Rat and rodent proofing required.
Columbus City Codes § 4123.49
in effect4123.49 - Rat and rodent proofing required.
(A) Rat and rodent proofing: All buildings or structures and the walls enclosing habitable or occupiable rooms and spaces in which persons live, sleep, or work, or in which feed, food, or foodstuffs are stored, prepared, processed, served, or sold, shall be constructed in accordance with the provisions of this section. The provisions of this section shall apply to any building or structure that is governed under the model building codes adopted by the city of Columbus and promulgated in the Columbus Building Code.
(B) Grade protection: Buildings not provided with a continuous foundation shall be provided with protection against rats and rodents at grade in accordance with either (B)(1) or (B)(2) that follows:
(1) Apron: Where an apron is provided, the apron shall not be less than eight inches (203 mm) above, nor less than 24 inches (610 mm) below grade. In all cases, the apron shall not terminate below the lower edge of the siding material. The apron shall be constructed of an approved nondecayable, water-resistant, rat and rodent proofing material of required strength and shall be installed around the entire perimeter of the building or structure. Where constructed of masonry or concrete materials, the apron shall not be less than four inches (102 mm) in thickness.
(2) Grade floors: Where continuous concrete grade floor slabs are provided, open spaces shall not be left between the slab and walls, and all openings in the slab shall be protected.
(C) Opening protection: Openings shall be protected in accordance with (C)(1), (C)(2) and (C)(3) that follows:
(1) Wall openings: Openings in the wall or apron required for ventilation or other purposes shall be guarded with corrosion-resistant rat and rodent proof shields of not less than nominal 0.034-inch (0.864 mm) perforated steel sheets, No 20 B&S Gage aluminum (0.032 inch/0.813 mm), or nominal 0.064 inch (1.63 mm) expanded steel or wire mesh screens, with not more than one-half inch (13 mm) mesh openings.
(2) Slab openings: Access openings in grade floor slabs shall be protected with concrete, masonry, metal, or other corrosion-resistant noncombustible cover of adequate strength to support the floor loads.
(3) Pipe and conduit openings: All openings for pipe, conduit, cable, or similar purposes at or near grade shall have snugly fitted collars to eliminate all open spaces.
(Ord. 2273-03 § 1: Ord. 733-06 § 20.)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT41BUCO_CH4123GECOSTLLST_4123.49RAROPRREFetched: 10/27/2026