Environmental Health Services
EH provides an array of services to residents, businesses, vistors, and employees of the City of Alexandria through programs designed to prevent infectious and non-infectious foodborne and waterborne diseases and disabilities. It also strives to promote health, protect the environment, and eliminate unsanitary and unsafe conditions and public nuisances.
Click the topic below for additional information:
Permit Section
Obtain & Renewing Health Permits,
Code & Regulations, Plan Reviews,
Temporary Events, Farmers' Markets
Massage Permits
Concerns & Complaints
Inspections & Evaluations
Report an Animal Bite / Rabies
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Food Safety Program
Recalls, Forms, Resources, Training,
Food Manager Cards, Employee Health
Aquatic Health Program
Pool Operators, Forms, Resources,
Virginia Graeme Baker Act
Vector-Borne Illness Program
Animals, Bed Bugs, Ticks
Mosquitoes, West Nile virus (WNV)
Roaches, Rodents (Rats/Mice)
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Respiratory Health & Indoor Air Environments
Virginia Clean Air Act
Mold/Mildew, Lead, Mercury
Publications, Reports, Etc.
Community Assessment, FAQ,
Public Records (FOIA), Newsletters
Water Quality Information
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Permit Section
Visit the permit section at alexandriava.gov/40656 for more information about the following topics:
Obtaining a Health Permit
Renewing a Health Permit
Plan Reviews
Codes & Regulations
Fee Schedule
Permit Types (including Establishment Permits, Temporary Events, Farmers' Market Applications, and Well Permits)
Massage permit information can be obtain from alexandriava.gov/MassagePermits
Concerns & Complaints
The Division of Environmental Health only investigates complaints of poor sanitation at establishments it permits. This can include restaurants, groceries, pools, hotel/motels, hair salons, manicure establishments, massage establishments, childcare centers food service, etc. The EH Division can provide guidance in certain vector or indoor air quality problems such as bed bugs, mosquitoes, mold or mildew growth in a home/apartment, smoking in public facilities, etc.
For concerns in other counties, contact the local health department in that jurisdiction. Use the US Postal Service's webpage (http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp) to assist you.
Food-Borne Illness Complaints
If you believe you became ill after eating food from a food service establishment located within the city, call 703.746.4910 and be able to provide the following information:
Name and address of the establishment (if an unpermitted mobile unit, provide a detailed description of the vehicle)
Date and time of visit
All food eaten at the establishment (this includes drinks, appetizers, main course, side dishes, and deserts); indicate which of those items you believe made you sick and why.
The number of individuals in your party, and how many of your party are sick.
Time each of your symptoms began, and in what order they appeared. If applicable, indicate if you vomitted, experienced diarrhea, or had a fever.
If you were hospitalized due to your illness
what you had eaten 72 hours before the appearance of your first symptom
How to Register a Complaint
To register a complaint regarding a permitted establishment within the city, call 703.746.4910 and provide the information below:
Name and address of the establishment (if an unpermitted mobile unit, provide a detailed description of the vehicle)
Date and time of visit
Observed deficiency
The name of the community or building name, where applicable.
To register a complaint about rodents (rats or mice) not at a restaurant, hotel, or grocery store, the City's Rodent Control Program at alexandriava.gov/5382 can help.
Food Safety Section
The Division of Environmental Health regulates and issues permits for all restaurants, groceries, and carryouts that prepare, sell, or serve food within the city. Environmental Health staff also performs evaluations and inspections of all of these establishments. Visit alexandriava.gov/FoodSafety for information on the following topics:
- Contact information for food safety program
- Certified Food Manager requirements
- Current and/or proposed food code and regulations
- Forms, applications, and guides
- Resources, including reports, data, and how to request health department records
- Virginia Clean Air Act (Smoking Legislation) information
Food Safety Advisory Council
Food Safety Advisory Council is looking for more members. Call 703.746.4910 for more information.
Meeting calendar, agenda, minutes, etc. are available from the alexandriava.gov/29572 web-page.
Inspections & Evaluations
The Division of Environmental Health conducts inspections and evaluations at the facilities it regulates. Routine inspections for restaurants and mobile food vendors are available electronically at http://www.healthspace.ca/clients/VDH/Alexandria/Alexandria_Website.nsf. Virginia residents can obtain inspections not available electronically through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Visit alexandriava.gov/FOIA for more information.
Back to Inspections / Back to Top
Aquatic Health Safety Program
The Division of Environmental Health regulates and issues permits for all public swimming pools and spa pools within the city. Environmental Health staff also performs evaluations and inspections of all of these establishments. Visit alexandriava.gov/AquaticHealth for information on the following topics:
- Contact information for aquatic health program
- Pool operator licensing requirements
- Current and/or proposed aquatic code and regulations
- Forms, applications, and guides
- Resources, including reports and how to request health department records
- Virginia Graeme Baker Act information
Publications, Reports, Etc.
Request a Public Record
Public records are available through the City Attorney's Office by filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request at alexandriava.gov/FOIA. The public records frequently requested from our office are available below in PDF format.
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Aquatic
Facilities |
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Food
Facilities |
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Newsletters
Respiratory Health & Indoor Air Environments
For more information about respiratory health, indoor air environments, or hazardous substances, visit the Health Department's Respiratory Health website alexandriava.gov/11622.
Smoke Free Restaurants / Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act
On March 9, 2009, the General Assembly of Virginia enacted the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act. The Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act established a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants effective December 1, 2009. The bill contains several exemptions from this prohibition where smoking may be permitted, including a restaurant that is constructed in such a manner that areas where smoking may be permitted are structurally separated from the portion of the restaurant in which smoking is prohibited and such areas are separately vented.
The Alexandria Health Department began to enforce this legislation on December 1, 2009. Restaurant operators must ban smoking from their establishments or comply with one of the exceptions in Article 2 of the Virginia Clean Air Act. Operators who wish to allow smoking in their restaurants by structurally separating and separately ventilating smoking areas should contact the Health Department to schedule a consultation with a plan review specialist.
Restaurants in the city must also comply with the smoking prohibitions specified in Title 11, Chapter 10 of the Code of the City of Alexandria. This section of the City Code outlines requirements for the ratio of smoking to non-smoking seats in a restaurant.
Contact us at 703.746.4910 for additional information.
Mold / Mildew
In certain instances, the Division of Environmental Health can perform an environmental evaluation of a property or facility. Call 703.746.4910 for more information. The Health Department does not offer testing services; you will need to obtain these services from a commercial business.
Note: If you are renting the property that you want evaluated, you must first attempt to resolve the mold/mildew issue with the landlord.
Lead
For information about lead, lead exposure, renovating old buildings, etc., please visit the Environmental Protection Agency's website at www.epa.gov/lead or telephone the National Lead Hotline at 800.424.LEAD (5323). The Virginia Department of Health's Lead-Safe Virginia Program also provides a number of resources on its website (www.vahealth.org/leadsafe/index.htm), including recent lead recalls, brochures, and links to high risk area codes. This program can be reached by phone at 804.864.7694.
The state agency that regulates individuals who are licensed lead inspectors/risk assessors and contractors is the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. You can go online to www.dpor.virginia.gov and search their database for inspectors and contractors in your locality who are licensed to perform work with lead hazards.
Directions to Find Licensed Individuals for Lead:
- Click on License Look Up on the main web page
- There you may put in your zip code and search by Zip Code
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and make sure you check mark Lead Contractors/Lead Individuals
- Click on Search for Licenses
- Unfortunately DPOR does not list phone numbers, so once you have the names of the individuals you can use a browser search or call information for their phone numbers
Finally, if you are concerned that you child may have lead poisoning, contact your child's physician immediately; additional information can be obtained by calling the child health extension at 703.746.4996, but your child's physician should be consulted first. In certain instances, the Division of Environmental Health will perform a full environmental evaluation with sampling; this is typically after the Health Department has received two laboratory confirmed elevated lead results. In general, however, our office does not perform lead testing.
Mercury
For basic information about mercury, visit the US Environmental Protection Agency's website at www.epa.gov/mercury. For information about disposing of mercury thermometers or other mercury instruments in the city, visit the Solid Waste Division's Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Recycling website at alexandriava.gov/19206.
If you are concerned about elevated mercury levels in yours or your child's blood, please contact your or your child's physician. The Alexandria Health Department does not test for mercury.
Vector-Borne Illness Program
The Vector Borne Illness Program addresses, mitigates and responds to complaints about a variety of vectors, insects or other pests. This program also helps coordinates the Health Department response to any possible rabies exposure due to animal bites.
Animal Bites / Rabies
Individuals suspecting an animal to be infected rabies are warned not to approach it, and are asked to call the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, Animal Control at 703.746.4774, M-F 8 am to 5 pm. Callers unable to reach Animal Control during these hours can call the Alexandria Police Department's non-emergency number at 703.838.4444.
For questions about rabies or animal bites, visit our website at alexandriava.gov/Rabies or call 703.746.4910. The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria also provides general information about rabies at their website alexandriava.gov/Pets.
Bed Bugs
Review the Vector Borne Illness Prevention Program's bed bug webpage at alexandriava.gov/BedBugs for more information bed bugs. To make a complaint or alert us of a concern about a bed bugs in the city, call 703.746.4910 for assistance.
Birds
Nuisance Birds: The Alexandria Health Department cannot remove nuisance birds from your property. It can, however, act as a liaison for complaints about bird nuisances on public land and grounds. To make a bird nuisance complaint for bird on public land, call 703.746.4910.
Dead Birds: The Alexandria Health Department can neither test birds for diseases nor can it assist in the removal of the remains. If you discover a dead bird on your property, it is your responsibility to dispose of it. As with any dead animal, avoid direct skin contact by using either plastic or latex gloves.
Mosquitoes
Review the Vector Borne Illness Prevention Program's mosquito webpage at alexandriava.gov/MosquitoControl for more information on mosquitos. To submit a complaint about a mosquito problem or if you know of a low-lying area that holds standing water, call 703.746.4910 so we can survey the area for mosquito breeding.
Roaches
To submit a complaint about roach activity in a restaurant, grocery store, or hotel, contact the Health Department at 703.746.4910. Forward all other roach complaints to the City's Office of Code Administration at 703.746.4200.
Rodents (Rats/Mice)
To submit a complaint about rodent activity in a restaurant, hotel, or grocery store, contact the Health Department at 703.746.4910. Please submit all other rodent complaints to the City's Rodent Control Program at alexandriava.gov/5382. Additional information on rodent control and prevention can be found at www.cdc.gov/rodents/.
Ticks
Review the Vector Borne Illness Program's tick webpage at alexandriava.gov/27984 for more information about ticks, diseases carried by ticks, and how to prevent tick bites.
West Nile Virus (WNV)
The following agencies offer general information about WNV, including what it is, how you can contract the virus, and what steps we are taking to prevent the spread of WNV.
Water Quality Information
Drinking Water
For water quality reports for the City of Alexandria's drinking water, view both the Fairfax Water and American Water websites.
Surface Water Streams & Ponds
Groundwater
Sewage / Waste Water
Marinas
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About Us
The Division of Environmental Health Services is located on the third floor of the Health Department's main facility, located at 4480 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 22302. Our normal business hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Thursday, 1 to 4:30 pm, excluding all state holidays. Our phone number is 703.746.4910, and our fax number is 703.746.4919.
Mission
The mission of the Environmental Health Division is to prevent disease and promote healthy environments for the Alexandria community by consistently providing professional, timely, and technically excellent environmental health services and by education and empowering others to improve our city's health and environment.
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