Brandon is unincorporated, so it is Hillsborough County, not a city. County Code Enforcement handles overgrown yards, junk and debris, and abandoned homes. Call (813) 274-6600 or file online. The county does not take anonymous complaints.
Brandon and east Hillsborough County
Rodent Control and Rat Removal in Brandon, FL
A 1980s ranch home off Lakewood Drive, a 2007 house in Lake Brandon backing up to a pond, a restaurant on the SR 60 strip near Westfield Brandon. Rats get into each one in a different place. We find those places, seal them with metal, trap the rodents already inside and check back until it is quiet.
A suburb that grew fast
Brandon Went From 1,665 People to 114,626. The Rats Kept Up.
Brandon was a small farm settlement for about 100 years. Then the 1950s brought the first subdivisions, the 1980s brought a building boom, and I-75 opened through town in 1986. Every new street added attics, garages, ponds and dumpsters, which is exactly what roof rats need.
1,665
People in 1960
Brandon was still a small community east of Tampa.
41,826
People in 1980
More than 3 times the 1970 count of 12,749, as the boom took off.
114,626
People in 2020
All of it unincorporated, with no city government of its own.
35sq mi
Total area
About 33.1 square miles of land and 1.9 square miles of lakes and ponds.
Rodent control in Brandon has to match that mix. A 60 year old block house and a 15 year old stucco house do not leak in the same places, so we inspect the whole structure before we quote anything.
Source: Wikipedia, Brandon, Florida (census figures by decade, area, I-75 opening on September 27, 1986).
Build era matters
From Hill-Dale Heights to Lake Brandon: Weak Spots by Decade
Brandon’s first subdivision, Hill-Dale Heights, went up on Kingsway Avenue in the 1950s. The newest gated streets were finished only a few years ago. Here is where we look first, based on when your home was built.
| Era | Brandon examples | Rodent we see most | Where we look first |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s and 1960s | Hill-Dale Heights and the older streets near Kingsway Avenue and the original town center | Roof rats (Rattus rattus) in the attic | Aging soffit and gable vents, gaps where the roof meets the wall, old plumbing and wire holes, big trees over the roof |
| 1970s and 1980s boom | Brandon Traces (started in the late 1980s, between Lakewood Drive and Broadway Avenue) and other streets built as the population tripled | Roof rats, plus house mice (Mus musculus) in garages | Worn garage door seals, AC line and dryer vent openings, roof returns and fascia boards that have softened with age |
| 1990s and 2000s | Lumsden Reserves (finished 2006), Lake Brandon (mostly built 2006 to 2008), Bloomingdale Village | House mice and roof rats | Tile and shingle roof edges, gaps around pipes and cables, garages that stay open, pond and preserve edges behind the yard |
| Newest builds | Small gated communities in South Brandon, such as Hidden Reserve | Mice first, then rats as landscaping grows in | Utility penetrations, weep and vent gaps left during construction, nearby land clearing that pushes rodents out |
Sources: Wikipedia, Brandon, Florida (Hill-Dale Heights, subdivisions); PODS, Brandon FL neighborhoods (Brandon Traces, Lumsden Reserves, Bloomingdale Village, Hidden Reserve); RealNet Florida, Lake Brandon. The rodent notes are what we usually find, and every home gets a full inspection.
Ponds, preserves and the Alafia
Rats Live Where the Backyard Ends
Many Brandon homes back up to a pond, a wooded buffer or a preserve. That green edge gives rodents water, cover and food a short trip from your fence. UF/IFAS says roof rats will travel up to 150 yards from the nest to eat and drink.
Stormwater ponds
Water on the back lot line
Subdivision ponds are everywhere in Brandon, and the Brandon Parkway Trail loops about 3 miles around ponds and green space. Thick grass and brush along pond banks hide rat runways that lead straight to sheds, pool equipment and garage doors.
Alafia River
South Brandon and the river
The Alafia River runs west through Lithia and Riverview to Hillsborough Bay, and it sees moderate to high flooding about twice a year. Lake Brandon sits close to the Alafia River trails and the Alafia River Scrub Preserve. When water rises, rodents move to higher, drier ground.
Trees and palms
The road to your roof
UF/IFAS lists hollow trees, old palm frond skirts, debris piles and even Quaker parrot nests as roof rat homes. Oaks and palms that touch the roofline let them walk right onto the soffit.
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension, Roof Rats (UW120); Wikipedia, Alafia River; PODS, Brandon FL neighborhoods (Brandon Parkway Trail); RealNet Florida, Lake Brandon.
SR 60, Westfield Brandon and the I-75 exits
Commercial Rodent Control on the Brandon Retail Corridor
Westfield Brandon opened in early 1995 as Brandon Town Center, on what was once a Carey Cattle Company farm. It sits off I-75 between State Road 60 and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, with about 986,000 square feet of shops and restaurants. Brandon Boulevard, which is SR 60, is lined with restaurants, grocery stores and strip centers for miles, and the corner of West Brandon Boulevard and Lakewood Drive is known as one of the busiest intersections in the region.
Food, grease, cardboard and loading doors in a tight strip give rats a steady supply. Rats in one unit of a strip center can reach the next unit through shared ceilings and walls, so we plan the work for the whole building, not just one suite.
Restaurants in Florida are inspected by the state. You get a written log after every visit to keep on file.
What commercial service covers
- Scheduled visits with written service logs
- Locked, numbered bait stations outside, placed on a map
- Door sweeps on back doors and loading doors
- Dumpster pads, grease bins and cardboard storage checked every visit
- Sealing plans for strip centers, offices, warehouses and apartment complexes
See our commercial rodent control service for details.
Sources: Wikipedia, Westfield Brandon; PODS, Brandon FL neighborhoods (busiest intersection).
Services available in Brandon
Rat and Mouse Removal Services in Brandon
Most Brandon 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 Brandon homes, from older houses near downtown to newer builds in Kensington Estates and Brandon Hills.Learn More →
Commercial Rodent ControlScheduled service with written visit logs for shops and restaurants along Brandon Boulevard and near Westfield Brandon.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, roof edge sealing and tree trimming advice for Brandon homes.Learn More →
No city hall
Brandon Is Unincorporated, So the County Sets the Rules
Brandon has no city government. It is a census designated place in Hillsborough County, so trash pickup, code complaints and nuisance lots all go through the county. Here is who to call and what the rules say.
Code Enforcement
A rat problem next door
- Hillsborough County Code Enforcement handles overgrown yards, junk, trash and debris, abandoned homes and unclean pools.
- Call (813) 274-6600 or file online through the county website.
- The county does not accept anonymous complaints. Your name and address become public record.
Solid Waste
Carts at the curb
- Most homes get garbage twice a week, plus recycling and yard waste once a week each.
- Roll carts out by 6 a.m. on pickup day, at least 3 feet from other carts, mailboxes and cars.
- Trash must be bagged and fit inside the gray cart. Bags left beside it feed rats overnight.
- Questions: Hillsborough County Solid Waste, (813) 272-5680.
Yard waste
Do not build a rat pile
- Limbs no longer than 4 feet or thicker than 6 inches.
- Each bundle, bag or can under 50 pounds. Up to 12 thirty gallon containers or 2 cubic yards a week.
- No plastic bags for tree limbs. Put brush out on pickup day, not a week early.
State license
Check the company first
- Pest control in Florida is licensed by FDACS under Chapter 482, Florida Statutes.
- Ask for the license number and look it up on the FDACS public license search before work starts.
- Our team is EPA and FDACS certified.
Sources: Hillsborough County, Report a Code Violation (hcfl.gov); FOX 13, New trash and recycling schedule for unincorporated Hillsborough County (Jan. 31, 2022); Osprey Observer, Hillsborough County’s five steps for curbside roll carts (June 2023); UF/IFAS Extension, Choose Licensed.
After Hurricane Milton
Fallen Oaks, Wet Garages and New Gaps
When Hurricane Milton came through in October 2024, Brandon roads were covered in water and downed trees, some pulled out by the roots. Residents at one apartment complex said they had never seen the area flood before. The roof of an empty shop at the Brandon mall was damaged. In nearby Valrico, homes, schools and businesses near the Alafia River dealt with severe flooding and evacuation orders.
Storms like this do 2 things to rodents. Water pushes them out of burrows, sheds and brush piles. Wind loosens soffits, vent screens, roof edges and garage door seals. A rat looking for a dry place finds a new opening the same week.
If you started hearing scratching in the ceiling after a storm, it is worth an inspection for storm damage and new entry points.
After the next storm
- Wear gloves and boots in debris. The CDC says leptospirosis risk often rises after floods because water and soil can carry urine from infected rodents.
- Get limbs, wet drywall and boxes away from the house and out to the curb on the county schedule.
- Walk the roofline and look for lifted soffit panels, torn vent screens and gaps at the fascia.
- Store food and pet food in metal, glass or thick plastic bins with tight lids.
- Check the garage door bottom seal. Floodwater and debris often tear it.
Sources: WTSP 10 Tampa Bay, Brandon flooding and damage from Hurricane Milton; FOX Weather, river flooding after Milton in Hillsborough County; CDC, Leptospirosis and Keep Pests Out After a Disaster.
Before you buy anything
What Brandon Homeowners Should and Should Not Try
Stores sell plenty of rat products. Some help. Some waste money, and one common trick is against the law.
Skip these
Do not bother
- Ultrasonic plug-ins. UF/IFAS says there is no evidence they drive rodents away, and they may harm a dog’s hearing.
- Bait blocks wired to tree branches. UF/IFAS calls this illegal. It poisons thousands of dogs and wild animals each year.
- Loose poison in the attic. Rats often die inside walls, and the smell lasts for weeks.
- Spray foam in gaps. Rats chew right through it.
Do these
Worth your weekend
- Trim oak limbs and palm fronds so they stay well back from the roof.
- Pick up fallen fruit. A citrus with a hole the size of a quarter and a hollow inside is a roof rat sign.
- Clear brush and stored lumber along the pond or preserve side of the yard.
- Keep bird seed, pet food and grass seed in sealed bins in the garage.
- Leave outdoor bait to locked, tamper resistant bait stations, which is what UF/IFAS requires for outdoor use.
Source: UF/IFAS Extension, Roof Rats (UW120).
How the job works
Inspection to Final Check, Brandon Style
In most Brandon homes the work centers on the roofline, attic and garage. Here is how a job usually goes. You see the plan and price first, and nothing starts until you approve it.
Step 1
Look
Roof, attic, garage, AC lines and the back lot line. We photograph droppings, rub marks and every entry point we find.
Step 2
Seal
Exclusion with sheet metal, 1/4 inch hardware cloth, mesh and mortar. The CDC notes some rodents fit through a hole the size of a dime.
Step 3
Trap
Snap traps on the runways inside, checked and moved on return visits until no new activity shows up.
Step 4
Clean and confirm
Cleanup of nests and droppings with disinfectant, never sweeping or vacuuming, then a follow-up visit before we close the job.
Sources: CDC, Keep Pests Out After a Disaster (dime size holes); CDC, Clean Up After Rodents.
Primary Brandon response zone
Brandon service coverage
Is your ZIP on the route?
Brandon’s core ZIP codes are 33510 and 33511, with 33508 and 33509 used for PO boxes. We cover the whole community and the surrounding Hillsborough County area. Call if you do not see your ZIP.
33508335093351033511
Areas we serve
Check my address →
Downtown Brandon · Limona · Kensington Estates · Brandon Hills · Barrington Oaks East · La Viva · near the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds
Brandon rodent control FAQ
Brandon Rat Questions, Answered
These are the questions we hear from homeowners and business owners around Brandon. Need a real answer for your house? Call us.
Call (561) 562-7607 →Newer homes still have gaps around pipes, cables and AC lines, at roof edges and under garage doors. Many 2000s subdivisions also back up to ponds and preserves, so rodents live close by. Sealing those openings is what stops it.
It can. Flooding pushes rodents out of burrows and brush, and wind opens new gaps in soffits, vents and garage seals. If the noises started after the storm, have the house checked for storm damage and new entry points.
Yes. Restaurants, stores, offices and apartment complexes get scheduled visits, written logs, locked bait stations outside and a sealing plan for the whole building, since rats move between units in a strip center.
No. UF/IFAS says wiring bait blocks to tree branches is illegal and poisons thousands of dogs and wild animals a year. Outdoor bait belongs only in a locked, tamper resistant station.
Inside the house we rely on sealing and traps placed where kids and pets cannot reach them. Any bait outside goes in locked stations and follows the product label. We do not use ultrasonic devices, which UF/IFAS says do not work and may bother dogs.
Bag the trash, keep it all inside the gray cart and roll it out by 6 a.m. on pickup day. Most homes get garbage twice a week. Put yard waste out on its day in bundles under 50 pounds, not days ahead where rats can nest in it.
We cover Brandon ZIP codes 33508 to 33511, including Bloomingdale, Brandon Hills and Lake Brandon, plus nearby Valrico, Riverview, Seffner and Tampa. We answer the phone 24/7.
Outside Brandon?
Nearby Cities We Serve
Brandon dispatch is ready
Rats in Your Brandon 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 Brandon 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 BrandonBrandon, Florida(561) 562-7607Open 24 hours · 7 days a week
