Pest control in Melbourne: costs, city services and local pests

Quick answer: The City of Melbourne investigates pests that risk public health, such as rodents in food premises or public spaces, but homeowners hire a pest controller licensed by Victoria’s Department of Health, which runs a searchable register. Parts of the municipality are designated termite-risk areas under the Building Regulations 2018.

Local pest issues in Melbourne

Termites. Under regulation 150 of Victoria’s Building Regulations 2018, a council may designate areas where buildings are likely to be attacked by termites, and new buildings, alterations and extensions in those areas need termite management. The City of Melbourne has designated some areas and publishes a map, and it warns that termites may also be present, and cause damage, outside the designated area. The Australian Building Codes Board’s notes say termites are a lesser risk in parts of Victoria; our guide to termite protection in new homes covers the national rules.

European wasps. Victoria’s Department of Health describes the European wasp as an introduced species with no natural predators here, far more aggressive than native wasps, and says the best control is to find and destroy the nest with an insecticide registered for that purpose. It notes Victoria’s warmer climate can let whole nests survive the winter. With a nest near the house, that is a job for a licensed pest controller; see our wasp nest guide.

Rodents. The City of Melbourne treats an infestation of rodents, pests or birds in food premises or a public space as a public health matter an Environmental Health Officer will investigate.

City of Melbourne services

Issue	What the City does	Charge	How to contact
Rodents, pests or birds in a food business or public space	An Environmental Health Officer is assigned to investigate.	Free to report	City of Melbourne online pests and odours report
Pests coming from a neighbouring property	Can be reported for investigation where there is a public health risk.	Free to report	City of Melbourne online report
Building in a designated termite area	Building work must include termite management.	Part of building approval	City of Melbourne building services
Pests in your own home	No domestic treatment service.	Private price	Licensed pest controller

The City of Melbourne covers the CBD and inner suburbs such as Carlton, Docklands, Kensington, North Melbourne, Parkville and Southbank. Greater Melbourne is split between many councils, and each decides its own termite designations and pest services.

What private pest control costs in Melbourne

We have not found a reliable published price list specific to Melbourne, so use the national reported ranges in our Australia pest control cost guide. As a guide, hipages reports rodent removal at $250–$350, cockroach treatment at $215–$315 and bee or wasp nest removal at $100–$550, and puts a pre-purchase pest inspection at around $250. Termite work is priced separately and can run into the thousands for a full barrier.

Our checklist for comparing callouts, follow-up visits and quotes shows what to line up side by side. We are a comparison and referral service, not a pest control company; the form below passes your request to licensed firms that cover your area.

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We are a comparison and referral service, not a pest control company. We do not guarantee a quote, a price or a response time. If there is an immediate risk to health or safety, contact the relevant emergency service.

Renting in Melbourne: who deals with pests

Consumer Affairs Victoria says the law does not always say who must fix or pay for pests. If the rental agreement is silent, it may depend on who contributed to the problem. Renters may be responsible where, for example, ants, mice or cockroaches were attracted to rubbish they did not remove, or fleas came from an untreated pet. Rental providers may be responsible where pests were already a problem when the renter moved in, or a hole in the roof let them in. If pests linked to the building structure make the home unsafe, it can be an urgent repair, and disputes over who pays can go to VCAT.

How to choose a pest controller here

In Victoria anyone using pesticides in a pest control business must hold a pest control licence from the Department of Health. Search its register of current licence holders, which shows the operator’s name and licence expiry date.
Get the scope in writing: which pests, inside and outside, number of visits, any warranty period and what it excludes.
For termites, ask whether the report follows the Australian Standard for inspections and whether a durable notice is on the property.
Ask what the treatment means for children and pets and when rooms can be re-entered; our guide to treatments around children and pets lists the questions.
Compare at least two quotes. See choosing a pest controller.

Pest control providers in Melbourne

These businesses appear in public business listings for Melbourne. We have not checked their Department of Health licences or insurance, so search the register before booking.