Environmental  Health

Environmental Public Health programs are implemented to control or remove disease-causing links between people and their environment.

Typical activities include inspections, complaint investigations, plan reviewing, permitting and regulatory enforcement.

See what we do every day:

Environmental Health and You

Office located at:

2295 Victoria Avenue

2nd Floor East
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
(239) 690-2100

Environmental Health Resources

• Need a Form or Application? Check Here

• See the result of your last inspection

• Check Your OSTDS Permit Status Online

• Statutes and Rules for Environmental Health Programs

• Provide your feedback through a very short survey

The following programs are regulated by the Health Department in Lee County:

The Department of Health, Bureau of Onsite Sewage Programs and the Environmental Health section of the Health Department in Lee County through 381.0065, Florida Statutes (FS) and Chapter 64E-6, Florida Administrative Code, regulate the construction and use of onsite wastewater treatment and disposal (septic) systems in Lee County. For more information, continue on to our complete Onsite Sewage and Disposal (Septic) Systems page.

Environmental Health inspects and permits over 1800 public pools and spas in motels, condo/apartment complexes, health clubs, schools, and mobile home parks in our community at least twice each year. Each site must comply with state standards for pool construction, maintenance, water chemistry, and safety equipment. For more information, continue on to our complete Public Pools and Bathing Places page.

The Florida Department of Health regulates the institutional food operations in schools, group care facilities, hospitals, jails, fraternal organizations. These establishments are inspected four times each year for equipment and sanitation practices; also bars and lounges that do not prepare food are inspected twice yearly. Environmental Health specialists investigate reports of food-borne illness outbreaks at any venue in Lee County. For more information, continue on to our complete Food Hygiene Services page.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (1-850-487-1395) handles the inspection of restaurants. Agriculture and Consumer Services (1-800-435-7352) regulates grocery and convenience stores.

Based on requests other agencies, Environmental Specialists conduct safety and sanitation inspections in  homes where children, the elderly, or people with disabilities may be placed.  For more information, continue on to our complete Licensed Group Care Homes page.

Environmental Health issues annual operating permits to Mobile Home parks, RV Parks, campgrounds, and recreational facilities. Of primary concern and importance are safe drinking water supply, proper sewage disposal, a safe and disease free swimming pool (where provided), and assurances that the establishment is free from garbage, harmful insects, and rodent infestations. For more information, continue on to our complete Mobile Home Parks / Recreational Vehicle Parks page.

The objective of the biomedical waste program is to protect health care workers, environmental-service staff, waste haulers, and the general public from risks associated with potentially infectious biomedical waste.

Both the Department of Health and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have responsibilities under this program.

The Health Department in Lee County monitors indoor tanning facilities' operation through permitting and regular inspections to assure that required sanitary and safety standards are maintained. For more information, continue on to our complete Tanning Facilities page.

In 1999, the Florida Legislature passed section 381.0075, Florida Statutes (F.S.), regulating the body-piercing industry. The Health Department issues permits and prescribes the minimum sanitary and safety requirements related to the design, operation, and maintenance of body-piercing salons and temporary establishments. For more information, continue on to our Body Piercing page.

On January 1, 2012, legislation became effective that requires the Department of Health to license and inspect tattoo establishments and to license tattoo artists. For more information on the progress of the new licensing requirements, continue on to our Tattooing page.

The objective of this program is to reduce the risk of communicable disease transmission and injury among migrant farm workers by establishing comprehensive and uniform procedures for permitting and inspecting migrant housing. The Health Department in Lee County inspects all Permitted Migrant Housing twice per quarter. For more information, continue on to our Migrant Labor Housing page.

Environmental Health investigates public health nuisance complaints which involve septic problems such as sewage on the ground or other concerns about unsanitary conditions. To submit a complaint, call 239-690-2100. To report disease, contact epidemiology at 239-332-9580. For more information, continue on to our Nuisance Complaint page.

Environmental Health provides information and referral service to other agencies. Issues may include sewage, waste disposal, pollution, public buildings, occupational health, consumer product safety, radiological health, indoor air quality, toxic substances, animal and insect borne diseases. See the links below to other Environmental Health issues.