Air Quality • Children's Camps • Communicable Disease • Environmental Health Emergencies • Food Program • Mobil Home Parks • Rabies Control • Recreation Facilities • Residential Development • Sewage Systems • Tobacco Regulations • Water Systems • West Nile Virus

The Environmental Health Division is an educational and regulatory agency dedicated to protect, preserve, and promote the health of the residents of Tompkins County through the natural and man-made environments.
Some activities are partly funded by user fees; a fee schedule can be obtained from the Environmental Health office. Call 274-6688.

Air Quality:

• Indoor Mold Concerns
• Indoor Carbon Monoxide
• Exterior Paint Removal Guidelines
• Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA) compliance
• Open burning regulations in Tompkins County

Communicable Disease Control: Investigate and analyze all food and water-borne illnesses.

Environmental Health Emergencies: Investigate situations which may cause public health problems.

Food Program: Issues permits, inspects facilities and reviews and approves plans. Provides educational information (handouts, posters, stickers, etc.), seminars and training.

• ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification Course information.
• Food Safety for Food Service Employees and Volunteers Course.
• Monthly Inspection Highlights of permitted food service facilities.
• For more information on our food program, plus additional links, click here.

Mobile Home Parks: Inspect for safety, sanitation, and drinking water quality.

Rabies Control: Investigate exposures and provide vaccinations for dogs and cats to prevent human rabies.

• Fact sheet: Our Rabies Information Sheet contains important phone numbers, rabies information and mandatory pet vaccination information.
• Vaccination clinics: All pets must be vaccinated against rabies. EH sponsors free rabies vaccination clinics at locations throughout the county. Click here for a schedule of upcoming rabies clinics.

Recreation Facilities: Inspect for adequate staffing, fire safety, drinking and swimming water quality. Children's Camps

Residential Development: Approve residential developments, sewer and water extensions, and treatment plants to ensure safe and healthy communities.

Sewage Systems: Ensure systems are designed and constructed to protect neighborhoods and county water resources.

• Procedure for obtaining a permit to construct a sewage treatment system
• Lot size and permit requirements for constructing a sewage treatment system
• Application for sewage system construction permit (download pdf, 125K)
• Sewage system maintenance for homeowners
• Onsite wastewater treatment systems; Read about the March 2006 training session.

Tobacco Regulations: Enforce laws in worksites, public places, and retail sales to minors (ATUPA.) Investigate complaints and educate. Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA) compliance.

Water Systems: Monitor public water systems to ensure safe drinking water quality and to aid homeowners with water problems.

• Your Private Water Well
• Coliform Bacteria and Your Drilled Well
• Shock Disinfection of Water Supply Systems
• Annual Water Week activities
• Proposed Amendments to the Sanitary Code related to assuring safe drinking water: CLICK HERE

West Nile Virus: To report dead crows call 274-6688. For information regarding West Nile Virus click here.

 
Some activities are partly funded by user fees; a fee schedule can be obtained from the Environmental Health office.