The block is not the problem. The openings are. Pipe holes, AC lines, dryer vents, worn vent screens and the joint where the roof meets the wall all wear out with age, and more than half of Hialeah homes were built before 1980. A rat needs a gap of only 1/2 inch.
Hialeah and Miami-Dade County
Rodent Control and Rat Removal in Hialeah, FL
Hialeah is a city of concrete block homes, small food shops and warehouses close to Miami International Airport. Rats here come in low, through pipe holes, slab gaps and dock doors, as well as high at the roofline. We find each opening, seal it with metal or concrete, trap what is inside and come back to check.
Start here
Block Walls Do Not Stop Rats. The Gaps Around Them Do.
Many people in Hialeah are surprised to find rats in a concrete block house. The walls are solid, but the house is full of holes that were cut on purpose: plumbing lines, AC lines, dryer vents, cable runs and attic vents. Over 50, 60 or 70 years, the seals around those holes crack and fall out.
UF/IFAS says a rat can squeeze through a crack 1/2 inch wide and a mouse through 1/4 inch. On an older Hialeah home, we often find a dozen gaps that size before we even get to the roof.
Rodent control in Hialeah works when it follows 3 steps in order: seal the entry points, trap the rodents already inside, then clean up the droppings and nesting. You see the plan and the price first. Nothing starts until you approve it.
Our team is EPA and FDACS certified and answers the phone 24/7.
Hialeah at a glance
- County
- Miami-Dade County, incorporated in 1925
- Population
- 223,109 (2020 census)
- Homes
- About 80,000 housing units, more than half built before 1980
- Rain
- About 73 inches a year on average
- Main rodents
- Roof rats, Norway rats near canals and slabs, house mice
- Call
- (561) 562-7607, 24/7
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 count and ACS year-built data, NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals via Wikipedia, UF/IFAS ENY-224.
Hialeah block homes
The Hialeah Concrete Block Home Checklist
Most Hialeah houses are CBS (concrete block and stucco) homes on small lots, often with a carport or an attached garage. These are the spots we check first, and how each one gets fixed.
| Spot | Why it fails on older block homes | How we seal it |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe and AC line holes | Holes cored through the block were filled with caulk or foam years ago. It shrinks, cracks or gets chewed out. | Hardware cloth or sheet metal collar, then cement mortar or sealant over it |
| Roof to wall joint | Where the roof framing sits on the top of the block wall, small gaps open along the soffit and fascia, a classic roof rat path. | Metal flashing or 1/4 inch hardware cloth fastened along the gap |
| Gable and soffit vents | Old vent screens rust out in the humid air. Roof rats climb palms, vines and power lines to reach them. | New heavy gauge vent screen, plus trimming branches back from the roof |
| Garage door corners | The rubber seal at the bottom of an attached garage door wears out at the corners and leaves a gap a rat can use. | New bottom seal and metal corner guards |
| Slab edge and carport | Norway rats dig under slabs, sheds and walkways. UF/IFAS says burrows are usually about 18 inches deep. | Burrows collapsed and filled, gaps closed with concrete, stored items lifted off the floor |
| Doors and utility rooms | Worn door sweeps on the laundry room, garage and side doors leave a gap at the floor. | Metal-backed door sweeps and threshold seals |
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension ENY-224, Rat and Mouse Control (gap sizes, burrows, rodent-resistant materials). Housing style from local real estate market data. We inspect the whole house, not just this list.
4 numbers to know
Small Gaps, Old Homes, Fast Breeding
These numbers explain why Hialeah houses see so many rodent calls, and why a few rats should not wait until next season.
56%
Built before 1980
About 45,000 of Hialeah’s roughly 80,000 housing units were built before 1980, most of them between 1950 and 1979.
1/2in
Rat gap
A rat fits through a crack 1/2 inch wide. A house mouse needs only 1/4 inch.
4-5
Litters a year
A female roof rat can have 4 or 5 litters a year, 5 to 8 pups each.
150yd
Food trips
Roof rats travel up to 150 yards from the nest for food or water, so the bakery bins down the block count.
Sources: ACS housing year-built data for Hialeah (via mapofzipcodes.com), UF/IFAS ENY-224 and UW120 (Roof Rats).
Warehouses and industrial blocks
Rodent Control for Hialeah Warehouses and Loading Docks
Hialeah grew as a working city, with manufacturing and cloth industries through the 1970s and 1980s. Today East Hialeah is one of Miami-Dade’s long-standing industrial areas, about 2 miles from Miami International Airport, with warehouses, showrooms and distribution spaces, some built in the 1950s.
Older warehouses have the same problems as older homes, only bigger: roll-up doors that do not close flat, gaps where the roof meets the block walls, and pallets and cardboard stacked along the walls. Trash and dumped items nearby make it worse. In 2025 the city, Hialeah Gardens and Miami-Dade County teamed up against years of illegal dumping in the Progresso annex industrial area near NW 107th Avenue.
For commercial rodent control, we map the building, seal the doors and walls, and set an exterior bait station line in locked boxes.
What a warehouse visit covers
- Roll-up and dock door seals and brush strips
- Roof to wall gaps and wall penetrations
- Numbered, locked bait stations along the outside walls
- Traps inside along walls, racks and storage areas
- Pallet, cardboard and dumpster area checks
- A written service log after every visit
Sources: Wikipedia, Hialeah, Florida (industrial history); Marcus and Millichap East Hialeah listing (location, 1953 build year); CBS News Miami, Sept. 18, 2025.
Water and weather
Canals, Rain and Ground Rats in Hialeah
UF/IFAS says Norway rats in Florida are most common along sea coasts and canals, especially where garbage is not stored well. The Miami Canal runs past the Miami Springs and Hialeah area on its way to the Miami River and the city gets a lot of rain.
Canal-side lots
Burrows along the bank and the slab
Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) dig burrows with entrances about 3 inches wide in loose soil, under sheds, slabs and rubbish piles. Homes and businesses near the water should check the yard line, the slab edge and anything stored on the ground.
Rainy season
Wet months push rodents up and in
Hialeah averages about 73 inches of rain a year. When burrows flood, ground rats look for dry space in garages, storage rooms and wall voids. That is a good time to check door sweeps and pipe holes.
Sources: UF/IFAS ENY-224; Wikipedia, Miami Canal; USGS, Miami Canal and the Miami Springs-Hialeah area well fields; NOAA normals via Wikipedia.
Services available in Hialeah
Rat and Mouse Removal Services in Hialeah
Most Hialeah 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, garage and pantry rat removal for Hialeah homes, from older houses near Hialeah Park to newer construction farther west.Learn More →
Commercial Rodent ControlScheduled service with written visit logs for warehouses, shops and restaurants across Hialeah’s industrial and retail corridors.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 loading dock gaps closed for Hialeah homes and businesses.Learn More →
Know what you have
Which Rodent Is in Your Hialeah Home?
The fix depends on the animal. Here is how to tell the 3 common South Florida rodents apart by where you find them.
Up high
Roof rat (Rattus rattus)
- Lives in attics, roof spaces, palm trees and thick shrubs
- Runs at night along wires, fences and branches
- Hollowed out fruit in the yard, mostly September to March
Down low
Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)
- Bigger and heavier, digs burrows
- Found by canals, slabs, sheds and dumpster areas
- Holes along walkways and under stored items
Indoors
House mouse (Mus musculus)
- Lives behind walls, in cabinets and in furniture
- Tiny droppings in drawers and under the sink
- Fits through a 1/4 inch gap
Source: UF/IFAS ENY-224 and UW120.
From first call to final check
How We Handle a Hialeah Rodent Job
A typical single family home takes a couple of weeks from inspection to the last check. Warehouses and buildings with many units take longer.
- Visit 1
Look low, then high
We walk the slab line, carport and utility side of the house first, then the roof, soffits and attic. You get photos of every opening, the plan and the price.
- After you approve
Close the openings
Exclusion with sheet metal, 1/4 inch hardware cloth, mortar and door sweeps. No spray foam alone.
- Next 1 to 2 weeks
Trap and check
Traps go on the runways inside. We come back to check them and move them as the activity changes.
- Once it is quiet
Clean up
Droppings and nest removal with disinfectant, following CDC steps. Never swept or vacuumed.
- Follow-up
Confirm it is over
A return visit to make sure no new droppings, rub marks or chewing show up before we close the job.
Bakeries, cafeterias and markets
Keeping Hialeah Food Businesses Rodent Free
Flour, sugar, bread racks and back door dumpsters draw rats and mice to any food shop. In Florida, restaurants are inspected by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and retail food stores like markets and bakeries hold permits from FDACS, which posts its inspection reports online.
We focus on the places inspectors and rodents both look: the back door, the storage room, under shelving and around the grease and trash area. After every visit you get a written log you can keep on file.
For food businesses
- Door sweeps and seals on back and delivery doors
- Traps inside, placed away from food prep
- Locked bait stations outside only
- Dumpster and grease area checks
- Written service logs for your records
Sources: FDACS Division of Food Safety, Retail Food Establishment Permit; Florida DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants.
Rules and next door problems
Hialeah Code, Florida Licensing and Safe Cleanup
Rats do not stop at the property line. These rules help when the problem starts next door, and when you pick a company.
City code
Junk, trash and overgrowth
The City of Hialeah lists “Accumulation of Junk, Trash and Debris” and “Excessive Weed, Grass, Trees, and Shrubs” among its most common code violations. Code Compliance takes reports online, including anonymous ones. City main line: 305-883-5800.
State license
Check for an FDACS license
Pest control companies in Florida are licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under Chapter 482, Florida Statutes. Ask for the license number before work starts.
Health
Clean droppings the CDC way
Open doors and windows for 30 minutes, wear rubber or plastic gloves, spray with 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, let it soak 5 minutes, then wipe up. Do not sweep or vacuum.
Sources: City of Hialeah, Most Common Code Violations; Chapter 482, Florida Statutes; CDC, How to Clean Up After Rodents.
Primary Hialeah response zone
Hialeah service coverage
Is your ZIP on the route?
Hialeah covers 8 main ZIP codes across a compact, densely built city. We cover all of them plus the surrounding area. Call if you do not see yours.
3301033012330133301433015330163301733018
Areas we serve
Check my address →
Hialeah Park area · Historic downtown Hialeah · Milander Park area · West Hialeah industrial district · Areas near Amelia Earhart Park
Hialeah rodent control FAQ
Hialeah Rat and Mouse Questions
Real questions from Hialeah homes, warehouses and shops. Need an answer for your property? Call us.
Call (561) 562-7607 →They can. UF/IFAS says Norway rats in Florida are most common along coasts and canals, especially where garbage is not stored well. If you see burrows along the bank, the slab or under a shed, that points to ground rats, and sealing the slab edge and doors matters most.
Yes. We seal dock and roll-up doors and wall gaps, set locked and numbered bait stations outside, place traps inside along walls and racks, and leave a written log after each visit.
Yes. Junk, trash and debris and overgrown weeds and grass are among the most common violations the City of Hialeah lists. You can file a report with Code Compliance online, including an anonymous complaint, or call the city at 305-883-5800.
Noise in the ceiling at night, and hollowed fruit in the yard, point to roof rats. Burrows in the soil, gnawing at the bottom of doors and activity in the garage or carport point to Norway rats. Small droppings in kitchen drawers are usually house mice. Many Hialeah homes have more than one.
It depends on how many openings need sealing, how big the building is and where the rodents are living. A small home with a few gaps costs less than a warehouse with worn dock doors. We give you a written plan and price after the inspection, and nothing starts until you approve it.
For a small area, follow the CDC steps: air the room out for 30 minutes, wear gloves, spray with 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, wait 5 minutes and wipe up with paper towels. Never sweep or vacuum. For attics, big messes or nests, we handle the cleanup.
Yes. We also serve the nearby cities of Hialeah Gardens, Miami Springs, Opa-locka and Miami Lakes, and the rest of Miami-Dade County.
Hialeah dispatch is ready
Rats in Your Hialeah 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 Hialeah 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 HialeahHialeah, Florida(561) 562-7607Open 24 hours · 7 days a week
