To protect the health and safety of customers and staff and to slow the transmission of COVID-19, the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) will temporarily close all public lobby spaces effective Friday, March 20^th.  To ensure our customer’s needs are being met, DEH will be going to a virtual business process until further notice.

DEH will continue operating the Customer Service Phone lines Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and will continue to provide several online services, including:

• Citizen Access is a website with online services to search records, pay for existing permit (record) and  re-inspection fees, and apply for permits on-line.
• Payment Online  For online payments, click Citizen Access or go to http:/www.dehpay.com.  Go to the DEH tab, then in the General Search section, enter the Record Number (printed on invoice) in the Record Number field and click Search.  Clcik on Payments, select Fees from the dropdown list, click "Pay Fees" link, then click on "Continue with Application" and select one of the Payment options.  Online payment instructions are available in English and Español.
  • Online payments can only be made on existing permit (records) and for re-inspection fees
  • Online payments can be by EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer) or by credit card (Visa, Master Card)
• Public Records can also be accessed online through the Environmental Health Document Library.  Public record requests can be emailed to the Public Records Program Duty Desk or faxed to            (858) 505-6848.  For questions please call (858) 505-6921.
• Pool and Food Facility Plan Check can be submitted online via Citizen Access by following these instructions. Should you have any questions, please call (858) 505-6660.  
• Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP) Plan Check can be submitted online using the Online Hazardous Materials Questionnaire via Citizen Access, following these instructions.
  • You will be asked to create a username and password and will be able to submit information online. You will have the ability to pay the fee online and receive a digitally stamped copy of the Hazardous Materials Questionnaire. DEH can also refer the information to the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) for their review and stamp.
    - OR -
  • Send an electronic copy of the Hazardous Materials Questionnaire to Sayed Khalid at hazmatplancheck@sdcounty.ca.gov.  Once received, fee payment can be arranged online. After we’ve received your fee payment, you will receive your Hazardous Materials Questionnaire with a digital stamp.

• Underground Storage Tank (UST) Plan Check completed applications can be submitted to ustnotifications@sandiegocounty.ca.gov. UST Plan Check Permit Applications can be found here and related questions can be sent to Veronica.Archer@sdcounty.ca.gov.
• Septic System Permits application forms and fees can be found here. Applications can be electronically submitted to LWQduty.DEH@sdcounty.ca.gov. For any questions on this process or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Land Use Duty Desk at (858) 565-5173.   
• Water Well Permits application forms and fees can be found here. Application forms can be electronically submitted to Wells.DEH@sdcounty.ca.gov. For any questions or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Well Program Duty Desk at (858) 505-6688.
• Recycled Water Projects application forms and fees can be found here. Applications can be electronically submitted to RecycledWater.DEH@sdcounty.ca.gov. For any questions or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Recycled Water Program at (858) 565-5173. 
• Voluntary Assistance Program information, application forms, and fees are online.  For questions please contact the Site Assessment and Mitigation Program Duty Desk at (858) 505-6808.

Vector Control Program services including mosquitofish pickup, insect identification and rabies testing submissions will continue.

• If picking up mosquito fish, please call (858) 694-2888 or email vector@sdcounty.ca.gov to schedule an appointment. 
• If submitting a sample for rabies testing, please call (858) 694-2888 from the parking lot upon arrival for further instructions. 
• Insect samples for identification can be submitted by email to vector@sdcounty.ca.gov as clear images less than 5mb in size or by US mail to:

            5570 Overland Ave. Suite 102
            San Diego, CA 92123
            ATTN: Vector Ecologist

If you have any questions regarding this information, or for other services, please contact the following:

• Food and Housing Division: fhdutyeh@sdcounty.ca.gov or (858) 505-6900
• Hazardous Materials Division: hmdutyeh@sdcounty.ca.gov or (858) 505-6880
• Land and Water Quality Division: LWQduty.DEH@sdcounty.ca.gov  or (858) 565-5173
• Vector Control Program: vector@sdcounty.ca.gov or (858) 694-2888

Additional contact information can be found here.

For up to date information about COVID-19, including resource documents such as frequently asked questions, informational posters, and guidance, please visit www.coronavirus-sd.com.
 

On March 24, 2020, the County Board of Supervisors approved unanimously to defer payment of fees collected by the Department of Environmental Health from March 1, 2020 through August 30, 2020, for food facilities impacted by the March 16, 2020 Amended Order of the Health Officer in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. While some food operations such as grocery stores and markets are allowed to continue operating under the Order, other food and beverage industry operations such as restaurants, bars, breweries, caterers, mobile food facilities and schools need support to recover after this time of unprecedented closures, limited services, and financial loss. Annual food facility health permit renewals, late fees, and plan check correction fees associated with plans submitted prior to March 1, 2020, will not be due until September 1, 2020. For those food facilities that may have already received their March and April annual permit renewal invoices, payment can be deferred until September 1, 2020. Fees will be due 30 days from the date of invoice.

In summary, invoicing for annual food facility permit renewals that occur between March 1, 2020 through August 30, 2020 will be deferred to September 1, 2020 for the following facility types:

• Annual Temporary Event Organizers
• Annual Temporary Event Vendors
• Bars
• Breweries with Food Service
• Caterers
• Cottage Food Operators
• Host Facilities
• Licensed Health Care Facilities
• Mobile Food Commissaries
• Mobile Food Facilities
• Restaurants
• Schools

On May 5, 2020, to help ease the impacts of COVID-19, the County Board of Supervisors voted to defer payment of Department of Environmental Health (DEH) permit renewal fees normally due between May and October, 2020 for the facilities noted below. The new payment due date for deferred fees is November 30, 2020. Fees will be due 30 days from the date of invoice.

• Body Art Facilities and Practitioners
• Organized Camps
• Massage Establishments
• Swimming Pools

On May 5, 2020, the County Board of Supervisors approved waiving food facility plan check fees for the initial submittal of new construction and remodel projects. These waivers will reduce financial barriers for new and existing businesses. Fees for initial submission of plans will be waived from May 5, 2020 through November 5, 2020. Please visit sdcountyplancheck.org for more information regarding the Plan Check process.    

The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) 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. DEH 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; and medical and hazardous materials and waste. In addition, DEH serves as the Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency, prevents disease carried by rats and mosquitoes and helps to ensure safe workplaces for County emp    loyees.

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