Serving Chicago and Cook County

Pest control in Chicago, IL for 77 community areas of older housing stock

Rats in the alley, roaches in a two-flat, or termites in an old bungalow. Call and an independent licensed provider quotes the job before touching anything.

Call now(312) 675-2299

This page is a referral line, not a pest control company. An independent, licensed provider serving Chicago takes your call and sets its own price. Termite Chicago may get paid for the introduction. Calling costs nothing and locks you into nothing.

Independent licensed providers
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The provider sets the price
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Signs it is time to call

Chicago's brick two-flats, bungalows, and courtyard buildings each have their own weak points. Here's what usually signals you've got more than a one-off visitor.

Scratching in the walls or ceiling after dark rodents have likely moved into the attic or a wall void Call today
Roaches scatter when the kitchen light comes on an active indoor population, common in multi-unit buildings Call today
Mud tubes on the foundation or a pier subterranean termites moving between soil and wood Call today
Itchy bites in a line after sleeping bed bugs feeding overnight, often from shared laundry or secondhand furniture Call today
A paper nest under the eave or deck wasps or hornets defending territory near the door Call today
Ants along the kitchen counter every morning a trail running from an outdoor colony to a food source This week

Ready to talk to a pest control pro in Chicago?

The provider sets the price

Call about pest control(312) 675-2299

How it works

Call and describe it
Say what you're seeing (droppings, a nest, bites) and where. That's enough for the provider to know what to bring.
Get a written quote
The provider sets the price based on the pest, the building, and how far it's spread. No guessing after the fact.
Treatment gets scheduled
Most jobs run one to three visits depending on the pest. Termite and bed bug jobs usually need a follow-up check.

Services people call about

One referral line covers the whole catalog. Here's roughly what each job runs, priced by the independent provider.

Emergency pest control
Active infestations needing same-day attention, typically $150 to $500
Rodent control and exclusion
Trapping and entry-point sealing, typically $350 to $1,000
Bed bug treatment
Room-by-room heat or chemical treatment, typically $300 to $1,500
Cockroach control
Gel bait and follow-ups for German or outdoor roaches, typically $150 to $500
Wasp, hornet and bee control
Nest removal or bee relocation, typically $150 to $450
Wildlife removal
Raccoons, squirrels, or skunks removed and entry points repaired, typically $250 to $1,500
Termite treatment
Liquid barrier or bait systems, usually running $800 to $2,500
Ant control
Dealing with carpenter ants or a nuisance trail generally costs $150 to $400
General pest control
Single visits or a quarterly plan, usually $150 to $400
Mosquito control
Season-long yard treatment, typically $350 to $800

What the local housing stock means for this job

Chicago's housing stock is a big reason pests here don't play fair. Brick two-flats and greystones went up after the 1871 fire. Wood bungalows followed from the 1910s through the 1930s. Then there are courtyard apartments with shared walls and shared laundry rooms, great for bed bugs, bad for everyone else. Add alley garbage corridors and aging sewer lines, and you get a city built for Norway rats and house mice to thrive in, not just pass through.

Here's the thing about clay soil and poor drainage: it's a basement-seepage problem, and a pest problem too. The flat terrain and clay-heavy ground around Chicago hold moisture against foundations, and that's exactly what termites and moisture-loving ants want. High water tables in older neighborhoods make crawl spaces and rubble-stone foundations easy targets. Bottom line: if your building predates 1960, assume the foundation has a few gaps worth checking before termite season hits in May.

West Elsdon, Cornell, Packingtown, Marshall Field Garden Apartments, Mandell, Berkeley Cottages, Kenwood and Marquette Manor are all part of the same Chicago coverage.

What the calendar changes

Chicago runs on four hard seasons, and pests know the calendar better than most homeowners do. Spring brings ant trails and termite swarmers. Summer turns up the heat on roaches, mosquitoes, and wasps. By fall, mice and rats start pushing indoors ahead of the first freeze. Winter isn't a break either, since heated multi-unit buildings keep roaches and bed bugs active all year.

Also covered nearby

Questions people ask

How fast can someone get to a rodent problem in Chicago?

Rodent calls are usually treated as a priority, since Norway rats and mice spread fast through alley corridors and old sewer lines. Call and describe what you're seeing, scratching, droppings, gnaw marks, so the provider can plan the visit around how active things look.

Who pays for pest control in a Chicago rental?

The Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance puts most pest control duties on the landlord's side of the ledger, though tenant behavior can shift that responsibility in some cases. If you rent, mention that when you call so the provider knows the right questions to ask.

Does Chicago's clay soil make termite problems worse?

The clay-heavy soil and high water table common across Chicago hold moisture near foundations, which gives subterranean termites an easier path into wood framing. Older buildings with rubble-stone or brick foundations are worth a specific look, especially before the May to June swarm season.

What's a typical cost range for bed bug treatment in Chicago?

Bed bug jobs typically run $300 to $1,500. A lot hinges on whether it's heat treatment or chemical, how many rooms are affected, and how much prep work is needed. Multi-unit buildings sometimes need coordinated treatment across adjoining units, which the provider can quote once they know the layout.

Is pest control licensed in Illinois?

Anyone doing this work in Chicago, business or technician, needs a license issued through the Illinois Department of Public Health's Structural Pest Control division. Ask the provider about their license when they call back with a quote.