Curved clay tile leaves open spaces at the eaves and ridge. If those ends are not closed, roof rats can walk under the tile and find a way into the attic. Older vents with no screen are another common way in. Closing tile ends and vents with metal and mesh usually stops it.
Hollywood and south Broward County
Rodent Control and Rat Removal in Hollywood, FL
From the tile roofs of Hollywood Lakes to the small hotels on the Broadwalk and the old storefronts around Young Circle, Hollywood rats have a lot of places to hide. We track down how they get in, close those gaps with metal and trap the rodents that are already inside.
Quick take
In Hollywood, most rodent calls are roof rats in attics and under roof tiles, with Norway rats near the lakes, the Intracoastal and restaurant dumpsters. Sealing the openings is what ends the problem.
Hollywood sits between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, with the Atlantic on one side and a lot of water inside the city. It gets about 65 inches of rain a year and stays warm in winter. Rats here do not slow down for a cold season. They breed all year.
Rodent control in Hollywood starts with a full inspection: roofline, soffits, attic, walls, garage and yard. Our EPA and FDACS certified team shows you every entry point and the price, and nothing starts until you approve the plan.
- County
- Broward County
- Population
- 153,067 (2020 census)
- Founded
- 1921 by Joseph W. Young, incorporated 1925
- Beach
- About 5 to 6 miles on the Atlantic
- Rain
- About 65 inches a year
- Rodents we see
- Roof rats, Norway rats, house mice
- Call
- (561) 562-7607, 24/7
Sources: Wikipedia, Hollywood, Florida (2020 census, founding dates, beach length, NOAA climate table).
Joseph Young’s 1920s city
Why Hollywood Lakes Homes Get Roof Rats
Joseph W. Young started building his “dream city” in 1921 with a planned street grid, a wide boulevard and 3 big traffic circles. Hollywood Lakes, between North Lake and South Lake and close to the Intracoastal, is one of the neighborhoods from that era. Many homes there are Mediterranean Revival, with clay tile roofs, arches and stucco walls. They are beautiful, and they have their own weak spots.
Roof tiles
Gaps under the barrel tile
The curved shape of clay tile leaves open pockets at the eaves and along the ridge. If the openings at the bottom row are not closed, a roof rat (Rattus rattus) can walk right under the tile and into the attic. We close tile ends and eave gaps with metal and mesh made for tile roofs.
Old vents
Original vents and attic openings
Decorative clay vents, gable vents and old attic openings in 100 year old homes often have no screen or a rusted one. We cover them with 1/4 inch hardware cloth so air still moves but rodents cannot.
Lake edge
Seawalls on North and South Lake
Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) live along shorelines and dig burrows in soft soil. Lake and Intracoastal lots give them water every night. We check seawall caps, docks, pool decks and the base of the house for burrows and gnawing.
Trees
Big trees, palms and vines
Mature trees, palms and vines on older lots work like bridges. Roof rats run along branches and wires to the roof edge. Branches should be cut back so they do not touch the roof.
The 1926 Miami hurricane hit Hollywood hard, and many homes have been rebuilt, re-roofed or added onto since then. Each repair can leave a new gap where old and new parts meet. That is why we check the whole roofline, not just the spot where you heard noise. See our rodent exclusion page for how we seal.
Sources: The Florida Preservationist, “Hollywood: A City Beautiful” (2024); Hollywood Historical Society via OurCity Media; Superior Fence and Rail, Hollywood neighborhood tour (Hollywood Lakes, North and South Lake); Wikipedia, Hollywood, Florida (1926 hurricane); UF/IFAS UW120 and ENY-224.
Hollywood Beach Broadwalk
Rats, Restaurants and Small Hotels on the Broadwalk
The Hollywood Beach Broadwalk runs about 2.5 miles along the ocean. It was first paved in 1922, and today the west side is lined with seafood places, tiki bars, shops and small hotels. The American Planning Association counted about 98 small hotels along it, many of them low and mid-rise buildings from the late 1920s and 1930s.
That mix is great for visitors and good for rodents too. Food waste comes out of kitchens every night, older buildings have more cracks and pipe gaps, and many properties share walls with the business next door. Rats and mice move from one building to the next through those shared spaces.
For a Broadwalk hotel, motel or restaurant, we look at the whole property: the kitchen, storage rooms, trash area, back doors, roof and the plants out front. Then we set up a plan with scheduled visits and a written log. Learn more on our commercial rodent control page.
Restaurants in Florida are inspected by the state. A clean service log helps you show what has been done.
What we check on a beach property
- Dumpster pads and trash corrals, lids and drain holes
- Back and delivery doors, door sweeps and gaps under 1/2 inch
- Kitchen wall gaps behind coolers, fryers and dish areas
- Pipe and wire holes where the building meets the sidewalk
- Planters, hedges and palms near the building
- Roofs and AC stands on older 1 and 2 story hotels
- Locked, numbered bait stations outside where the label allows
Sources: American Planning Association, Great Places in America, Broadwalk (2013); VISIT FLORIDA, Hollywood Beach guide.
Downtown Hollywood and Young Circle
Old Storefronts, Shared Walls and Rodents Downtown
The Hollywood Boulevard Historic Business District runs from 21st Avenue to Young Circle. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 and includes 34 historic buildings. Young Circle itself is a 10 acre park, now home to ArtsPark. Busy blocks of restaurants, bars and shops sit right next to it.
Shared walls
One building, many tenants
In a row of older storefronts, rats use the gaps in shared walls, ceilings and utility runs to move from a restaurant to the shop next door. Sealing one space while the next stays open does not last, so we talk with owners and managers about the whole row.
Alleys
Back doors and trash areas
Grease bins, dumpsters and stacked boxes behind restaurants are a nightly meal and a place to hide. Lids that close, clean pads and tight door sweeps on back doors cut off both.
Apartments
Units above the shops
Apartments and offices above street level get mice in kitchens and roof rats in the ceilings. We seal around plumbing, under sinks and where pipes pass through floors.
Park edge
Landscaping near Young Circle
Thick plantings and palms near buildings give roof rats cover close to food. We look at how close the plants are to walls and roofs and where rats are crossing.
Sources: Wikipedia, Hollywood Boulevard Historic Business District (NRHP 1999, 34 buildings); The Florida Preservationist (Young Circle, 10 acres); Brightline, ArtsPark at Young Circle.
Size matters
The Small Gaps That Let Hollywood Rodents In
Most people look for big holes. Rats and mice need far less room than you think, and they can leave clues that are just as small. These numbers come from UF/IFAS Extension.
1/2in
Rat opening
A young rat can get through a gap about this wide.
1/4in
Mouse opening
A house mouse (Mus musculus) needs only this much space.
1/4-1/2in
Roof rat droppings
Dark, pointed droppings this long point to roof rats. Mouse droppings are much smaller.
150yd
Nightly range
Roof rats will travel this far from the nest for food and water.
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension ENY-224, Rat and Mouse Control; UF/IFAS UW120, Roof Rats.
Services available in Hollywood
Rat and Mouse Removal Services in Hollywood
Most Hollywood 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 Hollywood homes, from mid-century houses in Hollywood Lakes to newer construction west of I-95.Learn More →
Commercial Rodent ControlScheduled service with written visit logs for restaurants and shops on the Broadwalk and in Downtown Hollywood.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, ceiling or condo unit? 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, tile roof edge sealing and tree trimming advice for Hollywood homes.Learn More →
Across the city
Hollywood Neighborhoods and Their Rodent Weak Spots
Hollywood has beach condos, 1920s homes, mid-century ranches and busy downtown blocks. Here is where we start looking in each type of area.
| Area | What is there | Likely rodent | First places we check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Beach and the Broadwalk | High-rise condos, apartments, small hotels and restaurants | Norway rats and house mice | Trash rooms, dumpsters, garage levels, ground floor kitchens |
| Hollywood Lakes, North Lake and South Lake | 1920s Mediterranean Revival homes, Key West style houses, lake and Intracoastal lots | Roof rats above, Norway rats at the water | Tile roof edges, old vents, seawalls and docks, trees over the roof |
| Downtown and Young Circle | Historic storefronts, restaurants, apartments above shops | Norway rats and mice | Back doors, shared walls, grease and trash areas |
| Emerald Hills | Mid-century ranch homes and newer condos under big banyan trees, between I-95 and the Turnpike | Roof rats | Soffits, roof to wall gaps, limbs touching the roof, garage doors |
| Liberia and older west side blocks | Older single-family homes; Liberia was founded by Joseph Young and has the city’s first State Historical Marker | Roof rats and house mice | Crawl spaces, gable vents, sheds and AC line openings |
Sources: Superior Fence and Rail Hollywood tour; Redfin, Hollywood Lakes neighborhood; The Florida Preservationist (Liberia). Entry points listed are where we commonly look first. Every home gets a full inspection.
From first call to final check
Our Rat Removal Process for Hollywood Homes
The order matters. If you trap without sealing, new rats move in. If you seal without trapping, rats get stuck inside. Here is how a typical job goes.
- Visit 1
Look high and low
Roof and tile edges, attic, soffits, walls, garage, yard and any seawall. You get photos of each entry point, the plan and the price.
- After you approve
Close the gaps
Sheet metal, 1/4 inch hardware cloth, mesh and concrete. Foam alone is never the fix, because rats chew it.
- Next 1 to 2 weeks
Trap and monitor
Snap traps on rat runways inside, checked on return visits. Locked bait stations outside only where the label allows.
- Once activity drops
Clean up
Nests and droppings removed and the area disinfected. Our rodent cleanup team tells you if insulation needs replacing.
- Final visit
Confirm it is quiet
We check seals, traps and signs one more time before we close the job.
Smell something dead in a wall? See dead rodent removal. For full home service, see residential rodent control.
Hollywood rules that help
Trash Times, Bulk Piles and Picking a Licensed Company
Rats eat what people leave out. The City of Hollywood code sets times for when carts and piles can go to the curb. Following them on your street means less food for rodents overnight.
When you hire anyone to bait or trap rodents, check that the company is licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) under Chapter 482, Florida Statutes.
If you find droppings, do not sweep or vacuum them. The CDC says to wear gloves, spray the area with disinfectant or a bleach and water mix, let it soak for 5 minutes and wipe it up with paper towels.
Pickup days change by street. Check your day with the City of Hollywood before you set anything out.
Hollywood curbside rules
- Garbage and recycling carts
- Out no earlier than 5 PM the day before, back by 7 PM on pickup day
- Cart storage
- At the side or rear of the property
- Bulk trash
- Monthly, up to 6 cubic yards, out no earlier than noon the day before
- Yard waste
- Weekly, up to 4 cubic yards, out no earlier than noon the day before
- Illegal dumping
- At least $500 per offense
Sources: City of Hollywood Code of Ordinances, Sections 50.02, 50.04 and 54.29, as summarized by CityRuleLookup; FDACS and Chapter 482, Florida Statutes; CDC, How to Clean Up After Rodents.
Primary Hollywood response zone
Hollywood service coverage
Is your ZIP on the route?
Hollywood spans several ZIP codes across Broward County. These are the ones we serve most, but we cover the whole city. Call if you do not see yours.
33004330093301933020330213302333024333123331433316
Areas we serve
Check my address →
Hollywood Beach · Downtown Hollywood · Hollywood Lakes · Emerald Hills · Liberia · Driftwood · Hillcrest · Beverly Park · West Lake · West Hollywood
Hollywood rodent questions
What Hollywood Residents Ask About Rats
Beach condo, lake house or a restaurant downtown, call and tell us what you are seeing.
Call (561) 562-7607 →Norway rats like to live near water and dig burrows in soft ground. On a lake or Intracoastal lot, they often live along the seawall, under the dock or under the pool deck and move into the garage or house through low gaps. We check the waterline and the base of the home.
Yes. For Broadwalk hotels, motels and restaurants we inspect the kitchen, storage, trash area, doors and roof, then set up scheduled visits with a written log. Outdoor bait goes only in locked stations where the label allows.
The city code allows carts out no earlier than 5 PM the day before pickup, and they need to be back by 7 PM on pickup day. Keep lids shut and bag your trash. A cart that sits open all night is easy food for rats.
HomeAdvisor’s Hollywood page says most homeowners pay about $200 to $600 for exclusion as an add-on to rodent control. That is a market average, not our price. Your price depends on how many gaps need sealing and the type of roof, and you get it in writing before work starts.
Roof rat droppings are dark and pointed, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. Mouse droppings are much smaller, closer to the size of a grain of rice. Do not sweep or vacuum either one. Wet them with disinfectant first.
We do not recommend it. A poisoned rat often dies inside a wall or ceiling, and the smell can last for weeks. Inside the home we use sealing and traps. Bait belongs outside in locked, tamper-resistant stations, used by the label.
Yes. Besides every part of Hollywood, from the beach to the west side, we work across Broward County, including Hallandale Beach, Dania Beach, Pembroke Pines and Miramar. Call with your address and we will tell you.
Hollywood dispatch is ready
Rats in Your Hollywood 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 Hollywood 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 HollywoodHollywood, Florida(561) 562-7607Open 24 hours · 7 days a week
