08A — Facility not vermin-proof (harborage / conditions conducive to pests)
This is about the building itself letting pests in or giving them a place to live — "conditions conducive" — even if no live pest is seen yet. Inspectors look for unsealed pipe penetrations, doors without tight sweeps, holes in the façade, and piled clutter or wet areas where mice and roaches harbor. It's a General violation (cited at 4-5 points), but it's the root cause behind the much costlier live-vermin findings, so sealing the building is the cheapest prevention you have.
What the inspector looks for
Walk the perimeter and back-of-house: look for gaps under exterior doors (you should not see daylight), holes around pipes coming through walls, and openings in the building front. Any gap a pencil fits through, a missing door sweep, or clutter and standing water that shelters pests is the violation.
Points & grade impact
Cited at 4 points — 4 / 5 across condition III-IV (lowest cited level is III=4). NYC adds every cited violation’s points into one inspection score: 0–13 = A, 14–27 = B, 28+ = C.
How to fix it
Seal holes, gaps and façade openings; install door sweeps and screens; remove clutter and standing water that shelter pests.
How to prevent it
Keep the building sealed (door sweeps, escutcheon plates, ¼-in screens, kick plates); maintain a 3-ft vegetation-free exterior zone; store materials off the wall for a clear line of sight.
- ✓Put a tight sweep on every exterior door — if you can see daylight underneath, a mouse can get under it.
- ✓Seal pipe and conduit penetrations with copper mesh and sealant; close any gap a pencil can enter (about 1/4 inch).
- ✓Keep a 3-foot clear zone (no weeds, no clutter) outside the back door and store goods off the wall so you can see and clean behind them.
- ✓Dry up standing water and remove cardboard piles — both are prime harborage.
Reference: Health Code §81.23(a)
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