COVID-19 Notice:
Environmental Health is OPEN to the public with required safety protocols in place. When visiting our office, please observe 6-foot social distancing and wait in line at pre-marked areas. Face coverings are also required to protect yourself and others.
Due to our staff actively engaged in supporting vaccination efforts, our office hours have changed to 7:30am – 12:00pm, Monday through Friday for the next few months. Our lobby will be closed to the public in the afternoons. We encourage you to submit any applications as well as questions via email to CoCoEH@cchealth.org and payments can be made using our online payment portal at Payment Authorization - Contra Costa Health Services (cchealth.org). If you wish to speak with someone, feel free to leave a voicemail message at (925) 608-5500. We will continue to routinely answer voicemails and check emails when the lobby is closed.
We highly encourage conducting business electronically and remotely, if possible. Your patience and understanding is appreciated as we work through these challenging times while attempting to meet your needs.
Annual Permit Fee for Pools and Spas
Due to the COVID19 pandemic, various local and state health orders have restricted the use of swimming pools over the past year. Invoices for the pool health permits were sent out in January and concern has been raised regarding swimming pool permit fees still being charged. Permit fees continue to be charged because swimming pools pose an inherent health and safety danger to the public.
If a swimming pool is not properly abandoned and destroyed, the owner is still required to maintain an annual health permit because if the pool is not maintained, it could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, pose a drowning hazard, or, if empty, a safety hazard. Whether a swimming pool is used or not, the pool water must always remain clear. The pool must also be properly secured so that it is not accessible to anyone and the lifesaving equipment is available in good condition to use if needed.
Contra Costa Environmental Health is charged with the oversight of pool safety, conducting inspections, and addressing complaints relating to health and safety violations for pools. Only pools that are properly abandoned and destroyed no longer pose a potential hazard to the public and are not required to maintain a health permit.
