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Health Inspections and Permits
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Durham County Health Department
Services/Environmental Health
General Inspection |
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 oversees the sanitation requirements for many establishments that operate in areas that are in direct relation to the public's health. 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 residents or proprietors |
| Fees: |
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$75 annually for food service establishments, payable to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 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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Appointments are not scheduled, but instead unannounced routine inspections are performed on a necessary basis. |
| Contact: |
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560-7800 |
| Service: |
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Environmental Health/Literature |
| Description: |
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The Environmental Health Staff can provide information on relevant materials that relate directly to many factors that correspond to public health. This partial list would include: 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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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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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 Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) who is responsible for the establishment in their assigned territory. Upon notification, all complaints are investigated with a visit or inspection of the establishment by the EHS. Individual complaints may possibly develop into a foodborne illness investigation, and the results of the complaint investigation may be requested and accessed. All complaints are considered part of public record. |
| Eligibility: |
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Any patron of a permitted establishment. |
| 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 submittal guide is available from the State plan review website.(http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/ehs/PlanRev/plan2.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, thus if an establishment is sold, the new owner must obtain 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.
Additional Information:
| Basic Requirements for Foodservice Establishments |
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| Other forms are currently under construction |
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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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Scheduling request submittal 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 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. This course is approved by the NC State legislature for a two-point bonus credit on subsequent restaurant inspections, but only when a full time certified individual is in direct supervision of the food service operation. Certification will be provided by the NRA and will be based upon passing a written examination. Testing is optional, but certification will be issued only to those participants passing the written exam and attending a minimum of 12 class hours. 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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Durham and Orange County residents |
| 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 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, not a tattooing establishment. Therefore, if 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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