Environmental health is the science and practice of preventing human injury and illness by identifying and limiting human exposure to physical, chemical, and biological hazards found in the air, water, soil, and/or food. Environmental health is an important branch of public health because programs, rules, and regulations establish standards and guidelines to protect human health and reduce adverse health events.
In Mobile County, the Bureau of Environmental Health, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health, is responsible for the environmental health of Mobile County. The Bureau of Environmental Health enforces state and local laws regarding food, lodging, day care centers, vector control, and other facilities licensed by state and local governments in Mobile County. Additionally, Environmental Health issues permits, licenses, and certificates and processes fees for public facilities.
Divisions of Environmental Health include the Onsite Services Division, Vector Control Services, and Inspection Services. Please see below to learn more about our divisions and any guidelines for environmental health.
Inspection Services enforces the regulations for retail food establishments, body art facilities, food processors, hotel lodging, camps, and detention centers, as well as local countywide regulations for swimming pools and child daycare centers. These facilities are required by state and local law to have permits and/or licenses to operate in Mobile County. This includes approval of all newly built, Inspection Services also responds to complaints, disasters, and other emergencies. For example, power outages for more than two hours, sewage backup, no running or hot water, vermin infestation, foodborne illness outbreaks, and other community sanitation issues.
Restaurant and food establishment inspections
The Inspection Services Department has Environmental Health Specialists who perform restaurant and food establishment inspections on a routine basis to protect consumers from unsanitary conditions, educate food service employees and to prevent foodborne illnesses.
Each food service establishment must obtain a Food Permit from the Health Department each year. Any establishment, permanent or temporary, that offers for sale, any unpackaged food product or potentially hazardous packaged product to the public must have a current permit. This permit must be displayed in public view.
The environmentalists in the Inspection Services Department use an inspection sheet based on the one used by the Alabama Department of Public Health to score restaurants using a 100-point grading scale. Critical items are four- and five-point violations that require immediate correction. A “Notice of Violation” is issued for these items until all problems are resolved. One- and two-point violations must be corrected before the next inspection date. The inspection sheet must be current and displayed in public view.
Score details:
85 and above is a passing score.
70-84 requires re-inspection within 30 days.
60-69 requires re-inspection within 48 hours.
59 or below requires immediate closure.
To see restaurant ratings, visit https://mc-hd.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=2321cbb56bf84e52bd36cb23fe72c9c8
Additional Information:
- Inspection Services Permit Application
- Body Art Operator Permit
- Body Art Facility License
- Child Day Care Centers Rules
- Food or Lodging Complaints
- Food Handler Online Courses
- Alcoholic Beverage Handler Training information
- Inspection Services Department Service Fees
- Fundraising Events Guidelines
- Cottage Food Production Rules and Operations
- Cottage Food Application
- Rules for New/Renovated/Remodeled Food Establishments
- Rules for New/Renovated/Remodeled Hotel/Motel Lodging Business
- Temporary Food Service Guidelines
- Swimming Pool Program
Hours and Location
Office: 251-690-8116
Fax: 251-405-4531
Hours of Operation: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
251 North Bayou St.
P.O. Box 2867
Mobile, Alabama 36652-2867
*The Inspection Services Department is in Building 6 within the gated compound of the main Health Department. The Food Handler classes are in the same building.
Following the ADPH Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Rules, the Mobile County Health Department’s Onsite Sewage division regulates the permitting, installations and inspections of onsite sewage disposal systems (septic tanks) for Mobile County, both residential and commercial. Onsite regulates septic and sewage tank pumpers and requires an annual inspection of the pump truck prior to use. All persons involved in the onsite sewage disposal systems industry are required to be licensed by the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board. Other duties for Onsite include the permitting and inspection of Solid Waste Collectors/Transporters and the Solid Waste Transfer Stations in Mobile County, while also being involved in the creation and expansion of private and public cemeteries.
Request for Information form
Clients may download a Request for Information form at this link. Once the form is completed, it would need to be emailed to onsite@mchd.org, mailed or dropped by the Onsite office with a payment of $30.00.
Records provided include existing septic system locations and approved Applications to Install (perc tests).
List of Fees
Application/Inspection
- Residential $200.00
- Commercial $270.00
Large Flow Developments
- Preliminary Review (Phase I, II, III) $135.00
- Final Review (Phase I/II – 10 lots or less) $410.00
- Final Review (Phase II/III) Over 10 lots $35.00/lot
- Site Evaluation Fee $410.00
- System Verification/Certification Fee $95.00
- Onsite Reinspection Fee $65.00
Septic
- Sewage Tank Pumper Permit & Inspection $95.00
- Sewage Tank Pumper Permit & Inspection Late Fee $95.00
Solid Waste
- Solid Waste Collector (Annual Inspection & 1st Truck) $270.00
- Additional Trucks (from the same company) $165.00
- Solid Waste Collector Late Fee $135.00
- Transfer Station Fee $340.00
Miscellaneous Onsite Fees
- Cemetery Review $65/acre
- Electronic Transmission Fee $30.00/month
- Administrative (non-medical) $30.00 + $0.25 per page
- Document/correspondence search and per page copy $0.25 per page
- Miscellaneous Permit/Inspection (i.e. transit permit for human body remains; chickens in city, et cetera) $30.00
- Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal (420-3-1) Regulations (Printed Copy) $25.00
- Onsite Rush Fee $375.00
Hours and Location
Office: 251.634.9801
Fax: 251.405.4531
Hours of Operation: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
1110 Schillinger Rd N #200
Mobile, Alabama 36608
*Located next to the Jon Archer Agricultural Center
The division of Vector Services performs mosquito and rodent control services for the citizens of Mobile County. Vector Services routinely treats mosquito breeding sites and sample mosquito populations to track and control mosquito populations. Mobile County residents are welcome to report high mosquito activity via digital form or by calling phone call. Rodent control services are also provided in response to public complaints. Rodent complaints can be issued via digital form or by phone call.
Visit our Vector Control page for more information about mosquito-borne diseases, surveillance, control, and complaints in addition to information on issuing rodent complaints.
Additional Information
Hours of Operation: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Mosquito Control Office: 251.690.8124
Rodent Control Office: 251.690.8819
Email: VectorServices@mchd.org
Complaints: Mosquito and Rodent Digital Complaint Form
*The complainant must provide his/her name, address and telephone number if submitting a complaint by email or over the telephone. Any information submitted through the complaint program is considered public property and any interested party may obtain a copy of the complaint through the Freedom of Information Act.