Pest control in Toronto

Toronto packs a lot of people, old buildings and new towers into one city. That mix is good for restaurants and transit. It is also good for pests that travel through shared walls and plumbing.

Pest control in Toronto: how we work

We follow four steps on every job: inspect, identify, treat, follow up.

We look at the problem first. Then we confirm which pest it is, because a cockroach plan and a mouse plan are very different. Treatment comes next, and we check back to see that it worked.

To start, send a free quote request. We send quote details within 30 minutes.

What pests are common in Toronto

Three things shape what we hear about here.

• Shared walls. In towers and row homes, bed bugs and cockroaches can travel through gaps around pipes and wiring.
• Old buildings. Older brick homes have more cracks, gaps and basement openings for mice.
• Food and waste. Busy streets and lane garbage give rodents a steady meal.

Our main focus is bed bug treatment and cockroach control. We also handle rodent control, ants, wasps and fleas.

Homes in Toronto and the pests they tend to see

• High-rise rental towers, such as those in St. James Town and across North York: cockroaches and bed bugs, since they spread between suites.
• Older semis and row houses in areas like the Annex, Parkdale and Leslieville: mice in basements and walls, and ants in spring.
• Downtown condos: bed bugs and cockroaches, often brought in on furniture or moving boxes.

Not sure what you are looking at? Our guide to bed bugs shows what to check for.

Renting in Toronto: who is responsible?

In Ontario, the landlord must keep a rental unit in a good state of repair. The City’s Property Standards Bylaw says all properties must be kept free of rodents and insects.

For larger apartment buildings, the City runs RentSafeTO. It requires owners to check shared areas at least once every 30 days. If a pest problem is reported, they must check the affected area within 72 hours. They must also use a professional pest control company, and post pest records on the tenant notice board.

Here is what to do as a tenant:

1. Tell your landlord or property manager in writing. Include photos and dates.
2. Give them a reasonable time to act.
3. If the problem is not fixed, contact 311.

The City says bed bugs are not considered a health hazard. They can still cause itchy bites and a lot of stress, so do not wait.

Businesses in Toronto

Restaurants, offices and warehouses have their own pest risks and their own records to keep. See our commercial pest control page for how we approach it.

Seasonal pest calendar for Toronto

• October to March: mice and rats look for warm shelter indoors.
• April to June: ants wake up and head for kitchens.
• July to September: wasps are at their busiest. Do not poke a nest yourself.
• All year: bed bugs and cockroaches stay indoors and do not follow the seasons.

Neighbourhoods and nearby cities

Our Toronto work covers the whole city. Next door, we also serve Scarborough, Mississauga, Vaughan and Markham. Brampton is a short drive west, and we cover Brampton too.

Simple steps to take while you wait

Some habits help in any Toronto home, and they cost nothing.

• Keep notes. Write down where and when you see pests. Photos help too.
• Seal what you can. Close gaps larger than about a quarter inch. Mice fit through tiny openings.
• Keep garbage in containers with tight lids, and keep lane and curbside bins tidy.
• Do not move furniture out of a bed bug room to another room. This can spread them.
• Do not spray store-bought products widely. Some pests scatter when sprayed, which makes a treatment harder.

In a shared building, tell your neighbours or property manager early. Pests ignore unit numbers, and treatment works best when the whole building acts together.

Get a quote

Tell us what you are seeing and where. We send quote details within 30 minutes, then talk you through the next step. Request your free quote or call us.