Living in Charlotte has many perks – vibrant culture, growing job market, and beautiful neighborhoods. But there’s one aspect of Queen City life that residents might not be thrilled about: our six-legged neighbors are thriving here.
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The Not-So-Welcome News
According to Thumbtack’s latest annual report, Charlotte has earned the dubious honor of ranking #7 among the most bug-infested cities in America for the second consecutive year. This ranking comes from analyzing pest control service requests across the platform, including everything from general pest control to bed bug extermination and outdoor pesticide applications.
The data reveals some eye-opening trends. Between August 2024 and July 2025, Charlotte saw a significant 16% increase in searches for pest-related services. With over 874,000 residents calling Charlotte home, that’s a lot of people dealing with unwanted critters.
What’s Bugging Charlotte?
Charlotte’s pest problems aren’t limited to just one type of unwelcome visitor. Local residents commonly encounter:
Why Charlotte Is a Pest Paradise
Our local climate plays a major role in attracting these unwanted guests. As Jim Fredericks from the National Pest Management Association explains, “There’s a common misconception that pest threats are predictably seasonal, but changing weather patterns have rewritten the rules. Pests are staying active longer, increasing the risk of disease transmission.”
Charlotte’s hot, rainy seasons create ideal conditions for moisture-loving pests like ticks and mosquitoes. These conditions can extend their active periods well beyond traditional summer months, meaning year-round vigilance is necessary.
The Competition: America’s Top 10 Buggiest Cities
Charlotte may rank #7, but we’re in some notable company. Here’s the complete top 10 list:
Interestingly, the South dominates this list, with seven of the top 10 cities located in southern states where warm, humid conditions create pest-friendly environments.
Protecting Your Charlotte Home
Don’t let this news bug you too much – there are proven strategies to keep pests at bay. Here are expert-recommended steps every Charlotte homeowner should take:
Food and Waste Management
Climate Control
Home Maintenance
Regular Monitoring
Important Steps to Rent Your Home Out from A to Z
Step by step checklist for getting a home rented, and link to the full property management guide
1 Consider strengths and weaknesses for your home and location and consider special strategies to utilize them. Is it a college area? If so, you’ll likely handle a lot differently from low income, or a suburb.
2 Get the property in show-ready condition by handling repairs, but also low-cost aesthetic fixes like spray painting rusted AC grates, and other things that really stand out. A sure way to attract sub-par tenants and repel the rest is to show a home with unrepaired issues.
3 Decide whether you’re going to allow pets or not. Before you decide, know that for most landlords it’s the single best thing you can do to increase your “bottom line” profit over the long term. More on this subject here
4 Set a rental rate that will balance a minor amount of time on market hassle, with monthly rate. Whether in the form of owner-occupied showings, stress, or vacancy. Most owners fail to properly account for these subtle but real costs, especially vacancy. Vacant homes are much more costly than most account for. We can provide a free rental rate estimate compiled by people, not an algorithm, here
The Bottom Line
While Charlotte’s ranking among America’s buggiest cities isn’t exactly a badge of honor, it doesn’t mean you have to live with unwanted pests. With proper prevention strategies and professional help when needed, you can enjoy all that Charlotte has to offer without sharing your space with uninvited guests.
Remember, pest control is most effective when it’s proactive rather than reactive. Don’t wait until you have a full-blown infestation – take steps now to protect your home and family from Charlotte’s most persistent residents.
To read more, visit Charlotte named one of the buggiest cities, new report says | Charlotte Observer.
