Contact Us

Public Health
Seattle & King County
401 5th Ave., Suite 1300
Seattle, WA 98104

Phone: 206-296-4600
TTY Relay: 711

Toll-free: 800-325-6165

Click here to email us

Public Records Requests

Instructions to submit a Public Records Request

Environmental Health Services focuses on prevention of disease through proper sanitation, safe food, proper disposal of waste and toxics, and management of disease-carrying pests.

Environmental Health Division Overview
Environmental Health Service Fees (effective Jan. 1, 2006)
Publications authored by Environmental Health staff
External links

Environmental Health services, programs and fact sheets


Avian influenza
Avian (or bird) flu: a disease caused by avian influenza viruses that occurs naturally among birds. In rare cases, it can be transmitted from birds to humans.

Disaster preparedness fact sheets
Available in multiple languages, these fact sheets include information from "Cleaning a house after a flood" to "Finding hidden water supplies in an emergency" and more.

Drinking water program
The Public Health Drinking Water Program works to prevent communicable disease and illness associated with drinking water from small public and individual private water systems.

Food protection program
Information on how to start a food business, the inspection process, how to get a food worker permit, food safety fact sheets, how to issue a complaint on a food establishment, and more.

Goat, private ownership
It is important to understand legal issues, disease concerns, goat husbandry, milking, and sanitation before you get a goat as a pet or for food production.

Gypsy moths: using Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (B.t.k.) pesticide
Fact sheet on human health risks of using B.t.k. pesticide to control gypsy moths.

Health Impact Assessment (HIA)
A Health Impact Assessment involves a combination of procedures, methods and tools used to evaluate a policy, program or project as to its potential effects on the health of a population, and how these effects will affect different members of a population. HIA can help identify and consider the potential or actual health and equity impacts of a proposal on a given population.

Illegal drug lab cleanups (meth labs)
Illegal drugs such as methamphetamine, ecstacy and methcathinone are made in clandestine labs. Learn about Public Health's role in the decontamination process.

Illegal dumping
Illegal dumping is the dumping solid waste onto the surface of the ground or into the waters of the state, except at a permitted disposal site. Learn why this can be a public health problem.

Pest control operator regulation
Registers and regulates businesses engaged in structural pest control, (i.e. businesses doing extermination or fumigation). Also licenses and regulates master pest control operators.

Pet business permits
Permit information for commercial kennels, pet daycares and shops where pets are sold.

Plumbing and gas piping program
Plumbing can be difficult. Public Health �0;13; Seattle & King County recommends you hire a professional plumber. If you choose to do your own plumbing, please adhere closely to these instructions.

Rat prevention
Rats are dangerous! They can ruin your food, destroy things in your home and start electrical fires. Rats and their fleas can carry disease. Learn tips for preventing rats getting into your building.

Roadside Monitoring Program (PDF)
Monitors the King County Department of Transportation's Roadside Weed Control Program by taking samples to look for pesticide concentration.

School plan review
Reviews and approves new school sites and plans for public and private schools kindergarten through high school grade 12.

Solid waste
Fact sheets on how to dispose multiple types or waste in King County.

Swimming pool and spa inspections and management
Information for owners/managers of public and semi-public pools and spas including the Plan Review process, printable rules and water recreation publications.

Toxic hazards
Facts, guidelines and reports including the Tacoma Smelter Plume project, syringe disposal, indoor air quality, household hazardous chemicals, arsenic and lead, and more.

Wastewater program
Public Health helps to ensure that over 115,000 septic systems including 192 septic systems in Seattle are safe. See extensive information for homeowners, septic professionals and more.

West Nile virus surveillance
West Nile virus can infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and other animals. Learn about Public Health's West Nile virus surveillance activities in King County.
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Contact us

Environmental Health Services
Administrative Offices

401 5th Ave., Ste. 1100
[MAP]
Seattle, WA 98104

Phone: 206-205-4394
Services: Drinking water, Food and Facilities Protection, Schools, Solid Waste, Toxic hazards, Vector/Nuisance,
Water recreation programs


Eastgate Environmental Health
14350 SE Eastgate Way
[MAP]
Bellevue, WA 98007

Phone: 206-296-4932
Services: Drinking Water, Plumbing/Gas Piping, Wastewater programs


Alder Square Environmental Health
1404 S. Central Ave, Ste. 101 [MAP]
Kent, WA 98032

Phone: 206-296-4708
Services: Food and Facilities Protection programs


Northshore Environmental Health
10808 NE 145th St.
[MAP]
Bothell, WA 98011

Phone: 206-296-9791
Services: Food and Facilities Protection programs


key factsheets
Lead Fact Sheet
Lead is a useful and common metal that has been used by humans for thousands of years. It is also a very dangerous poison, particularly for children, when it is accidentally inhaled or ingested.

Fire smoke and health (PDF)
Smoke's very small particles are toxic to the lung and carry toxic gases with them deep into sensitive areas of the lungs.

Rabies Fact Sheet
Rabies is a disease caused by the rabies virus. People start to show signs of the disease 1 to 3 months or longer after being bitten by an animal carrying the rabies virus.

Swimmer's Itch Facts
Swimmer's itch (cercarial dermatitis) is an itchy rash caused by a parasite in lake water.

Wood Smoke Facts
TV show that informs about the health dangers of wood smoke (2/2/04 press release.)