Environmental Health Division

Environmental Health Division

The Environmental Health Division is committed to protecting the health of the public by evaluating, correcting, and preventing many risk factors in the environment which can adversely affect the health of our community. Responsibilities of this division include regulatory evaluation and enforcement of food establishments, temporary food establishments, tourist establishments, dairy facilities, marinas, and swimming pools; investigation of foodborne illness complaints and outbreaks; food safety education and promotion; environmental complaints and investigations for rodent and pest infestation; mosquito surveillance concerning Zika Virus; and working with Richmond Animal Care and Control to administer the Rabies Program. We consistently interact with many state and local agencies in order to better serve our community.

CONTACT

(804) 205-3912

Environmental Complaint Investigation

The Environmental Health Division investigates approximately 500 complaints from citizens each year regarding various environmental concerns such as rodents, insects, nuisance birds, obnoxious odors, standing water, in addition to complaints related to the facilities which are permitted by our department.

 

Code Enforcement

Code Enforcement with the City of Richmond also serves as a partner to address citizen complaints about trash, tall grass, property maintenance, abandon vehicles, private property issues, etc.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLAINTS

(804) 205-3912

CODE ENFORCEMENT

(804) 646-6398 or online at
City of Richmond Code Enforcement

PROGRAMS/DIVISION AREAS

Food Safety

A major part of the division’s work is permitting and regulating food establishments. There are over 1,100 food establishments in the City of Richmond. These establishments include restaurants, mobile food units, school cafeterias, daycare centers, adult homes, hospital kitchens, and coffee shops. They are regularly inspected as determined by the uniform statewide risk categorization system. Visit the Food Safety webpage.

Lodging Facilities

 

Healthy Swimming RVA

Swimming pools are inspected and the water is tested to ensure a safe swimming environment for bathers. All public swimming pools are inspected throughout the summer and all tourist establishment swimming pools are inspected annually. For more information, please visit the Healthy Swimming RVA page.

Insect (Vectorborne) and Rodent Borne Disease Prevention

Rabies Control & Animal Bites

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. It kills almost any mammal or human that gets sick from it. The rabies virus is mainly in the saliva and brain of rabid animals. It can be transmitted through a bite or by getting saliva or brain tissue in a wound or in the eye or mouth. Rabies cannot be transmitted by blood, feces, urine or by patting an animal. Only mammals such as dogs, cats, ferrets, raccoons, bats, etc. get rabies. Birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians do not get rabies.

If bitten contact the following resources: Richmond City Health District, Environmental Health Division: (804) 205-3912. Richmond Animal Care & Control: (804) 646-5573. For more information, please visit: https://www.rva.gov/animal-care-control/animal-control.

Milk/Dairy Program

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) oversees dairy producers and milk plants to ensure a safe, nutritious product is distributed to the people of the Commonwealth. Virginia dairy farmers produce approximately 240 million gallons of milk each year from over 700 dairy farms. This milk in its raw form has the potential to include dangerous germs, pathogens, bacteria, or contaminants that could harm a consumer. Once milk is processed (pasteurized) and quality checked for safety, it travels to your cup. The Richmond City Health District oversees and regulates the activities of a local dairy and creamery under the Virginia Grade A Milk Regulations which are based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Pasteurized Milk Ordinance.

Click here for additional information about the Virginia Dairy Program 

 

Marina Program

The Environmental Health Division monitors the activities of two marinas in the City to ensure compliance with Virginia State Marina Regulations.

Click here for more information about the marina program

Resources