Surfside is a small beach town with a big-neighborhood feel: blocks of single-family homes and duplexes west of Harding Avenue, a walkable main street of shops and restaurants, and condominiums along the ocean. Many of its homes are decades old, and that shapes the pests we find. Toro Pest Management has protected Miami-Dade homes and businesses since 1969, and we treat every Surfside property based on its age, construction and surroundings.
- Since 1969Third generation, protecting South Florida
- 110% GuaranteeIf the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost
- Within 24 HoursResponse guaranteed
- Free InspectionPlus $25 off your first service
Why Surfside Has Its Own Pest Challenges
Surfside stretches from 87th Street to 96th Street, between the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Creek on the bay side, with the North Beach area of Miami Beach to the south and Bal Harbour to the north. Long before the town existed, the Tequesta people lived here; archaeologists have found evidence of a village and burial mound.
The modern town grew around the Surf Club, a Mediterranean-style beach club designed by Russell Pancoast that opened in 1930. In 1935, 35 of its members incorporated Surfside to keep it from being annexed by Miami Beach. Building took off quickly: from 31 structures in 1935 to 176 by the end of that decade, 431 more in the 1940s and 934 in the 1950s. That is why so much of Surfside’s housing today is older single-family homes, duplexes and low-rise apartments, joined over the years by condominiums along Collins Avenue. In 2016 the town created the Collins Avenue Historic District to protect a row of older buildings between 90th and 91st Streets.
The 2020 census counted 5,689 residents in about half a square mile. The town has a one-mile beach where loggerhead sea turtles nest, Harding Avenue’s mom-and-pop shops and kosher restaurants, and parks such as 96th Street Park, with its kayak launch on the bay.
For pests, the key factors are age and closeness. Homes from the 1930s to the 1950s have older wood, original roof framing, crawl spaces and small gaps where utilities enter. Houses sit close together, so roof rats and ants move easily from one yard to the next. And between the ocean, the bay and a wet season that runs from mid-May to mid-October, humidity stays high most of the year.
Common Pests in Surfside and Why They Show Up
Drywood Termites
Older Surfside homes have had decades of exposure to drywood termites, which swarm in spring and settle into attic framing, rafters, window frames, doors and furniture. They never need soil, so they can live in any part of the house. A home with several colonies is usually best treated by fumigation.
Signs to watch for: tiny pellets collecting under wood and wings on windowsills.
Subterranean Termites
The Asian subterranean termite and the Formosan termite nest in the soil and build mud tubes to reach wood. Flower beds against the wall, mulch, irrigation and leaky spigots make it easier. Because the colony lives underground, fumigation won't remove it; soil treatments or bait stations will.
Signs to watch for: mud tubes along the slab, foundation or garage walls.
Roof Rats
Closely spaced homes, mature trees and fruit trees let roof rats travel from roof to roof along branches, fences and utility lines. Restaurant dumpsters near the business district give them food. Our rodent control finds and seals entry points, then traps and monitors.
Signs to watch for: scratching in the attic at night and droppings along the garage walls.
American Cockroaches
Palmetto bugs live in sewers, storm drains, mulch and crawl spaces, and older homes and duplexes give them more ways in: floor drains, plumbing gaps and doors without tight sweeps. They are especially active after heavy rain. Learn more in our cockroach guide.
White-Footed Ants
White-footed ants nest in trees, shrubs, mulch and gutters and follow edges and wires into kitchens and bathrooms. Trails up the outside of a house often lead to soffit vents and the attic. UF/IFAS research points to baits as the effective method, because their colonies are enormous. See our ant guide.
Fleas
Surfside is a walkable town with a dog park, a beach path and plenty of time spent outdoors. Fleas hitch a ride home on pets and then develop in carpets, pet bedding and shaded spots in the yard. Treating the pet, the home and the yard together breaks the cycle.
Signs to watch for: a pet scratching constantly and small bites around the ankles.
Surfside residents also call us about mosquitoes in planters, bromeliads and gutters, German cockroaches in apartment kitchens, whiteflies on hedges, wasps under eaves, and iguanas along the bay.
Residential Pest Control in Surfside
Surfside’s homes come in many shapes: houses from many different decades, duplexes, small apartment buildings and oceanfront condominiums. Older homes need attention to the attic, the roofline, the crawl space and the foundation. Duplexes and small buildings need treatment that covers shared walls and plumbing. Condo units need coordination with building management.
Our residential pest control begins with a free inspection inside and out. We look at how pests are getting in, what is drawing them, and whether there is termite activity, and then recommend either a one-time treatment or regular service. If you are buying an older home in Surfside, schedule a termite inspection before closing, since damage hidden in rafters and walls is easy to miss.
Renovations deserve attention, too. Opening walls and ceilings in an older house is a good moment to look for old termite galleries, rodent nesting and moisture damage, and to seal gaps before the drywall goes back up.
A few habits help between visits: keep mulch and plants a few inches from the foundation, trim branches back from the roof, fix dripping spigots and empty standing water every week. And with our 110% Satisfaction Guarantee, if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
Commercial Pest Control for Surfside Businesses
Surfside’s business life is concentrated on Harding Avenue, a downtown first developed in the 1940s, plus hotels and condominium buildings on Collins Avenue. Small businesses here have little room for a pest problem, and restaurants least of all. We provide commercial pest control for:
- Restaurants and food service, including kosher kitchens and cafes, with service scheduled around prep times.
- Retail stores and service businesses on Harding Avenue.
- Hotels along the beach.
- Property management for condominiums, apartment buildings and duplexes.
- Government buildings and community facilities.
Each visit comes with a written report you can show a health inspector or landlord. Our technicians are trained at the TORO Institute, the training center at our Miami headquarters, where on-staff entomologists teach food safety, sanitation and modern pest management.
Surfside Pest Calendar: What to Expect Each Season
| Season | What is active in Surfside | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| January to February | Roof rats in attics, German cockroaches indoors, whiteflies on hedges | Seal roofline gaps and book a termite inspection ahead of swarm season. |
| March | Asian subterranean termite swarms at sunset on warm evenings | Keep doors closed at dusk and save any wings in a bag for identification. |
| Late April to June | Formosan termite swarms, drywood swarms, ants expanding | Keep outdoor lighting low at night, which also helps nesting sea turtles on the beach. |
| Mid-May to mid-October (wet season) | Mosquitoes, American cockroaches and ants driven indoors by rain, fleas | Empty containers weekly, add door sweeps and treat pets and yards together. |
| June to November (hurricane season) | Rodents and wildlife displaced by storms, mosquito surges | Check the attic and yard after every storm and clear debris quickly. |
How Our Surfside Pest Control Service Works
- Free home or business inspectionA Toro technician checks inside and out and identifies the pests, their entry points and what is attracting them.
- Your plan, explainedWe walk you through the findings and recommend one-time or ongoing service, plus simple steps you can take.
- Treatment where it countsWe treat nests, entry points and harborage with methods chosen for your property, following every label direction.
- Guaranteed follow-upUnder our 110% Satisfaction Guarantee, if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
Why Surfside Chooses Toro Pest Management
- Since 1969. Toro was started by Dr. Jose Perez Linares and is run today by its third generation.
- Experience with older homes. We know where termites, rats and roaches get into houses built decades ago.
- Response within 24 hours, guaranteed.
- Homes and small businesses alike, from a duplex to a Harding Avenue restaurant.
- Hablamos Español. Our team can help you in Spanish or English.
Free inspection and $25 off your first service in Surfside.
Schedule Your Free InspectionSurfside Pest Control FAQ
Do you offer pest control in every part of Surfside?
Yes. We service all of Surfside, ZIP code 33154, between 87th and 96th Streets: the homes and duplexes west of Harding Avenue, the Harding Avenue business district, the buildings along Collins Avenue and the homes on the Indian Creek side. We guarantee a response within 24 hours.
My Surfside house was built decades ago. Should I worry about termites?
It is worth checking. Surfside saw most of its early building between the 1930s and the 1950s, and older homes often have original roof framing, wood trim and doors that drywood termites have had many seasons to reach. Subterranean termites also attack from the soil, especially where mulch, planters or irrigation keep the ground wet against the foundation. A professional inspection tells you what is there.
Do you treat duplexes and small apartment buildings?
Yes. In duplexes and small buildings, cockroaches and ants often move between units through shared walls and plumbing. We can treat one unit, but we get the best results when the owner lets us treat the whole building and its exterior at once.
Can you service restaurants and shops on Harding Avenue?
Yes. We provide commercial pest control for restaurants, cafes, food shops, retail stores and service businesses along Harding Avenue, with visits scheduled around your hours and detailed reports for health inspections.
My dog brings home fleas after the park. What can I do?
Treat your pet with a product from your veterinarian first, then treat the home and yard at the same time, because most of a flea population lives as eggs and larvae in carpets, bedding and shaded soil. We handle the indoor and outdoor treatment, and vacuuming often in the following weeks helps finish the job.
Is the inspection free, and can I get help in Spanish?
Yes. The first inspection is free, new customers get $25 off their first service, and our team speaks Spanish. Call 305-594-4767 or fill out the Free Inspection form on this page.
Pest Control Near Surfside
Toro also serves the communities around Surfside:
- Indian Creek Village
- Bal Harbour
- Bay Harbor Islands
- Miami Beach
- North Bay Village
- North Miami
- Miami Shores
- Sunny Isles Beach
Last updated: October 29, 2026
110% Satisfaction Guaranteed
If the bugs come back, so will TORO at no additional cost to you. TORO will respond with in 24 hours Guaranteed. Our technician will arrive quickly and deal with the pest problem to prevent recurrence.
