The Environmental Health Services Division routinely receives complaint calls and letters from county residents and visitors regarding a whole range of public health concerns. All complaints are forwarded to the appropriate sanitarian, who determines if the complaint is within health department jurisdiction. After verifying that the conditions cited in the complaint exist, the sanitarian proceeds with enforcement action and/or makes a referral to another agency that might have jurisdiction in the case.
Each case could include various investigative parameters: an inspection, sanitary survey, laboratory samples, specialized testing equipment, etc. Confirmed complaints are addressed by either meeting with the property owner and explaining any corrections that need to be made, or by sending a written correction order with a time deadline for corrections to be made.
Complaint investigations and enforcement can encompass a wide variety of Health Code violations covered under Maryland regulations, but the majority fall under the public health nuisance code.
To submit a complaint, fill out the online form.
A word about confidentiality: The Health Department accepts complaints from anonymous sources, but an anonymous complainant will not receive follow-up information on the progress of an investigation. A complainant who is willing to provide their name and address or phone number, can request to be informed about the course of enforcement actions, but their identity will be included in the public record of the complaint, which is available for public review.
Staff Contact
Victor Krasnokutsky 
301-475-4321
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