’s 850 acre Boca Raton campus sits on the old Boca Raton Army Airfield, a World War II radar training base. In 1971 the Audubon Society named the campus a burrowing owl sanctuary, and the owls still nest in the open ground there.
The Florida burrowing owl was moved up to a state Threatened species in 2017, and a state permit is needed to harm or harass one. Owls, hawks and other predators that eat poisoned rodents can be poisoned too. That is a big reason we do not spread loose rat poison in yards. We seal, trap and only use locked bait stations where they make sense.
The FAU area also has a lot of student rentals and apartments. Shared walls, trash rooms and move-out clutter feed mice and rats, so we look at the whole building, not just one unit.
Sources: Wikipedia, Florida Atlantic University (campus size, airfield, 1971 owl sanctuary); WGCU, State increases protections for Florida burrowing owl, January 20, 2017.
Our wildlife-safe approach
- Exclusion first: close the openings so rats cannot get back in
- Snap traps inside the home, out of reach of kids and pets
- No loose pellets or bait thrown into yards or shrubs
- Outdoor bait only in locked, tamper-resistant stations
- Dead rodents removed promptly so pets and wildlife cannot reach them
Services available in Boca Raton
Rat and Mouse Removal Services in Boca Raton
Most Boca Raton jobs combine a few of these: an inspection, sealing, trapping and cleanup. Choose a service to learn more, or call and we will tell you what your property needs.
Residential Rodent ControlAttic and garage rat removal for Boca Raton homes, from Mizner-era houses near Old Floresta to new construction in Boca West.Learn More →
Commercial Rodent ControlScheduled service with written visit logs for restaurants and shops around Mizner Park and Town Center.Learn More →
Rodent RemovalTraps placed on the paths rats use and checked on return visits until the activity stops.Learn More →
Dead Rodent RemovalBad smell in a wall or ceiling? We find and remove the dead rodent, then clean and deodorize the area.Learn More →
Rodent CleanupRemoval of droppings, urine and nests from attics and garages, with advice on insulation replacement.Learn More →
Rodent ExterminatorEPA and FDACS certified technicians who use traps indoors and follow product labels around kids and pets.Learn More →
Rodent ExclusionWe seal soffits, roof vents, pipe gaps and garage corners with metal and mortar so rats cannot get back in.Learn More →
Rodent Feces RemovalCareful cleanup of droppings with disinfectant, never sweeping or vacuuming, which can spread germs.Learn More →
Rodent ProofingDoor sweeps, vent screens, barrel tile roof edge sealing and tree trimming advice for Boca Raton homes.Learn More →
What a Boca job looks like
From the Roof Walk to the Last Quiet Night
A tile roof home with a normal attic usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks from first visit to final check. Large estates, attached villas and commercial buildings take longer.
- First visit
Roof and attic walk
We check tile edges, ridges, soffits, vents, the attic, garage and yard. You get photos of every opening and a written plan with the price.
- After you approve
Close it up
Tile eave closures, metal flashing, 1/4 inch hardware cloth and mortar. We do not rely on spray foam, because rats chew through it. More on rodent exclusion.
- Week 1 to 2
Trap the ones inside
Traps go on the runways rats use, with greasy rub marks and droppings as our guide. We check and move them on return visits.
- When activity stops
Attic cleanup
Droppings and nest material come out with disinfectant, not a broom or a shop vac. See rodent cleanup.
- Follow-up
Final check
We come back to confirm there are no fresh droppings, new gnaw marks or noises before closing the job.
City of Boca Raton sanitation rules
Boca’s Trash and Yard Waste Rules, Read Like a Rat Would
The city collects garbage twice a week and vegetation, recycling and bulk once a week. Following the setout rules cuts down the food and shelter rats find at the curb.
| Rule | What the city says | Why it matters for rodents |
|---|---|---|
| Setout time | Out no earlier than 7 p.m. the day before, and no later than 7 a.m. on collection day | Less time overnight at the curb means less time for rats to feed |
| Bring it back | Containers removed within 12 hours after collection | Empty carts still smell like food and draw rats to the swale |
| City container only | Garbage must be bagged, tied and fully inside the City-issued container, with no overflow | Loose bags are the easiest meal on the street |
| Vegetation size | Pieces no more than 4 inches thick and 5 feet long, within 6 feet of the street edge | Trimmed palm fronds and limbs make perfect nests if they sit next to the house |
| Bulk separate | Bulk items must be kept apart from vegetation or they will not be collected | Old furniture tangled in yard waste can sit for another week as rat cover |
Questions about pickup: City of Boca Raton Sanitation, 561-416-3367, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. To report a concern about a neighboring property, use the city’s Report a Concern page or call City Hall at 561-393-7700. Pest control companies in Florida must be licensed by FDACS under Chapter 482, Florida Statutes, so ask for the license number.
Sources: City of Boca Raton, 2024 to 2025 Sanitation Brochure and Resident Collection Guidelines (myboca.us); City of Boca Raton, Code in Effect page; Chapter 482, Florida Statutes.
Mizner Park and the business districts
Restaurants, Shops and Apartments Over the Storefronts
Mizner Park opened in 1991 on the site of the old Boca Mall. It mixes restaurants and shops with Mediterranean Revival apartments above them, the Mizner Park Amphitheater and the Boca Raton Museum of Art. Town Center at Boca Raton, opened in 1980, is the largest enclosed mall in Palm Beach County.
Mixed use buildings are a rodent highway. Food waste from the ground floor, shared utility chases and ceiling spaces let rats and mice move from a kitchen to an apartment above. We treat the building as one system and leave a written service log after each visit that you can show an inspector. Learn more about our commercial rodent control.
Every commercial job starts with a written plan and price. Nothing begins until you approve it.
Sources: Wikipedia, Mizner Park; Wikipedia, Boca Raton, Florida (Town Center).
Commercial service in Boca Raton
- Door sweeps on back doors and loading doors
- Locked exterior bait stations, mapped and numbered
- Metal sealing around pipes, conduit and grease lines
- Dumpster pad and trash room checks
- Plans for whole condo, villa and apartment buildings
- Written logs after every visit
After the storm
Frances, Jeanne, Wilma, Irma: Storm Damage Opens Roofs to Rats
Boca Raton was hit by Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in September 2004, Wilma in October 2005 and Irma in September 2017. Each storm loosened tile, tore screens and dropped limbs. Rats move into those openings long before the roofer arrives.
Roof
Slipped or cracked tile
One broken barrel tile can open a direct path to the attic. Have storm repairs finished with proper closures and metal, not just a tarp.
Vents
Torn soffit and vent screens
Wind can bend or pull out vent screens. Replace them with 1/4 inch hardware cloth or metal vent covers.
Yard
Debris piles by the house
Stacked fronds and limbs are instant nests. Cut them to the city’s 4 inch by 5 foot limits and move them to the curb, away from walls.
Sources: Wikipedia, Boca Raton, Florida (hurricane history); City of Boca Raton Sanitation Brochure (vegetation size, trim foliage before hurricane season).
Typical market prices
- National average
- About $375 for a rat exterminator
- Most jobs
- $150 to $600
- Low to high
- $90 to $6,500
- Exclusion add-on
- About $200 to $600 (HomeAdvisor)
Sources: HomeGuide, Rat Exterminator Cost (national); HomeAdvisor, Boca Raton rodent pest control page (exclusion add-on). These are market averages, not our quote. We did not find published Boca Raton prices.
Price and value
What Drives the Cost of Rat Removal in Boca Raton
The biggest factor is sealing. A one-story block home with a simple hip roof has far fewer openings than a 2-story estate with tile valleys, parapets, a guest house and a dock. Attics with heavy droppings also need more cleanup time.
- Plug-in ultrasonic devices. UF/IFAS has found no evidence they drive off rats.
- Foam stuffed in gaps. Rats chew right through it.
- Poison in the attic. Rats often die in the walls, and the smell can last for weeks.
- Trapping without sealing. New rats just move into the empty space.
You get a written price after the inspection, before any work starts.
Primary Boca Raton response zone
Boca Raton service coverage
Is your ZIP on the route?
These are the ZIP codes we serve most in Boca Raton. Call if you do not see yours.
334273342833429334313343233433334343348633487334963349833499
Areas we serve
Check my address →
Downtown Boca Raton · Mizner Park · Old Floresta · Pearl City · Spanish Village · Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club · Boca Del Mar · Boca West · West Boca
Boca Raton rodent FAQ
Boca Raton Rat Questions, Answered Plainly
From Old Floresta attics to canal homes off Lake Boca, these are the questions we hear most. Call any time if yours is not here.
Call (561) 562-7607 →Yes. Gates stop people, not rodents. Golf course edges, lakes, canals and thick landscaping give rats plenty of food and cover. Tell us how your gate handles service visits when you call.
Have the roofline and attic checked before you leave, store pet food and bird seed in sealed bins, and ask someone to look for droppings in the garage now and then. A quiet house is an easy place for a colony to settle.
Water and shoreline plants help rats survive, and roof rats can travel about 150 yards for food. Homes on canals and the Intracoastal often see more activity near docks and seawalls. We focus on keeping them out of the house and off the roof.
It can be. Florida burrowing owls are a state Threatened species, and predators that eat poisoned rodents can be harmed. We rely on sealing and traps, and use bait only in locked, tamper-resistant stations as the label allows.
The city says no earlier than 7 p.m. the day before collection and no later than 7 a.m. on collection day. Bring the container back within 12 hours, and keep all garbage bagged inside the City-issued cart.
Most repairs, like tile closures, vent screens and metal behind grilles, are hard to see from the street. If a repair would change something visible, we tell you first so you can check with the city or your association.
Yes. We cover the rest of south Palm Beach County and nearby Broward County cities too. Call (561) 562-7607 any time, 24/7, and we will tell you if your address is in our area.
Boca Raton dispatch is ready
Rats in Your Boca Raton Home or Business?
Call now. We will inspect the property, show you where rodents are getting in, and seal it so they stay out.
Request Boca Raton service
Give us a call. We’ll handle the next step.
Call us, tell us what you are seeing and where you are located, and our team will confirm the right appointment type and timing.
Serving Boca RatonBoca Raton, Florida(561) 562-7607Open 24 hours · 7 days a week
