Licensed pest control in Chicago, IL
Chicago Pest Control & Extermination Services
Chicago pest control is mostly a fight with rats, mice, roaches and bed bugs that travel between connected buildings. A two-flat in Logan Square, a courtyard building in Rogers Park and a Loop high-rise can all share one infestation through walls and pipes. Tell us what’s going on and we’ll connect you with a licensed company near you for a free quote. Plan on $285 to $520 for one standard visit, and more if the whole building needs work.
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Pest Control Services In Chicago
Chicago’s alleys, old sewers and packed apartment stock decide what work gets booked here. Rodents and bed bugs lead the list.
Rodent ControlNorway rats burrow under garages and along alley fences in Bridgeport and Pilsen. Good exclusion work seals the garage and foundation, not just the kitchen.
Bed Bug TreatmentChicago topped Orkin’s bed bug cities list again. Landlords pay to treat rented units under city code.
Roach ExterminationGerman roaches spread unit to unit through shared plumbing chases in vintage walk-ups. One-apartment treatments rarely hold.
Ant ControlPavement ants nest under sidewalk slabs and gangway concrete, then march in through basement cracks each spring.
Wasp & Hornet ControlYellow jackets pick back porches, wooden decks and gaps in old brick for summer nests. Stings spike in late summer.
Termite ControlEastern subterranean termites still turn up in Chicago, mostly in wood that touches soil, like porch posts and fence lines.How Much Does Pest Control Cost In Chicago?
Chicago homes and apartments pay $285 to $520 for a one-time general visit. Bills climb when a multi-unit building needs every apartment treated or when a rat job includes sealing a detached garage.
The one-time and quarterly prices come from Angi’s Chicago cost guide. The other rows are Angi’s national ranges. Chicago quotes can land higher because techs often need to treat the units above, below and beside yours.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| One-time general treatment | $285 to $520, single unit or house |
| Quarterly plan | $95 to $285 per visit, common for two-flats and three-flats |
| Rodent work | $180 to $600, more when garage and alley sides need sealing |
| Bed bugs | $1,000 to $4,000, depends on how many units get treated |
| Wasp nest removal | $300 to $700, higher for nests inside brick walls |
What To Know About Pests In Chicago
Chicago held the top spot on Orkin’s rattiest cities list for its first ten years, then slipped to second behind Los Angeles. Chicagoans log tens of thousands of rat complaints to 311 each year. A city Inspector General audit found the rat program relies on poison after each complaint, instead of cutting off the food and shelter rats need. You can request free alley baiting through 311, but city crews won’t treat the inside of your home.
Bed bugs have their own city rule. Chicago’s bed bug ordinance gives landlords up to 10 days to get a licensed pro in after a tenant reports them, and the units on each side, above and below need checks too. Landlords also have to hand you the city’s bed bug brochure when you sign or renew a lease.
When Pests Are Most Active In Chicago
- Spring
- Termite swarms show up on warm days in April and May. Pavement ants push through basement cracks once the ground thaws.
- Summer
- Rats get bold in alleys during long hot spells. Mosquitoes breed in clogged gutters and catch basins after heavy storms.
- Fall
- Mice and rats head into basements and garages when nights drop below 50. Yellow jackets get pushy around Labor Day.
- Winter
- Heated apartment buildings keep German roaches and bed bugs active all winter. Mice nest behind radiators and stoves.
Areas We Serve In Chicago, IL
Local pest control help across Chicago and the greater Cook County area.
Pests We Treat In Chicago
These are the pests Chicago calls in most, with rats and bed bugs near the head of the list. Tap a pest to see what it looks like, what it costs and how pros treat it.
When You Can Skip The Pro In Chicago
A mouse or two in a single-family bungalow? Set snap traps along the walls and stuff steel wool into gaps around pipes. Pavement ant trails respond well to store baits.
Call a pro for bed bugs, German roaches in a shared building, or rats burrowing in your yard. Those problems cross property lines, and DIY treatment in one unit just pushes them next door.
How It Works
Tell Us The Problem
Fill in the short form with what you’re seeing and where in Chicago.
Get Matched With A Local Pro
We pass it to a licensed company that already works in Lincoln Park and nearby.
Book Your Treatment
You agree on a price and a time, and the tech treats the source.
Chicago Pest Control FAQs
Send us a message about your Chicago pest question, and add a photo if you can.
Who pays for bed bug treatment in a Chicago rental?
The owner pays. Chicago’s bed bug ordinance makes owners hire a licensed pest management pro and cover the bill for rented units.
Put your report in writing. It starts the 10-day window and gives you a record for a 311 complaint if nothing happens.
Will the city bait rats in my alley?
Yes. Request rodent baiting through 311 and Streets and Sanitation crews will treat burrows in alleys and yards.
The city doesn’t treat inside homes or garages, though. Burrows next to your foundation or a hole chewed into a garage call for private rodent work.
Why do roaches keep coming back in my Chicago apartment?
Older walk-ups and courtyard buildings share wall voids and plumbing stacks. Roaches killed in one unit get replaced by roaches next door.
Ask the building owner for a whole-building gel bait program. Spot treatment in one kitchen rarely lasts.
Do Chicago homes really get termites?
They do, just less often than down south. Eastern subterranean termites need contact with damp soil, so check porch steps, fence posts and basement sill plates.
Mud tubes on foundation walls are the giveaway. A bait or spot treatment costs $250 to $1,000.
My toddler and dog are home all day. Is treatment okay?
It is, if you follow the tech’s instructions. Most indoor sprays dry within a few hours, and gel baits go into cracks a toddler can’t reach.
Ask for tamper-resistant rodent stations outside. Rats can drag loose bait into yards where dogs find it.
Get A Free Quote In Chicago
Fill in the form and a licensed company that works Lincoln Park and the rest of Chicago will send you a price. No obligation.
Hiring in Chicago? Check the company’s license first through the Illinois Department of Public Health. Lawn and mosquito companies are licensed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture instead.
We also match homeowners with companies in Aurora, Naperville, Joliet and Rockford. See common pests and costs across Illinois on our state page.