Environmental Health Services Division

Contact

Environmental Health
1845 N. Fair Oaks Ave
Pasadena, CA 91103
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Phone: (626) 744-6004

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Environmental Health is a Division of the Pasadena Public Health Department that administers state and local regulations through education and enforcement. The Division strives to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of residents and visitors of Pasadena while promoting environmental health awareness.

Regulated facilities include retail food establishments (permanent, mobile and temporary), public pools, body art, lodging, and massage facilities. Registered Environmental Health Specialist inspectors conduct routine inspections of regulated facilities and investigate complaints related to regulated facilities, tobacco use, lead hazards, bed bugs, vermin infestation and general sanitation. The inspectors work closely with the public and operators of permitted facilities to educate on providing healthy and safe services to the public.

Planning Your Visit to Environmental Health

 

Open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
(closed for lunch from 12:00-1:00 PM)

Closed alternating Fridays and holidays.

Please call (626) 744-6004 to confirm office hours prior to your visit.

Scheduled City Closures

Submitting an Application

Please complete all fields on the application and provide all requested documentation, such as:

  • Ownership documents such as articles of incorporation.
  • Government-issued photo identification for the ownership representative signing the application.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted. All fees are due at the time any application is submitted. No refunds will be granted. Payments are not transferable.

The City of Pasadena Environmental Health Division is a separate agency and jurisdiction from Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Environmental Health. Health permits issued by Los Angeles County Environmental Health are not valid within the City of Pasadena.

Food Protection

Food Protection

Through the permitting and inspection of food businesses, we ensure compliance with all applicable food safety and sanitation requirements. Environmental Health Specialists conduct foodborne illness investigations, register and permit Cottage Food Facilities, permit and inspect Community Events, and address illegal vending activity.

Download a PDF of the Pasadena Retail Food Field Inspection Guide. It has been developed to provide guidance to food service operators in matters related to retail food inspections and the placard system:

View Inspection Reports

Plan Review

Plan Check Guidelines:

Click on the link below to download a PDF version of plan review applications:

Community Events

The Environmental Health Division at the Pasadena Public Health Department is committed to ensuring that all community events held in the City of Pasadena are operated so that we provide our residents and visitors with safe, wholesome food. We accomplish this by partnering with each Event Organizer and Temporary Food Facility Operator (also referred to as “Food Booth Operator”) to help them understand the basic food safety requirements. Download the requirement guidelines and applications below for organizing a community event and/or setting up a temporary food booth at a community event:

Cottage Food Operations

The California Homemade Food Act was signed into law by Governor Brown on September 21, 2012 and went into effect on January 1, 2013. This new law will allow certain foods, known as Cottage Foods, to be made in private homes and sold to the public. These home-based businesses will be known as Cottage Food Operations (CFO). For individuals interested in starting a CFO, approval must be obtained from the Environmental Health Division at the Pasadena Public Health Department. Review the CFO Guidelines and submit the following documents to the Environmental Health Division:

  • CFO Registration Permitting Form
  • Cottage Food Self Certification Checklist
  • A copy of all proposed cottage food product labels;
  • If the potable water source is from a private well, a laboratory analysis from within the prior 3 months verifying that the water meets State water quality standards for bacteriological and primary inorganic chemicals; AND
  • Payment of the applicable fee

Note: for Class B, a permit to operate will only be granted after an initial inspection has been conducted and approval to operate is received.

Body Art

About the Safe Body Art Act

Assembly Bill (AB) 300, the Safe Body Art Act, became effective throughout California on July 1, 2012.  The ordinance regulates tattooing, branding, body piercing, and permanent makeup, and requires all body art practitioners to annually register with the City, obtain annual blood-borne pathogen training, provide documentation of Hepatitis B vaccination status, obtain specific health information from clients, and obtain “informed consent” from clients.

The Safe Body Art Act also requires the owner of a body art facility to obtain a Health Permit, operate the facility in a safe and clean manner, maintain written procedures for the operation of the facility, and maintain records of training and equipment sterilization.  AB 300 also regulates the performance of body art at body art events, in temporary demonstration booths, and in vehicles.

The Body Art Program’s inspectors conduct annual inspections of body art facilities to determine compliance with the Safe Body Art Act and may suspend or revoke permits and registrations under specified conditions.

Regulations

Practitioner Registration

Each artist tattooing, body piercing, or conducting permanent makeup, whether at a permanent location or at a temporary event, must submit all required documents and register as a Body Art Practitioner.

Body Art Facility

A Health Permit is required for the body art facility.  Additionally each artist must submit a Practitioner Registration Form.  Both must be renewed annually.

Body Art Temporary Event

Each booth must obtain a health permit and each artist must submit a Practitioner Registration Form.

  • Body Art Event Frequently Asked Questions
  • Body Art Booth Health Permit Application
  • Body Art Event Sponsor Application (to be completed by the event organizer)

Other Programs

Other Programs

Bulletins

Vector Control

The PPHD plans to join forces with the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District to improve customer service against mosquito-borne diseases. The process of merging with the District is already underway and will take about one year to complete. The goal is to better protect the public from life-threatening diseases such as West Nile Virus and Zika Virus. At a cost of less than $1 per parcel to all residential property owners, the enhanced services to protect the public by merging with the District includes:

  • Increased disease surveillance and mosquito control
  • Expanded services during an outbreak
  • Community outreach and youth education
  • Enhanced complaint response
  • A highly specialized laboratory facility
  • Staff trained to also investigate murine typhus and plague
  • New programs for underground mosquito control and free mosquito fish

There are several steps to joining the District and the PPHD will provide additional periodic updates. For more information, call the Environmental Health Division at (626) 744-6004. For more information about the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District, visit http://www.sgvmosquito.org/.

View health advisories related to mosquito-borne diseases:

Infectious Diseases