Provides environmental health information to protect the food, water, and living conditions in Okanogan County. 
Assists with the following services: 
-  Food Worker Card 
-  Food Service Inspections 
-  Environmental Hazards Section 
-  Facilities Inspection 
-  Rodent Control 
-  Rabies Control

Environmental Health offered at Okanogan County Public Health

Provides environmental health information to protect the food, water, and living conditions in Okanogan County.

Programs that issue permits which certify that homeless shelters, shelters for women who have experienced domestic violence, hotels, motels, boarding homes, private schools, parochial schools, child care facilities, adult and juvenile detention facilities and other transient housing facilities and institutions are in conformance with public health laws and ordinances.

Public Health Permits

Programs that issue bulletins or otherwise inform the public of conditions which are conducive to the development and spread of a specific communicable disease or which advise the public of an outbreak that puts them at risk.

Disease Control Advisories

Programs that attempt to control the occurrence of rabies by monitoring the incidence of the disease in bats, coyotes, skunks and other wild animal populations that are susceptible; locating and isolating animals who are suspected of having rabies; and locating and treating people who have been bitten by an animal who may have been rabid.

Rabies Control

Programs that conduct tests of the drinking water that is available to people in their homes or other buildings to detect the presence of hazardous chemicals or other pollutants, and to analyze water composition in terms of softness, odor, color and contaminants (including chemicals such as magnesium sulphate, sodium sulphate and sodium chloride) that, while harmless, affect taste. Tests may be conducted by the authority responsible for the water system or by independent companies. Also available are test kits which can be used in the home for this purpose.

Tap Water Testing

Programs that provide general information about mold as a pollutant, associated safety hazards and measures for remediation.

Mold Pollution Information

Programs that issue permits which provide written authorization for the installation, repair or abandonment of on-site wastewater disposal (septic) systems.

Septic System Permits

Programs that investigate complaints from the public regarding rat infestations, inspect affected property and structures to determine the extent of the problem and provide eradication services or advice and necessary poisons for eradication.

Rat Control

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the purity, safety, wholesomeness, packaging, weighing, labeling or other problems with meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, produce, packaged foodstuffs or other food products. Included are complaints regarding food contamination, discoloration or adulteration; pesticide residues; false grading or marking; misbranding; content or quantity labeling errors; or other deceptive packaging or labeling practices. Also included are programs that accept and manage complaints about pet food and animal feed.

Food Complaints

Programs that offer permits which authorize the holder to work in the kitchens of food establishments such as restaurants and cafeterias preparing and serving food.

Food Handling Permits

Programs that provide general information about the chemical composition of drinking water, potential safety hazards, factors influencing water color, odor and softness, testing procedures and measures for remediation.

Tap Water Information

Programs that issue bulletins which warn the public to avoid purchasing or eating food, pet food or animal feed that is contaminated, contains high levels of mercury or other hazardous substances or otherwise constitutes a public health problem.

Food Safety Warnings

Programs that conduct regular health inspections of facilities that are open to the public and look for accumulations of dirt, dust, mold or trash; broken steps, uneven flooring or other obstructions to safe access; unsanitary kitchen facilities; defective heating, lighting or ventilation; lack of hot water in laundry and/or lavatory facilities and other unsafe or unsanitary conditions. The types of facilities that are subject to inspection vary from state to state, and may include public, private and parochial schools; homeless shelters; domestic violence shelters; hotels; motels; boarding homes; child care facilities; foster homes; adult and juvenile detention facilities; other transient housing facilities and institutions; theaters; arenas; and other places of public assembly.

Public Facility Health Inspection

Programs that issue permits which authorize the installation, alteration, reconstruction, removal or repair of plumbing, water piping, fire sprinkler systems, lawn sprinkler systems, standpipes or swimming pool piping in accordance with an approved plan.

Plumbing Permits

Programs that are responsible for managing the construction, deepening, repair, replacement or abandonment of water wells; and for ensuring that wells that have been left unattended or are awaiting reconstruction, repair or abandonment are temporarily capped to prevent inflow of surface debris or access from the surface and that wells, including test wells, that are no longer in use are permanently sealed.

Water Well Construction/Maintenance/Abandonment Regulation

Takes complaints and investigates situations that include: 
 - Accumulation of junk and debris
 - Clearing or grading without permits
 - Construction without a permit
 - Dangerous or open-to-entry buildings
 - Illegally placed mobile homes or factory-assembled structures
 - Irresponsible or hazardous development
 - Livestock infractions
 - Open wells and other hazardous conditions
 - Operation of an illegal business
 - Storage of junk cars
 - Zoning code infractions

Investigates possible code violations.   
Operates a 24-hour telephone hotline for reports of serious violations of environmental laws during off hours. 
The hotline allows staff to react and halt damage.

Code Enforcement/Complaint Hotline offered at King County Permitting

Takes complaints and investigates land use violations in unincorporated King County; operates a 24-hour hotline to report violations.

Programs that help tenants and landlords resolve disputes regarding security and other rental deposits, unsanitary conditions, failure to make repairs, privacy, notice requirements, excessive rent increases, nonpayment of rent, neglect or damage to property, overcrowding or other grievances.

Landlord/Tenant Dispute Resolution

Programs that are responsible for establishing restrictions on the use of land by property owners as provided for in a community’s general plan using a variety of land use control tools including zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, development moratoriums, overlay zones/districts, planned unit development and transfer of development rights.

Land Use Regulation

Programs that provide information and guidance for tenants who need to know their rights and responsibilities regarding leases and rental agreements, deposits, legal eviction procedures, measures to protect themselves from unlawful or retaliatory evictions, rent withholding rights, rent control requirements, privacy rights and other issues that may be of particular interest to tenants. Tenant rights counseling may also include assistance in completing forms, advice regarding a particular dispute and contact with the offending landlord to provide notification that she or he is not in compliance with landlord/tenant laws.

Tenant Rights Information/Counseling

Programs that accept reports regarding abandoned motor vehicles on public roads, in parking lots or on other public property and/or arrange for their removal. Also included are programs that accept and/or act upon reports of violations of local ordinances regarding vehicles stored on private property.

Abandoned Vehicle Reporting/Removal

Programs that provide information and guidance for landlords who need to know their rights and responsibilities regarding leases and rental agreements, deposits, legal eviction procedures, rent control requirements and other issues that are of particular interest to landlords. Landlord rights counseling may also include assistance in completing forms, and advice regarding a particular dispute or regarding contact with offending tenants to notify them that they are out of compliance with landlord/tenant laws.

Landlord Rights Information/Counseling

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding improper, unethical or illegal practices in the provision of housing.

Housing Complaints

Programs that provide assistance for people who are being evicted from their apartments or other rental property either wrongfully or with reason, e.g. nonpayment of rent. Included are programs that provide legal support in the form of information on tenants' rights, help to navigate the eviction process, and/or mediation services to negotiate a compromise between the individual and the landlord. Eviction prevention programs can also provide a Housing First approach and include various strategies designed to maintain individuals and families in their current housing, such as rent payment assistance, financial assistance with the cost of utilities, assistance securing other types of income support, third-party money management programs, and referrals to other types of community support.

Eviction Prevention Assistance

Programs that provide a hotline, website or other mechanisms that the public can use to anonymously report information about the activities of people who are disposing of hazardous materials, trash or other items in places other than those legitimately set aside for this purpose.

Illegal Dumping Reporting

Programs that provide a hotline, website or other mechanisms that the public can use to report information about buildings, swimming pools, fences, walls or other structures that are believed to be in violation of building or housing codes or related local ordinances. Building codes set requirements for sanitary facilities, electrical, lighting, ventilation, building construction, building materials, fire safety, plumbing and energy conservation as well as standards for swimming pools, swimming pool enclosures, fences, walls, retaining walls and other structures.

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Environmental Health offered at Okanogan County Public Health

Code Enforcement/Complaint Hotline offered at King County Permitting