Evidence of Mice Present in Facility — NYC Health Violation 04L
Evidence of Mice Present in Facility (violation code 04L) is a critical pest control violation cited when NYC DOHMH inspectors observe mouse droppings, gnaw marks, nesting materials, or live mice in a restaurant. A single mouse can contaminate far more food through droppings and urine than it consumes, and produces 50–75 droppings daily carrying pathogens like Salmonella and Hantavirus; mouse allergens also trigger asthma in sensitive individuals. This violation indicates a facility-wide contamination risk that can spread throughout a restaurant within weeks and has been cited over 17,300 times across NYC since inspections began, making it one of the most common critical health code violations.
What is Violation 04L?
Mouse droppings, gnaw marks, nesting materials, or live mice observed.
Eliminate immediately: Clean all droppings with bleach solution, Seal ALL holes over 1/4 inch, Remove nesting materials, Professional treatment if >10 droppings found, Discard contaminated foods, Install traps/bait stations, Deep clean entire facility.
CDC Risk Factor: Contaminated Equipment/Environmental
Which Boroughs See Violation 04L Most?
Restaurants Cited for Violation 04L (17,308 total)
Related Pest Control Violations
Violation 04L: Frequently Asked Questions
- What is violation 04L in NYC restaurants?
- Mouse droppings, gnaw marks, nesting materials, or live mice observed.
- How serious is violation 04L?
- Critical violation. WIDESPREAD CONTAMINATION: Mice produce 50-75 droppings daily, each containing Salmonella, Hantavirus. One mouse contaminates 10x more food than it eats through droppings and urine. Mouse allergens trigger asthma. Can infest entire facility in weeks.
- How many NYC restaurants have been cited for violation 04L?
- 17,308 NYC restaurant inspections have included violation 04L, representing 15.65% of all inspections with violations.
- Which borough has the most violation 04L citations?
- Manhattan has the highest number of violation 04L citations among NYC boroughs.
- What must a restaurant do to fix violation 04L?
- Eliminate immediately: Clean all droppings with bleach solution, Seal ALL holes over 1/4 inch, Remove nesting materials, Professional treatment if >10 droppings found, Discard contaminated foods, Install traps/bait stations, Deep clean entire facility.
- Is violation 04L a critical violation?
- Yes, violation 04L is a critical violation. Critical violations pose the most serious risk to public health and must be corrected immediately.