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Health Inspections and Permits
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Durham County Health Department
Environmental Health General Inspections |
Permit applications for services provided by the Environmental Health Division may be downloaded from this website. These applications may be obtained by either clicking on the Application link page, or via the specific application links for the service desired as described below or within this site.
| Service: |
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Environmental Health/Mandated Sanitation Inspections |
| Description: |
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The Environmental Health Staff conducts sanitation inspections for many establishment types. Inspection frequency is determined by the risk based standards developed by the Food Protection Branch of the State. The following is a list of the inspections that are mandated by the North Carolina General Statutes.
State Mandated Inspections
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Establishment |
No. of Inspections Required |
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Restaurants |
1 4 per year |
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Food Stand |
1 4 per year |
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Drink Stand |
1 per year |
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Mobile Food Unit |
1 4 per year |
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Push Cart |
1 4 per year |
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Public School Lunchrooms |
4 (1 per Quarter) |
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Private School Lunchrooms |
1 4 per year |
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Educational Food Service |
1 4 per year |
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Meat Markets |
3 per year |
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Commissaries Preparing Food |
1 4 per year |
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Elderly Nutrition Sites (catered |
1 4 per year |
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Limited Food Service |
1 4 per year |
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Commissary for Pushcarts & Mobile Food Units |
1 4 per year |
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Lodging |
1 (1 per Fiscal Year) |
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Bed & Breakfast Home |
1 (1 per Fiscal Year) |
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Bed & Breakfast Inn |
2 (1 per 6 months) |
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Summer Camps |
1 (1 per Fiscal Year) |
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Rest/Nursing Home |
2 (1 per 6 months) |
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Hospitals |
2 (1 per 6 months) |
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Child Day Care |
2 (1 per 6 months) |
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Residential Care |
1 (1 per Fiscal Year) |
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School Building (private & public) |
1 (1 per Fiscal Year) |
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Local Confinement |
1 (1 per Fiscal Year) |
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Private Boarding Schools/College |
1 (1 per Fiscal Year) |
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Orphanage or Similar Institution |
1 (1 per Fiscal Year) |
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Seasonal Swimming Pools |
1 (1 per Calendar Year) |
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Seasonal Wading Pools |
1 (1 per Calendar Year) |
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Seasonal Spas |
1 (1 per Calendar Year) |
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Year-Round Swimming Pools |
2 (2 per Calendar Year) |
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Year-Round Wading Pools |
2 (2 per Calendar Year) |
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Year-Round Spas |
2 (2 per Calendar Year) |
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Tattoo Establishment |
1 (1 per Fiscal Year) |
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Summer Feeding Sites |
1 (1 per operating period 6/1 -8/31) |
Legend:
Calendar Year = January through December
Fiscal Year = July through June
Quarter = 1st July, August, September
2nd October, November, December
3rd January, February, March
4th April, May, June
* - Permitted by the Environmental Health Division. For more information on permitting of other inspected establishments, feel free to contact the Division for referrals.
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| Eligibility: |
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Durham County Establishments |
| Fees: |
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$75 annually for food service establishments, payable to the North Carolina Division of Public Health, Inspections, Statistics and Fees, Attn: Jackie Glenn, 1632 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1632. Refer to attached fee schedule for fees associated with swimming pools. |
| Access: |
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Durham County Health Department, 8:30-5:00, Monday-Friday |
| Appointment: |
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Unannounced routine inspections are performed as required by rules or as necessary. |
| Contact: |
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560-7800 |
| Service: |
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Environmental Health/Literature |
| Description: |
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The Environmental Health Staff provides information on relevant materials that relate directly to many public health factors. This partial list includes: food safety and sanitation, private water supplies (wells), on-site wastewater treatment systems, garbage/rodent control, lead based paint hazards, along with many other areas of public health. For more specifics, feel free to contact the Division at the number listed below. |
| Eligibility: |
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Upon request |
| Fees: |
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None |
| Access: |
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Durham County Health Department, 8:30-5:00, Monday-Friday |
| Appointment: |
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Appointments may be individually scheduled as needed. |
| Contact: |
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560-7800 |
| Service: |
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General Inspections/Food, Lodging & Institutional Complaints |
| Description: |
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Complaints are referred to the Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) who is responsible for the establishment in their assigned territory. Upon notification, complaints are investigated with a visit or inspection of the establishment by the REHS. All complaints are considered part of public record. |
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Upon request. |
| Fees: |
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None |
| Access: |
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Durham County Health Department, 8:30-5:00, Monday-Friday |
| Appointment: |
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Scheduled on an individual basis as needed |
| Contact: |
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560-7800 |
| Service: |
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General Inspections/Grave Disinterment |
| Description: |
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The Environmental Health Staff oversees the removal and relocation of graves to see that the remains are treated with respect and that no imminent public health hazards are present or remaining. |
| Eligibility: |
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Durham County residents |
| Fees: |
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None |
| Access: |
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Durham County Health Department, 8:30-5:00, Monday-Friday |
| Appointment: |
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Scheduled on an individual basis as needed |
| Contact: |
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560-7800 |
| Service: |
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General Inspections/Food Service and Plan Review |
| Description: |
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When a proprietor is considering opening a food service establishment, a completed plan review application must be submitted to the Environmental Health Division for approval. Here are some of the general requirements that should be taken into consideration:
- A set of plans drawn to scale, including a site plan, menu, equipment layout, equipment schedule, finish schedule for all floors, walls and ceilings, plumbing and electrical diagrams, hot water heater specifications and cut sheets on the dish washing machine must be submitted to the Division for review and approval prior to obtaining a building permit. A full plan review guide is available from the State plan review website.http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/Food/plan3.htm
- Food service establishment locations should be selected where municipal water and sewer are available, if possible. Proposed food service establishment locations requiring a well and/or septic system should have the site approved before drawing plans.
- A permit to operate is issued to the owner of the business after all construction and equipment requirements have been satisfied. Once permitted, the establishment will be inspected for sanitary conditions on an established basis. Permits are not transferable.When an establishment is sold, the new owner must obtain a transitional permit or a new permit before opening. Any non-compliant items must be corrected, repaired, or replaced before a new permit can be issued. If any questions or comments arise, feel free to contact the Division at the number listed on this page.
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| Eligibility: |
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Durham County residents or entrepreneurs |
| Fees: |
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See Fee Schedule |
| Access: |
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Durham County Health Department, 8:30-5:00, Monday-Friday |
| Appointment: |
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Appointments will be scheduled on an individual basis |
| Contact: |
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560-7800 |
| Service: |
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General Inspections/Residential Care Inspections |
| Description: |
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The Environmental Health staff provides sanitation inspections for licensed residential care facilities and other licensed facilities. Scheduled at any time during the calendar year and at least 30 days prior to expiration of license. These inspections are performed at least once a year prior to expiration of the license. |
| Eligibility: |
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Durham County residents |
| Fees: |
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None |
| Access: |
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Durham County Health Department, 8:30-5:00, Monday-Friday |
| Appointment: |
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A Service Request form should be submitted at least 30 days prior to expiration of license. |
| Contact: |
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560-7800 |
| Service: |
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General Inspections / ServSafe A food safety certification course |
| Description: |
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ServSafe is a Food Safety Certification Course for managers developed by the Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association (NRA). It is a comprehensive program for food service managers and supervisory staff in restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, child-care facilities, and other food handling establishments. Certification will be provided by the NRA based upon passing a written examination. A certificate, which can be proudly displayed in your business, will be issued to those receiving certification. This course is offered twice annually with combined efforts of the Durham and Orange County Health Departments, Environmental Health Divisions, and the Durham and Orange County Cooperative Extension Services. For more information, please feel free to contact the number listed on this page. |
| Eligibility: |
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No restrictions |
| Fees: |
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A fee is charged which includes the course book and certification issued by the National Restaurant Association. For more information please call 919-560-7800. |
| Access: |
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Durham County Health Department, 8:30-5:00, Monday-Friday |
| Appointment: |
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May be scheduled on an individual basis as needed |
| Contact: |
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560-7800 |
| Service: |
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General Inspections/Tattoo Permits |
| Description: |
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The Environmental Health Staff oversees the sanitation requirements for all tattoo establishments, and issues Tattoo Artist permits after determining compliance. In order to obtain a tattooing permit, a person must apply to the Environmental Health Division. Upon receipt of the application, the Division shall inspect the premises, instruments, utensils, equipment, and procedures of the applicant to determine whether the applicant meets the requirements for a tattooing permit. If the applicant meets these requirements, the individual artist shall be issued a permit, which is valid for one year and must be renewed on an annual basis. It should be noted that the individual artist is permitted at a tattooing establishment. When an artist works in multiple establishments, the artist must obtain multiple permits to operate in each establishment. |
| Eligibility: |
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Durham County residents |
| Fees: |
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See Fee Schedule |
| Access: |
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Durham County Health Department, 8:30-5:00, Monday-Friday |
| Appointment: |
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May be scheduled on an individual basis as needed |
| Contact: |
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560-7800 |
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