San Francisco, CA

Commercial Rodent Control & Exclusion
in San Francisco

Trapping, full building exclusion, and follow-up monitoring for restaurants, apartment buildings, and mixed-use properties. Call or text and I'll get out there.

Trusted by SF restaurants & apartment buildings
Services

What I do, and how I actually do it.

My approach to rodent control in San Francisco starts with a full inspection. I trap the active rats, then seal the building so the next ones can't replace them — no drop-a-bait-station-and-leave service.

Inspection

I walk the property top to bottom — roofline, vents, conduit, crawl space, trash area — and map the actual entry points and travel paths before quoting.

Trapping

Snap traps placed on the runways the rats are already using, monitored until the building goes quiet. No poison left in your walls.

Exclusion

For rodent exclusion in San Francisco buildings, I use hardware cloth, mortar, sheet metal, and copper mesh to close the entry points identified during inspection.

Ongoing Monitoring

Scheduled service visits, trap monitoring, activity checks, and service documentation for commercial properties and apartment buildings.

Managing a restaurant, apartment building, or HOA? See commercial rodent control in San Francisco.

Why It's a Problem Here

Why rodent activity is common in SF buildings.

Most buildings in SF are old. Victorians, Edwardians, apartments built on top of shops. The walls are solid, but there are gaps everywhere — around gas lines, pipes, wiring, and along the foundation. Once rats get into one building, they move right through the walls into the next one.

Then there's the food. Restaurants, cafés, and corner stores sit right behind apartment buildings in tight alleys. Trash bins don't close all the way, lids get left open, and grease builds up around the back doors and vents. That's why most of the activity ends up in the walls near kitchens, grease traps, and storage rooms by the trash.

And it mostly happens at night. The scratching in the walls usually starts after 10 p.m., once the building goes quiet. By morning, you'll see droppings or dark smudges along the baseboards — that's how I figure out where they're traveling.

Field Notes

What I find on SF jobs.

Different buildings, same problems. If any of this sounds familiar, give me a call.

Gaps around pipes and wiring

Anywhere a pipe or wire enters your building, there's usually a gap around it. Rats climb those lines from the basement up to the roof and slip in through the openings. It's the first thing I look for, and it's where I find them most of the time.

Scratching in the kitchen wall

If you hear scratching at night near the stove or above the cabinets, they're living in the wall. Kitchens give them everything — food, warmth, and quiet places to nest.

Trash bins and dumpsters

If lids don't close or bins overflow, the rats have a free meal every night. I can seal your building, but if the trash next door isn't handled, they'll keep coming back.

Sealing the building too soon

Some companies plug a few holes and call it done. If rats are still inside, they die in the walls and the smell can last for weeks. I trap first, make sure the building is clear, then seal it up.

Buildings packed close together

A lot of SF buildings sit only a foot or two apart. Rats use that narrow space as a hidden path to reach vents and openings on the side of your building you never see. I always check both sides, not just the front.

Basements, storage, and back rooms

Quiet rooms with boxes, dry goods, or laundry are some of their favorite spots. Droppings usually pile up along one wall — that tells me exactly where they're traveling before I set a single trap.

Where They Hide

Common rat hiding spots.

Rats are skilled at staying out of sight. We know exactly where to look — even in the most overlooked corners of San Francisco buildings.

  • Behind walls
  • Rooflines and attic spaces
  • Crawl spaces
  • Garbage enclosures
  • Around conduit and utility penetrations
Warning Signs

Signs of a rat infestation.

If you're noticing any of these signs in your home or business, call us right away.

  • Droppings

    Small dark pellets near food sources, baseboards, or hidden corners.

  • Scratching or squeaking in walls

    Sounds in the walls or ceiling, especially at night.

  • Gnaw marks

    Chew damage on wood, wires, food packaging, or pipes.

  • Grease marks

    Dark smudges along walls, baseboards, or rafters where rats travel.

Why Choose OHH RATS!

Why people in SF call me back.

  • I know SF buildings.

    Old houses, apartments, and buildings with restaurants below. I know the problem areas before I walk in.

  • Prompt, straightforward scheduling.

    Call or text with what you're seeing, and I'll give you the earliest available time. Urgent commercial issues are prioritized when scheduling allows.

  • Trapping and full sealing — not just bait boxes.

    I'm a licensed trapper, not someone who shows up to refill a box. I trap the rats, then I seal the building so the next ones can't get in.

  • Restaurants, HOAs, and property managers.

    Discreet visits, after-hours scheduling, and written reports for owners or health inspectors when you need them.

  • Honest pricing.

    I give you a price after I've actually walked the property. No mystery numbers, no upsells you don't need.

Real Results in San Francisco

Trusted by SF properties of every kind.

I've worked with restaurants, apartment buildings, and commercial properties all over San Francisco. The goal is always the same: get rid of the rats that are there now and seal the building so new ones can't get in.

Restaurants

Discreet service that meets health-code expectations.

Apartment buildings

Multi-unit experience with HOAs and property managers.

About OHH RATS!

Owner-operated. Licensed. Built on real rodent work.

I do the work myself — restaurants, apartments, and HOAs across San Francisco. When you call, you get me. I'm the one who shows up.

Licensed through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fully insured. Every job is documented and done right.

Rat control across San Francisco includes trapping, full rodent proofing, and follow-up. I also offer ongoing service and check-ins for properties that need them.

After-hours and weekends are available when that's the only time I can get access.

If you want a straight answer and someone who actually cares about getting it right — that's what I do.

CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife LicensedFully InsuredAfter-Hours & Weekends
Featured Google reviews
"John did an excellent job resolving a mouse issue in a commercial kitchen. He arrived promptly, diagnosed the problem immediately, and had it resolved within two days using a few strategic traps. He is clearly very knowledgeable and experienced. Highly recommend his professional services!"
— TonyGoogle review
"John is a hardworking, incredibly diligent rodent control expert. He came to the site multiple times in the cold, rainy, dark and thoughtfully put together a plan to mitigate the problem. Thank you."
— Jennet NazzalGoogle review
"John is very easy to work with and clearly passionate about what he does. He took the time to understand the root cause of our rat problem and focused on solving it properly, not just putting a temporary fix in place. Professional, knowledgeable, and thorough. I would absolutely recommend John to anyone dealing with rats and wanting the problem handled the right way."
— Adel SaadGoogle review
Service Areas

Rodent control across San Francisco neighborhoods.

We provide commercial rodent control and exclusion throughout San Francisco, including Pacific Heights, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, SoMa, the Marina, Sunset District, and Richmond District.

Don't see your San Francisco neighborhood? We likely cover it — give us a call.

FAQ

Rat control questions, answered.

Straight answers about rodent control in San Francisco — no jargon, no upsell.

How soon can you schedule a visit?

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Availability varies by day and by the urgency of the problem. Call or text with what you're seeing, and I'll let you know the earliest available time.

How do rats get into the walls in the first place?

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Around pipe and conduit penetrations, foundation cracks, roofline gaps, vents, and unsealed crawl-space hatches. They only need a hole the size of a quarter, and SF buildings are full of them — especially anything pre-1940.

How fast does a rat problem grow if I wait?

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Fast. One pair can run 5–8 litters a year, 6–12 pups each. A couple of rats in the wall in October is a serious infestation by spring if the entry points stay open.

Do traps alone fix it?

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No — and anyone who says yes is going to be back at your building in a month. Trapping clears what's inside; exclusion seals the building so new rats can't replace them. You need both.

What does rodent exclusion actually mean?

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Sealing the entry points identified during inspection with the right materials — hardware cloth, mortar, sheet metal, copper mesh on weep holes, and proper sealant on conduit penetrations. Not foam or caulk over a hole; rats can chew through those materials.

Do you work with restaurants and apartment buildings?

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Yes. A lot of my work is restaurants, apartment buildings, HOAs, and property managers. I do after-hours and weekend visits, keep it discreet, and provide documentation for health inspectors or owners when you need it.

What does it cost?

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Depends on the property and how active it is. I quote after I've actually walked the building — no over-the-phone guess. Inspections are straightforward and there's no pressure.

Get Started

Stop hearing them
in the walls.

Call or text. Tell me what you're hearing or seeing and where. I'll inspect the building and recommend a clear plan for trapping, exclusion, and follow-up.

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Proudly serving San Francisco and surrounding neighborhoods

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