Norway rats are most common along coasts and canals because they need water every day and dig burrows in soft soil. The city has about 165 miles of waterways, plus seawalls, docks and palms that give them cover. A canal lot is not a problem by itself, but any gap in the seawall, garage or roof gives them a way in.
Fort Lauderdale and Broward County
Rodent Control and Rat Removal in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale is built on water, and so are its rats. Norway rats burrow behind seawalls on the Las Olas Isles, roof rats nest in the palms of Victoria Park, and mice ride the trash chutes in beach towers. We find how they get in, close it with metal and remove the ones already inside.
Why this city
A Waterfront City Gives Rats Everything They Need
Fort Lauderdale calls itself the Venice of America. The city has about 165 miles of inland waterways, from the New River and the Intracoastal Waterway to the finger canals behind thousands of homes. Rats need water every day, and here they never have to go far for it.
The University of Florida notes that Norway rats are most common along sea coasts and canals. Add warm weather all year, a long wet season, palm trees on almost every lot and busy restaurant rows on Las Olas Boulevard, and you get rodents that stay active 12 months a year.
Rodent control in Fort Lauderdale works best when you treat the whole property, not just the spot where you heard noise. Our EPA and FDACS certified team checks the roof, the walls, the seawall, the dock and the yard, then shows you the plan and price before anything starts.
Orkin ranked Miami 26th on its 2025 list of the rattiest cities in the US. Fort Lauderdale shares the same South Florida climate and coastline.
Fort Lauderdale at a glance
- County
- Broward County, and Fort Lauderdale is the county seat
- Population
- 182,760 (2020 census)
- Waterways
- About 165 miles inside city limits
- Beach
- About 7 miles on the Atlantic
- Rain
- About 61 inches a year, wet season May to October
- Main rodents
- Norway rats near water, roof rats in attics and palms, house mice indoors
- Call
- (561) 562-7607, 24/7
Sources: Wikipedia (Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, NOAA climate table), Visit Lauderdale, UF/IFAS ENY-224, Orkin 2025 list via AOL.
Canal and waterfront homes
Seawalls, Docks and Boathouses: Where Fort Lauderdale Rats Live
On a canal lot, the rats usually do not start in the house. They live along the water and move in when they find a gap. These are the 4 places we check first on waterfront homes in Rio Vista, the Las Olas Isles, Lauderdale Isles and Coral Ridge.
Seawall
Burrows behind the cap
Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) dig burrows about 18 inches deep with openings near 3 inches wide. Soft fill behind a cracked seawall cap, under a pool deck or under a slab is a favorite spot. Fresh dirt at the hole and smooth worn edges mean the burrow is in use.
Dock
Under the boards and in the lift
Docks give rats shade, cover and a straight path from the water to your yard. We look for droppings on the stringers, chewed lines and gnawed boat covers, and nests in dock boxes and lift housings.
Shed
Boathouses and storage
Fishing bait, fish scraps, cushions and life jackets stored in a boathouse or garage make good food and nest material. Rats chew into the bottom corners of wood doors and squeeze under gaps of 1/2 inch.
Palms
Waterfront palms and hedges
Roof rats (Rattus rattus) nest in the dead frond skirts of palm trees and travel on branches, vines and cables to the roofline. A palm leaning over the house is a bridge straight to the soffit.
165mi
Waterways
Miles of inland waterways inside Fort Lauderdale.
18in
Burrow depth
Typical Norway rat burrow depth.
1/2in
Rat gap
A rat can squeeze through a crack this wide.
1/4in
Mouse gap
A mouse needs only this much room.
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension ENY-224 Rat and Mouse Control; UF/IFAS UW120 Roof Rats; Visit Lauderdale.
Marinas and boats
Keeping Rats Off Your Boat and Out of the Marina
Boating is part of daily life in Fort Lauderdale, a home port with about 100 marinas and boatyards. Every one of them has the same rat risks: food on board, trash at the dock, and lines and cords that run from shore to deck.
UF/IFAS describes rats as excellent swimmers and strong climbers. A rat that lives under a dock can walk up a mooring line or a power cord and get aboard at night. Once inside a cabin or engine room, it can chew wiring, hoses and cushions.
For dock owners, marinas and boatyards, we inspect the shoreline, the dock structure and the buildings, set locked bait stations on land where the label allows, and seal storage buildings and offices. We do not place bait on boats.
Simple habits that help on the water
- Take food, bait and trash off the boat when you leave it.
- Keep dock boxes closed and off the dock floor if you can.
- Pull lines and cords tight so they do not sag into the water or touch pilings.
- Close hatches, ports and vents when the boat is unused.
- Check bilges, lockers and the engine room for droppings and chewed wires.
- Clear fish scraps from cleaning stations the same day.
Sources: Wikipedia, Fort Lauderdale (marinas and boatyards); UF/IFAS ENY-224 (swimming and climbing).
Beach condos and high-rises
Rodent Control for Condo Towers on the Beach
Lauderdale Beach and Galt Ocean Mile are lined with high-rise condos, and Central Beach and Harbor Beach mix towers with hotels and homes. In a tower, rodents rarely come up the outside. They move through the shared parts of the building. Here is where we look for the condo board or the property manager.
| Building area | What draws rodents | What we check and seal |
|---|---|---|
| Trash rooms and chutes | Food waste on every floor, warm and dark rooms | Chute doors that do not close, gaps around the chute, floor drains, door sweeps on the trash room |
| Parking garage | Cover, quiet corners, cars parked for weeks | Pipe and conduit holes into the building, storage cages, elevator pits |
| Ground floor and lobby | Restaurants, cafes and package rooms | Loading doors, back doors, utility entries and wall gaps behind kitchen equipment |
| Pool deck and landscaping | Palms, dense hedges, irrigation water | Burrows in planters, frond skirts on palms, gaps where pavers meet the building |
| Individual units | Pantries, pet food, gaps under cabinets | Openings around plumbing under sinks, dishwasher and fridge lines, shared wall chases |
Sealing one unit while the trash room stays open does not hold. We give the association a written building plan, and we can work with individual owners too. See our commercial rodent control page for scheduled service.
Rain, floods and storms
What Heavy Rain Does to Fort Lauderdale Rats
On April 12, 2023, Fort Lauderdale got the most rain it has ever recorded in a single day. Water filled streets in Edgewood and other neighborhoods. Floods like that soak ground burrows, and rats look for higher, drier places, which is often a garage, a wall or an attic.
25.91in
April 12, 2023
Rain at the Fort Lauderdale airport in one day, a city record.
61in
Average year
Normal yearly rainfall at the airport is about 61 inches.
6mo
Wet season
May to October brings most of the year’s rain.
5min
Soak time
CDC says to soak droppings in bleach solution 5 minutes before wiping.
After a storm
Clear debris fast
The CDC says rats and mice may enter homes after a disaster like a hurricane. Piles of branches, wet boxes and storm debris give them cover, so move them out soon.
Shutters
Check where shutters mount
Shutter tracks, storm panel anchors and generator lines can leave new holes in the wall. Close any gap over 1/4 inch.
Cleanup
Wet droppings are risky
Do not sweep or vacuum. Wear gloves, soak with disinfectant or 1 1/2 cups bleach per gallon of water, wait 5 minutes and pick up with paper towels. Our rodent cleanup team can handle it.
Sources: Wikipedia, 2023 Fort Lauderdale floods; Wikipedia NOAA climate table for Fort Lauderdale; CDC, What to Do to Protect Yourself From Animals After a Disaster.
Services available in Fort Lauderdale
Rat and Mouse Removal Services in Fort Lauderdale
Most Fort Lauderdale 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 canal-front rat removal for Fort Lauderdale homes, from 1920s bungalows in Colee Hammock to condos on the beach.Learn More →
Commercial Rodent ControlScheduled service with written visit logs for restaurants, marinas and shops along Las Olas Boulevard and downtown.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, dock boxes 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 Fort Lauderdale homes.Learn More →
Neighborhood field notes
What We Look For, Street by Street
Fort Lauderdale has more than 60 recognized neighborhoods. Older inland streets, canal isles and beach blocks each fail in their own way.
Victoria Park
Older homes, big trees
Single-family homes and townhouses with Old Florida charm, mature trees and palms. We check roof edges, gable vents and limbs over the roof for roof rats.
Rio Vista and Colee Hammock
River lots under oaks
Homes on the New River and its side canals, under oak-lined streets. Expect both species: Norway rats at the seawall, roof rats in the canopy.
Las Olas Isles and Lauderdale Isles
Finger canal homes
Nearly every lot touches water, with docks and seawalls on the back. Burrows along the wall and gaps under garage doors are the usual way in.
Sailboat Bend and Tarpon River
The oldest streets
Sailboat Bend is one of the oldest parts of the city, on the New River. Older homes often have vents and gaps that need careful sealing with hardware cloth.
Coral Ridge and Imperial Point
East side homes and condos
Coral Ridge mixes townhomes, condos and waterfront houses near the beach. Imperial Point was first built in the 1960s. Roof edges, AC line holes and dryer vents are common entry points.
Flagler Village and downtown
Apartments and restaurants
A former warehouse district now full of apartments, bars and food spots. Dumpster areas and shared walls between units carry rats from one business to the next.
Sources: Wikipedia, Fort Lauderdale (neighborhoods); PODS, Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods guide. Entry points listed are what we commonly check, and every property is inspected in full.
Our method
How We Get Rats Out and Keep Them Out
Traps alone only remove the rats you have today. The job is not done until the openings are closed. Nothing starts until you see the plan and the price and say yes.
1
Inspect
Roof, soffits, attic, walls, garage, seawall, dock and yard. You get photos of every entry point we find.
3
Remove
Snap traps on rat runways inside, and locked, tamper-resistant bait stations outside where the label allows.
4
Clean and recheck
Droppings, nests and urine areas cleaned and disinfected, then follow-up visits until activity stops.
Found a dead rat smell in a wall? See dead rodent removal. Need the full service for your house? See residential rodent control.
City rules and reporting
Fort Lauderdale Trash Rules and How to Report a Problem Property
Trash left out too long is one of the easiest meals a rat can find. The city already has rules that help. Following them on your block cuts down rodent food.
| Topic | City of Fort Lauderdale rule or option | Why it matters for rats |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage carts | Out no earlier than 6 PM the night before, at the curb by 7 AM, back in the same day. Bag all trash and keep the lid fully closed. | A cart that sits out overnight with the lid open feeds rats all night. |
| Bulk trash | Picked up once a month. Set out no earlier than 24 hours before pickup, in a pile no larger than 10 cubic yards. Items left out more than 24 hours after pickup can lead to a citation. | Old furniture and boxes at the curb become rat shelter fast. |
| Yard waste | Collected once a week in the green cart. Limbs up to 12 feet long and 12 inches wide accepted. | Palm fronds and brush piles are favorite roof rat hiding spots. |
| Report a property | Community Enhancement and Compliance: report online at LauderBuild, use the LauderServ app, call 954-828-8000 or email CEnhancement@fortlauderdale.gov. | A neighbor’s junk pile or vacant lot can keep sending rats to your yard. |
| Hire a licensed company | Pest control in Florida is licensed by FDACS under Chapter 482, Florida Statutes. Ask for the license number. | Rodent baiting around homes should be done by trained, licensed people. |
Sources: City of Fort Lauderdale Sanitation Collection Programs; City of Fort Lauderdale Community Enhancement and Compliance; FDACS and Chapter 482, Florida Statutes.
Know your rodent
Roof Rat, Norway Rat or Mouse?
The fix depends on the animal. A rat on the roof needs a different plan than a rat under the slab.
| Rodent | Where it lives in Fort Lauderdale | Signs | Smallest gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof rat (Rattus rattus) | Attics, palm frond skirts, dense hedges and trees, roof spaces | Running in the ceiling at night, black banana-shaped droppings 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, hollowed fruit, greasy rub marks | 1/2 inch |
| Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) | Seawalls, docks, canal banks, under slabs, sewers and dumpsters | Burrows about 3 inches wide, gnawed doors at ground level, runways in grass | 1/2 inch |
| House mouse (Mus musculus) | Kitchens, pantries, condo units, garages | Tiny droppings, chewed food bags, nests in drawers and behind appliances | 1/4 inch |
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension ENY-224 Rat and Mouse Control; UF/IFAS UW120 Roof Rats. UF/IFAS also notes there are no repellents registered for roof rats and no evidence that ultrasonic devices drive rodents away.
Primary Fort Lauderdale response zone
Fort Lauderdale service coverage
Is your ZIP on the route?
Fort Lauderdale spans dozens of ZIP codes. These are the ones we serve most, but we cover the whole city and Broward County. Call if you do not see yours.
333013330433305333063330833309333113331233315333163331733334
Areas we serve
Check my address →
Victoria Park · Colee Hammock · Tarpon River · Rio Vista · Coral Ridge · Seven Isles · Las Olas Isles · Sunrise Key · Downtown · Las Olas Boulevard · Central Beach · Edgewood
Fort Lauderdale rodent FAQ
Fort Lauderdale Rat Questions, Answered
Waterfront home, boat slip or beach condo, call and tell us what you are seeing.
Call (561) 562-7607 →Yes. Rats swim well and climb lines, pilings and power cords. Keep food, bait and trash off the boat, close hatches when you leave and keep lines tight. We focus on the dock, shoreline and buildings so fewer rats are near your boat in the first place.
In towers, rodents usually travel inside the building through trash chutes, pipe chases, elevator areas and shared walls, not up the outside. We seal the openings in your unit and can give the association a plan for trash rooms, the garage and the ground floor.
They can. Water fills ground burrows and the CDC says rats and mice may move into homes after storms and disasters. After a heavy rain like April 2023, check garages and storage areas, clear debris and call if you see droppings or chewing.
Noise in the attic or ceiling at night usually means roof rats. Holes in the ground near the seawall, slab or shed, and chewing at the bottom of doors, point to Norway rats. Many waterfront homes have both, so we inspect high and low.
Contact the City of Fort Lauderdale Community Enhancement and Compliance Division. You can report online at LauderBuild, use the LauderServ app, call 954-828-8000 or email CEnhancement@fortlauderdale.gov. Add photos if you have them.
HomeAdvisor says Fort Lauderdale homeowners pay an average of $200 to $600 for rodent exclusion as an add-on to rodent control. That is a market average, not our quote. Your price depends on how many openings need sealing, and you get it in writing after the inspection, before any work starts.
Yes. We serve homes and businesses across Broward County, including Oakland Park, Plantation, Davie and Dania Beach. Call and tell us your address.
Fort Lauderdale dispatch is ready
Rats in Your Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort LauderdaleFort Lauderdale, Florida(561) 562-7607Open 24 hours · 7 days a week
