Photo by Ivan Karpov on Unsplash/ Nikolett Emmert on Unsplash
Los Angeles is known for its sunshine, palm trees, and bustling streets, but there’s another side to the city that might make you think twice before tossing those food scraps in the trash. According to a new ranking, L.A. is officially the rattiest city in America for 2026.
Pest control company Orkin has released its annual list of the Rattiest Cities in America, and Los Angeles has landed in the No. 1 spot. Chicago follows at No. 2, with New York City and San Francisco rounding out the top four.
L.A. tops the list of America’s rattiest cities
Orkin compiled its 2026 ranking by tracking the number of new residential rodent treatments carried out in each city for a full year from August 9, 2025 to August 9, 2026.
The results put Los Angeles ahead of some of the country’s largest metropolitan areas, including Chicago, which previously held the top spot for a decade before losing the title in 2025.
The top four cities remained unchanged between 2025 and 2026, suggesting that the rodent problem is persisting in some of America’s biggest urban centers.
While the ranking might sound alarming, it measures demand for residential rodent treatments rather than the total number of rats living in each city.
Still, it’s an unwanted distinction in a city constantly competing for top spots. This is definitely one instance where Angelenos would happily cede their crown to New Yorkers.
Photo by Orkin Pest Control
Why are there so many rats in L.A.?
Like other major cities, Los Angeles offers rodents plenty of opportunities to find food, water, and shelter. Restaurants, residential neighborhoods, trash disposal areas, and underground spaces can all provide the resources rats need to thrive.
According to Orkin, rodents are highly adaptable and can survive in communities across the country, regardless of climate. That means even Southern California’s famously sunny weather doesn’t make the region immune to rat activity.
The upcoming fall and winter seasons can also bring an increase in indoor rodent activity as rats and mice seek shelter from changing temperatures. For homeowners, that makes this a particularly important time to check for potential entry points and signs of infestation.
How to keep rats out of your home
Although L.A.’s ranking might be enough to make anyone a little more cautious, Orkin recommends a few simple steps to help prevent rodents from settling in.
Seal potential entry points: Check for gaps, holes, and cracks around your home, and close them where possible.
Don’t leave food outdoors: Secure garbage and avoid leaving food out for wild animals.
Keep clutter under control: Piles of belongings and other materials can provide places for rodents to nest.
Watch for warning signs: Droppings, bite marks, burrows, and scratching noises can indicate rodent activity.
With Los Angeles now sitting at the top of the 2026 ranking, residents might want to pay a little extra attention to what’s scurrying around their homes this season. After all, being the rat capital of America is a title L.A. could probably do without.