The Environmental Health Department protects the citizens of the Norfolk with a wide range of services, including inspection of all food establishments, hotels, motels, tattoo parlors, and body piercing salons, public swimming pools and campgrounds; investigation of animal bites and childhood lead poisoning; beach water sampling and monitoring; investigation of complaints involving restaurants, hotels, swimming pools and septic systems; and advice on solid waste, insect, and rodent problems.
Environmental Health Services creates and administers programs and services to reduce the incidence of environmental conditions which may adversely impact the health, safety and wellbeing of the citizens of Norfolk. Enforcement of applicable city and state statues and codes occurs through public education efforts as well as through legal actions.
Limited services by appointment are available Monday – Friday from 8:15 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please mail all applications for processing. For more information or to make an appointment, please call (757) 683-2712.
If you suspect that more than one person has become ill after eating a common food, please log onto MyMealDetective.com to file an online foodborne illness report.
Other environmental resources
Licensure agency for barbers, cosmetology, tattoo artists, personal services, etc.
DPOR Home Page | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
Vector Control
Vector Control protects the public against vectors of diseases. They provide rodent control on city property, conduct inspections prior to demolitions of all structures to certify it free of rat infestations, and provide mosquito control to the city through management of tidal ditches, larviciding, trapping to identify mosquito species, conducting backyard inspections for breeding, answering complaints, and providing education to citizens. Call 757-683-2840 for more information.
Disaster & Emergency Preparedness
The entire bureau’s staff is available and on call during natural or man made disasters to ensure protection of the food supply, water and sewage disposal surveillance, refuse disposal, and to protect the health of the public, whether in a shelter environment or during the recovery phase.
For more information call 757-683-2712.
Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Services of the Lead Program include screening, education, laboratory analysis of blood and environmental samples, medical and environmental case management. Because children from six months through six years of age are most susceptible to lead poisoning, the program focus is on working with physicians to provide blood lead screening for all children from six months to six years of age and in teaching contractors and property owners to make houses lead safe before children are poisoned.
For more information call 757-683-2862.