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CC - ACTION ITEM: Introduction of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 9.01, Animals and Fowl, of the Culver City Municipal Code to Add a New Subchapter 9.01.800, et seq., Prohibiting the Sale and Use of Glue Traps.
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Meeting Date: October 13, 2025
Contact Person/Dept: Wallis Nash/Public Works - EPO
Phone Number: (310) 253-6445
Fiscal Impact: Yes [ ] No [X] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (10/08/2025)
Department Approval: Yanni Demitri, Director of Public Works, City Engineer (07/28/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council introduce an ordinance (Attachment 1) amending Chapter 9.01, Animals and Fowl, of the Culver City Municipal Code to add a new Subchapter 9.01.800, et seq., prohibiting the sale and use of glue traps citywide.
BACKGROUND
At the February 27, 2025, meeting of the Sustainability Subcommittee of the City Council (Vice Mayor Puza and Councilmember McMorrin), the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) made a presentation and requested consideration and passage of a ban on the sale of glue traps.
The City Council unanimously voted to direct the City Manager to draft an ordinance prohibiting the sale and use of glue traps citywide for consideration by the City Council at a future meeting.
DISCUSSION
A glue trap, also known as a glue board or sticky board, is a pest control measure comprised of a layer of cardboard, plastic, or wood, that is coated with a non-drying adhesive or shallow tray of adhesive. The animal becomes trapped in the glue and eventually perishes.
Glue traps are considered cruel because they cause prolonged suffering to animals. When an animal gets stuck, it faces a slow death due to dehydration, starvation, or exposure, as the glue is non-lethal and does not kill instantly. The Centers for Disease Control warns that glue traps should not be used, as animals stuck in glue continue to produce urine and feces through which pathogens such as hantavirus can be spread to humans. Other non-pest creatures, including lizards, birds, and small non-invasive animals, may get caught in the traps, and suffer the same fate. Finally, glue traps are ineffective in managing rodent populations as they do not address the underlying issues causing infestation or reasons why pests are present.
There are many reasonably priced pest control alternatives to glue traps available locally and online that do not involve prolonged suffering or capture of non-intended creatures.
There has been movement nationwide to phase out the sale and use of glue traps. Locally, the cities of West Hollywood and Ojai have already passed glue trap bans. Representative Ted Lieu introduced HR 7018, the Glue Trap Prohibition Act of 2024 into the House of Representatives, and it has been referred to a subcommittee.
Glue traps are sold in local retailers such as hardware stores and grocery stores. Additionally, many businesses have elected to voluntarily stop selling glue traps in stores, such as Target, Dollar Tree, CVS, Walgreens, and others.
If the City Council introduces the proposed Ordinance at its October 13th meeting, the Ordinance will return to City Council for consideration of adoption at its October 27th meeting and, if adopted, will go into effect 30 days later on November 12, 2025.
Environmental Review
As set forth in Section 2 of the proposed Ordinance, the Ordinance is not subject to the requirements of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This Ordinance is not a “project” within the meaning of Section 15378 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations (State CEQA Guidelines) because prohibiting the use of sale of glue traps within Culver City has no potential for resulting in direct or indirect physical change in the environment, as other forms of rodent control remain available. The approval of the Ordinance does not constitute a project under CEQA pursuant to Section 15378(b)(5) of the State CEQA Guidelines, which provides that organizational and administrative activities of governments that will not result in physical changes in the environment are not considered projects for CEQA purposes.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Exact amounts of sales tax revenue generated by the sale of glue traps is not available, however, the fiscal impact is expected to be minimal based on the general trend away from the sale and use of these traps. There is sufficient funding to expand the Environmental Programs and Operations educational outreach contract to include the glue trap ban outreach.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2025-10-13_ATT_ Proposed Glue Trap Ordinance
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
Introduce an Ordinance amending Chapter 9.01, Animals and Fowl, of the Culver City Municipal Code to add a new Subchapter 9.01.800, et seq., prohibiting the sale and use of glue traps citywide.