Our Mission: Protecting the environment and enhancing public health by preventing disease,promoting environmental responsibility and, when necessary, enforcing environmental and public health laws. 

As part of the County’s Land Use & Environment Group, we are here to help you thrive and look forward to serving you.

The Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) enhances San Diegans' quality of life by protecting public health and safeguarding environmental quality, educating the public to increase environmental awareness, and implementing and enforcing local, state, and federal environmental laws.

DEHQ regulates the following:

  • Retail food safety
  • Public housing
  • Public swimming pools
  • Small drinking water systems
  • Mobile-home parks
  • Onsite wastewater systems
  • Recreational water
  • Aboveground and underground storage tanks and cleanup oversight
  • Medical and hazardous materials and waste.

In addition, DEHQ serves as the Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency, prevents disease carried by rats and mosquitoes and helps to ensure safe workplaces for County employees.

For information about the Class Action Settlement regarding annual restaurant permit fees.
 

 Annual Cost Recovery Proposal

The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) has conducted stakeholder outreach virtual meetings and workshops to share program updates and to provide an opportunity to comment on the fiscal year 2023-2024 cost recovery proposal. More information on our Health Permit Fees page.

DEHQ presented the fiscal year (FY) 2023-2024 cost recovery proposal to the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors (Board) on May 3, 2023. The Board voted unanimously to approve DEHQ fees for FY2023-24 at the first hearing of the proposed ordinance changes. The second hearing of the proposed ordinance changes was unanimously approved by the Board on May 24, 2023. The fees will become effective July 1, 2023 and can be found on the list of approved fees.

 

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