ORLANDO, Fla. – This month, pest-control company Orkin has released its latest ranking of the “rattiest” cities in America — and a few metros in Florida managed to make the list.
Company officials said the latest ranking was determined based on new home rodent treatments between August 2025 and August 2026.
And once the results were tallied, Orkin discovered the most rat-infested city for a second year in a row: Los Angeles, California.
“Los Angeles’ year-round mild weather, dense neighborhoods and abundant access to food, water and shelter create conditions where rats and mice can thrive. From residential neighborhoods to bustling commercial corridors, the same features that make the city attractive to millions of people can also provide rodents with plenty of opportunities to find the resources they need to survive.”
Orkin, “Los Angeles holds No. 1 spot on Orkin’s 2026 rattiest cities list”
Thankfully, Florida didn’t have any contenders make it into the top 10. However, a few still managed to make the top 50 list:
No. 22: Tampa
No. 26: Miami
No. 32: Orlando
“There’s no single type of city or climate that’s immune to rodent pressure,” said Orkin National Technical Director Dr. Shannon Sked. “Rats and mice are highly adaptable and can thrive in communities across the country wherever they can find food, water and shelter. That’s why prevention and early detection are important for homeowners, regardless of where they live.”
Orkin said that rodents can cause structural damage to homeowners’ properties, as well as spread diseases, meaning it’s important to get ahead of any possible infestations.
To prevent rodents from getting into your home, Orkin suggests the following steps:
Watch for small openings: Rats only need an opening the size of a quarter to access a building, and mice need even less space. Regularly inspect your home’s exterior for even the tiniest cracks or gaps, especially around vents, pipes and the foundation, and seal them as soon as possible.
Fix leaks: Eliminate potential water sources by repairing leaky faucets and pipes and removing standing water.
Maintain your trash containers: Check for holes or damage in your outdoor bins, especially along the bottom, lid or sides. If bins are broken or chewed through, contact your local sanitation provider to request a replacement.
Call the Pros: Addressing rodent activity early can help keep an infestation from growing. Orkin Pros are trained to provide a tailored solution to help with all rodent and pest needs.
Meanwhile, the full top 50 ranking is as follows:
RankCity1Los Angeles2Chicago3New York4San Francisco5Washington, DC6Detroit7Cleveland8Denver9Philadelphia10Baltimore11Minneapolis12Dallas13Boston14Houston15Columbus, Ohio16Seattle17Hartford, Conn.18Milwaukee19Indianapolis20Pittsburgh21Sacramento22Tampa23Atlanta24St. Louis25Cincinnati26Miami27Kansas City28Grand Rapids, Mich.29Springfield, Ill.30Nashville31Albuquerque, N.M.32Orlando33San Diego34Portland, Ore.35Norfolk, Va.36Cedar Rapids, Iowa37New Orleans38South Bend, Ind.39Albany, N.Y.40Greenville, S.C.41Raleigh, N.C.42Reno, Nev.43Charlotte, N.C.44Richmond, Va.45Knoxville, Tenn.46Phoenix47Charleston, W. Va.48Flint, Mich.49San Antonio50Harrisburg, Pa.
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