Glue traps are illegal in several countries and jurisdictions, but legality depends entirely on where you live. England banned them in 2024, multiple Australian states prohibit them, and a handful of US cities have passed local bans. In most of the United States, however, glue traps remain legal to buy and use without restriction.
England’s Nationwide Ban
England has the most comprehensive ban on glue traps in any major English-speaking country. The Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 came into force on July 31, 2024, making it a criminal offense to set a glue trap for the purpose of catching a rodent, or even to set one in a way that creates a risk of catching a rodent. The law applies to any trap that uses an adhesive substance to capture animals.
The penalties are serious. A conviction can result in up to 51 weeks in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Courts must also order forfeiture of any glue trap used in the offense and can seize other glue traps in the person’s possession. Even finding someone else’s improperly set glue trap and failing to make it safe, without reasonable excuse, is a fineable offense.
There is one narrow exception: licensed pest control professionals can apply for a glue trap licence that permits use under strict conditions. For everyone else, including homeowners and businesses, glue traps are off limits. The law extends to England and Wales only, so Scotland and Northern Ireland are governed by separate regulations.
Legal Status Across Australia
Australia takes a state-by-state approach, and the majority of states have banned glue traps with varying degrees of strictness.
- Victoria has one of the broadest bans. You cannot sell, set, or use a glue trap capable of trapping an animal. The only exception is insect traps that include a cage or barrier preventing animals from contacting the adhesive surface.
- New South Wales bans setting glue traps across the entire state unless the trap has a cage or other protection preventing animal contact with the adhesive. This effectively prohibits all standard rodent glue boards.
- Australian Capital Territory classifies glue traps as prohibited traps under animal welfare regulations, alongside metal-toothed rodent traps. Ministerial exemptions exist for licensed commercial operators.
- Tasmania banned glue board traps in 2008 under an amendment to the Animal Welfare Act, though licensed commercial pest control operators can obtain a ministerial exemption.
- Queensland does not explicitly ban glue traps, but animal protection law requires that any pest control method cause “as little pain as is reasonable.” Because glue traps cause prolonged suffering through distress, injury, and dehydration, their use could violate this standard.
- South Australia and the Northern Territory have no current prohibitions on glue traps.
The United States: Mostly Legal
Glue traps remain legal throughout nearly all of the United States. There is no federal ban, and no state has passed a statewide prohibition. The regulatory landscape is limited to a small number of local ordinances.
West Hollywood, California, became the first city in the country to ban glue traps. Congressman Ted Lieu later introduced federal legislation inspired by that local ban, but no nationwide bill has passed into law. A few other municipalities have considered or adopted similar restrictions, but the vast majority of American cities, counties, and states place no limits on the sale or use of glue traps. You can buy them at virtually any hardware store or online retailer.
Why Glue Traps Face Bans
The push to outlaw glue traps centers on animal suffering. A rodent stuck to a glue board doesn’t die quickly. It can struggle for hours or even days, often tearing skin, breaking bones, or dislocating joints trying to escape. Animals caught on glue boards frequently die from exhaustion, dehydration, or suffocation when their face becomes pressed into the adhesive. Non-target animals, including birds, lizards, and small pets, also get trapped.
These welfare concerns are why animal protection organizations and veterinary groups across multiple countries have campaigned for bans. The laws in England and Australia specifically frame glue traps as a cruelty issue rather than a pest control issue, which is why exemptions tend to be narrow and limited to licensed professionals operating under controlled conditions.
Alternatives That Are Legal Everywhere
If you’re dealing with a rodent problem and want to avoid glue traps, whether for legal or ethical reasons, prevention is the most effective first step. Seal entry points with wire wool, metal mesh, or a strong sealant that hardens quickly. Store food that attracts rodents (crackers, cereal, pasta, bread, chocolate) in metal or glass containers. Clean thoroughly under appliances like toasters, stoves, and refrigerators where crumbs accumulate.
Natural deterrents can also help. Rodents tend to avoid the smell of peppermint, spearmint, and eucalyptus. Soaking cotton balls in these oils and placing them along countertops, under cabinets, and near potential entry points may discourage them from settling in. Outdoors, growing mint or citronella plants and temporarily stopping bird feeding can reduce what draws rodents to your property.
When you need to actively remove rodents, live-capture traps are widely available at hardware and garden stores. A simple homemade version works too: place a small plastic or metal bin (about 28 cm deep) where you’ve seen signs of mice, add shredded paper and a dab of peanut butter at the bottom, cover the top with a book leaving a small gap, and stack newspapers beside it as a ramp. Whichever trap you choose, check it at least three times a day, first thing in the morning, once midday, and last thing at night, then release the animal promptly. Snap traps, while lethal, kill almost instantly and are considered far more humane than glue boards by pest management standards.