The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
(Cite as: 18 V.S.A. § 602a)
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§ 602a. Duties of local health officers
(a) A local health officer, within the local health officer’s jurisdiction, shall:
(1) upon receipt of information regarding a condition that may be a public health hazard,
conduct an investigation;
(2) enforce the provisions of this title, the rules adopted, and permits issued pursuant
to this title;
(3) prevent, remove, or destroy any public health hazard or mitigate any significant public
health risk in accordance with the provisions of this title;
(4) in consultation with the Department, take the steps necessary to enforce all orders
issued pursuant to chapter 3 of this title; and
(5) have the authority to assist the Department of Public Safety in inspecting rental
housing pursuant to 20 V.S.A. chapter 172, provided that if the local health officer inspects a rental property without an
inspector from the Division, the officer shall issue an inspection report in compliance
with 20 V.S.A § 2677(b)(2).
(b) Upon discovery of violation or a public health hazard or public health risk that involves
a public water system, a food or lodging establishment, or any other matter regulated
by Department rule, the local health officer shall immediately notify the Division
of Environmental Health. Upon discovery of any other violation, public health hazard,
or public health risk, the local health officer shall notify the Division of Environmental
Health within 48 hours of discovery of such violation or hazard and of any action
taken by the officer. (Added 1985, No. 267 (Adj. Sess.), § 19; amended 2017, No. 188 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2021, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. July 1, 2022; 2023, No. 6, § 103, eff. July 1, 2023.)