Specialists inspect group cares facilities for safety and sanitation. Items such as food service, house-keeping, maintenance, vermin control, approved water supply, and sewage disposal, are looked at for compliance with various rules and regulations.

• Contact:-Barbara Will (941)748-0747 ext 1369
  
•  State Website on Group Care
  
  
  

Ten public salt-water beaches in Manatee County are monitored for bacteriological contamination on a weekly basis. Results and locations can be viewed on line at

• Healthy Beaches Coordinator:-Terri Stripling (941)748-0747 ext 1415
  
• State Website on Healthy Beaches
  
  

Migrant labor camps in Manatee County receive annual permits and quarterly inspections while occupied. Complaints, including those about possible illegal camps, are followed up for possible health violations.

• Contact:-Wendy Miller (941)748-0747 ext 1290
  
• State Website on Migrant Housing
  
  

Annual permitting and semi-annual inspections are performed at all Mobile Home Parks, Recreational Vehicle Parks and Recreational Camps in Manatee County. The inspections ensure safe water supplies, adequate disposal of solid and liquid waste, vermin control, and sanitary public toilet and bath facilities.

• Contact:-Tom Larkin  (941)748-0747 ext 1325
  
• State Website on Mobile Home Parks
  
  

Commercial public swimming pools and spas and the Lake Manatee State Park swimming area are permitted annually and inspected twice a year. The pools are located at apartment complexes, condominiums, motels, hotels, mobile home/RV parks and recreational facilities. New pools and those being renovated receive engineering plan reviews for construction permitting and construction inspections. Public swimming pools or spas that resurface are required to inform the local health department for resurfacing surveys and inspections

All animal bites are required to be reported to Environmental Health Services. Unless the animal (except wild animals) is known to the bite victim and has documented rabies vaccinations, it will be quarantined at an approved site for 10 days from the date of the bite or exposure and then released if in good health. The victim of the bite or exposure is notified that the animal is in good health after the 10 days and that rabies is not a concern.

Animals involved in a bite or exposure are checked for current tags and vaccinations. Environmental Health Services works closely with Manatee County Animal Services to ensure animals have current tags and vaccinations.

In circumstances where the animal bite or exposure incident indicates the probability of rabies infection, provisions are made for the humane sacrifice of the animal and a subsequent examination. Test results are reported to the exposed patient and appropriate control measures are taken.

• Contact:- Barbara Will (941)748-0747 ext 1369
  
•  State Website on Rabies Surveillance
•  Animal Bite Report Form  (29KB - PDF)
  
  

Site surveys, plan reviews, construction permit issuance and construction inspections are performed for all new septic tank systems. Staff also inspects all system repairs and tank abandonments. Septage-pumping companies, portable toilet service companies, septic tank manufacturers and septage treatment facilities are permitted annually and inspected twice a year. Environmental Heath also monitors and inspects septage land spreading sites and commercial facilities utilizing onsite sewage disposal and treatment systems for sewer waste. Environmental Health staff work with the Manatee County Department of Planning, Permitting and Inspections in reviewing proposed subdivisions for septic tank use. Enforcement of mandatory sewer connections is also coordinated with the Manatee County Department of Public Works.

• Permitting Contact: - Rebecca Smith (941)748-0747 ext 1340
  

• Inspections Contacts: -Brett Peterson (941)748-0747 ext 1344
  

• State Website on OSTDS

  OSTDS Abandonment_Application_Packet (PDF - 1.28kb)

  OSTDS_New_Existing_Repair_Application_Packet (PDF - 3.44kb)
  
  

All tanning facilities are permitted annually and inspected bi-annually. Environmental Health ensures that the minimum sanitation and safety requirements related to the design and operation of tanning salons are met. Complaints of injury, infection and the tanning of minors are investigated by the division.

• Program Coordinator: -Barbara Will (941)748-0747 ext 1369
  
•  State Website on Tanning
•  Tanning Licensing Packet (doc - 177kb)
•  Tanning Application (pdf - 47kb)
•  Client Registration Form (doc - 75kb)
•  Approved Tanning Certification Providers (pdf - 33kb)
  
  

What are "Sharps"?

"Sharps" are defined as items having the potential to puncture or lacerate. These include syringes with attached needles and disposable lancets.

The American Diabetes Association?s statistics show that there are an estimated 2800 insulin-dependent county residents plus seasonal visitors who use sharps.
In addition, there are others whose medical condition requires the use of injected medication.

If not disposed of properly, sharps can cause many problems:

• Program Coordinator:-Barbara Will  (941)748-0747 ext 1369
  
• Sharpes Brochure (PDF - 100kb)