How to Report Rats in El Paso: 311 and Code Rules

To report rats or mice in El Paso, file a 311 request. You can dial 3-1-1 from a home or mobile phone, log in to the EP311 web app to track the request, or report anonymously online. The City of El Paso's Vector Control program says it confirms possible rodent infestations, and the city's code officers handle the overgrown weeds, trash, illegal dumping and junked vehicles that give rodents a place to live.

The city will not trap rats inside your home. That part is on the owner, and on the landlord in many rentals. This guide covers what 311 can do, what to include in a report, what happens after you file, and where to turn if you live outside El Paso city limits.

What the city handles

El Paso's Code Enforcement Department lists its compliance areas as food inspections, nuisance code, parking, property maintenance and zoning, recycling, and vector control. For rodents, three of those matter.

Vector Control: the city says it works to confirm possible rodent and select insect infestations. Its main work is mosquitoes, standing water and canal treatment, so be specific when you report rodents.
Nuisance code: code officers act on overgrown grass and weeds, trash, illegal dumping on vacant lots, and junked vehicles visible from the street in residential areas.
Food inspections: the food program investigates food-related complaints, which covers rodents seen in a restaurant, market or other food business.

Tenant complaints are also among the top request types on the city's 311 page, which matters if you rent and your landlord is not dealing with rodents. Our tenant and landlord guide covers the state repair law.

Three ways to file

The city offers the same request through several doors. Pick the one that suits you.

Call 3-1-1 from a home or mobile phone. The line is for non-emergencies, and emergency calls get transferred to 911.
Log in to the EP311 web app if you want updates, want staff to be able to contact you, or want to see the requests you have filed. You can add it to your phone's home screen.
Use the anonymous report option online if you would rather not give your name, such as when the problem is at a neighbor's property.

The city's 311 page lists call center hours as 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, including holidays. Every request gets a tracking number. Write it down, since you will need it to check status by phone.

What to put in your report

A clear report gets a faster, more useful response. Include the basics an inspector needs to find the problem and judge it.

The exact address or nearest intersection, and whether it is a house, apartment complex, business or vacant lot
What you saw: live rats or mice, burrows, droppings, a dead rodent, or the conditions feeding them
When you saw it and how often, since rodents are mostly active at night
The conditions you think are the cause: piled trash, overgrown weeds, dumped furniture, open dumpsters, an abandoned car
Photos, if the app lets you attach them

Stick to what you observed. If you are reporting a restaurant, say what you saw and where in the business you saw it.

What happens after you file

The city does not publish a step-by-step timeline for rodent requests, so here is what its own pages describe. Your request goes to the department that handles that issue. Vector Control can come out to confirm a possible rodent infestation. Code officers enforce nuisance rules and can require a property owner to clean up weeds, trash or dumped material. For food businesses, the food inspection program investigates the complaint.

Use your tracking number to check progress by calling back. If you used the logged-in app, you can see the status there and staff may contact you for more detail.

Keep your expectations realistic. A code case on a neighbor's yard can take time to resolve, because owners get notice and a chance to fix the problem. Meanwhile, rodents already in your house will not leave on their own. That is where a rodent inspection and sealing come in.

Dead animals and bulky trash

Two related city services help with rodent cleanup outside the house.

Dead animal pickup: El Paso Environmental Services collects dead animals that are bagged and placed at the edge of the curb. Request it through 311 or by calling Environmental Services. The service runs 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Bulky items: residents can schedule a fee-based special pickup with Environmental Services. Items go at the curb by 6 a.m. on pickup day, at least 5 feet from your trash and recycling carts, without blocking the sidewalk or street.

Old furniture, mattresses and piles of brush are prime rodent cover, so clearing them is one of the fastest fixes in a yard. Our trash and yard rules guide lists the Citizen Collection Stations and the code sections on weeds and dumping. For a single dead mouse, double-bag it with gloves, as the CDC describes, and put it in a covered can.

If you live outside El Paso city limits

El Paso 311 is a City of El Paso service. Socorro, Horizon City, Anthony, Clint and Vinton have their own city, town or village governments. Unincorporated communities like Canutillo and Fabens rely on El Paso County for many services. Contact your own city hall or the county for code issues there. Sunland Park is in New Mexico and runs its own city services.

Food complaints are one exception that crosses lines. The City of El Paso Department of Public Health inspects food establishments in El Paso, Anthony, Clint, Horizon City, Socorro, Vinton and the county, according to its food scores site.

A sample 311 description

If you are not sure what to write, here is a format that works. Keep it short and factual.

Location: the address or the nearest corner, plus what kind of property it is
What: rats seen running along the back wall at night, burrows along the fence, droppings near the alley
Conditions: overgrown weeds, a pile of dumped furniture, an open dumpster, a car that has not moved in months
How long: about three weeks, getting worse

What the city will not do

City programs deal with public health conditions and code violations. They do not trap rodents inside private homes, seal your house, or clean your attic. For that, you need a private provider. Ask for a licensed company and check the license yourself with our Texas license guide.

Frequently asked questions

What number do I call to report rats in El Paso?

Dial 3-1-1 from a home or mobile phone. You can also file through the EP311 web app or report anonymously online.

Will the city get rid of rats in my house?

No. Vector Control can confirm a possible infestation, and code officers handle conditions on properties, but trapping and sealing inside a home is private work.

Can I report a neighbor's yard anonymously?

Yes. The city offers an anonymous reporting option on its 311 site.

How do I report rodents in a restaurant?

File a 311 request. The city's food inspection program investigates food-related complaints.

How do I check on my request?

Use the tracking number you received. Call 311 with it, or check the app if you filed while logged in.

How to report rats and mice in El Paso, and what happens next