MontgomeryCountyMD.GOV

The Environmental Health unit promotes and protects the safety of residents by enforcing  regulations associated with the operation of all licensed food service facilities.  This includes the licensing and inspection of all food service facilities such as restaurants, grocery stores, bars, mobile food trucks, and special events such as community festivals.

The work includes routine health inspections and responding to complaints, as well as food-borne disease outbreak investigations (with the Disease Control Office), plan review for public pools and food service facilities, and emergency response at licensed facilities. Staff conduct periodic educational seminars for licensees. This unit also enforces Montgomery County's smoking, trans fat and menu labeling laws, as well as regulations related to the control of rats.

Environmental health specialists perform inspections and investigations of public facilities to ensure that food is safe and free of contamination and that swimming pools are safe for users. Inspectors work in assigned areas of the county and schedule and conduct on-site inspections and investigations of construction and operating standards in facilities and institutions, such as restaurants; markets; bakeries; nursing homes; group residential homes; public and private schools; tanning salons; and public swimming pools, for the purpose of identifying public health and safety hazards.