Environmental Health programs and services strive to prevent human injury and illness and promote well-being by identifying and evaluating environmental sources and hazardous agents; and limiting exposures to hazardous physical, chemical, and biological agents in air, soil, food, and other environmental media or settings that may adversely affect human health.
Announcements
Effective January 1, 2023: Environmental Health Fees are being amended to include an ECI increase of 3.36%. The updated fees will be available on this website by 12/30/22.
California Executive Order N-7-22:
(Click to read) Butte County to Resume Accepting Water Well Permit Applications, Effective June 7, 2022.
After placing a temporary pause on water well permits, pursuant to California Executive Order N-7-22, Butte County Public Health’s (BCPH) Environmental Health Division, along with other County departments and in coordination with Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA) within the county, have established a new permit review process, compliant with the order.
Review and Download the Well Permit Application Packet
Butte County Water Well Ordinance
Butte County Water Well Ordinance (Chapter 23B) has been amended with changes effective 10/28/2021 that discontinue the exploratory well process and allow exploration holes or borings. Please visit the Private Water Wells Site for more details.
- All Applications may be submitted via this email address: bcenvhealth@buttecounty.net
- Payments can be made online at the top right called “Make a Payment”
Drought Resources
For more information regarding drought resources, please visit this website: http://www.buttecounty.net/waterresourceconservation/buttecountydroughtinformation
- To report a water supply shortage: Go to the MyDryWaterSupply webpage, and click the “Submit Report” button
- To obtain a well permit for a new well or well repair / deepening, please visit our PrivateWaterWells webpage
Rebuild Resources
Funding Resources – Funding opportunities for rebuilding and drought related issues.
COVID-19 Resources
Butte County's Reopening Plan Website
The Consumer Protection programs strive to protect public health through the permitting and inspection of retail food facilities, public swimming pools and spas, body art practitioners and facilities, and organized camps.
Environmental Health is responsible for enforcing State minimum standards for solid waste storage, handling, and disposal; administering Solid Waste Facilities Permits (SWFP) and Closure/Postclosure Maintenance Plans; enforcing terms and conditions of SWFP’s; and investigating complaints concerning violation of laws designated to the LEA for enforcement.
The Certified Unified Program is a suite of six state hazardous materials management programs consolidated and administered by a local Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA). The CUPA inspects businesses or facilities that handle or store hazardous materials; generate and/or treat hazardous waste; own or operate underground storage tanks; store petroleum in aboveground tanks over State thresholds; and store Federal regulated hazardous materials over State thresholds. The CUPA Program achieves compliance through education, community and industry outreach, inspections and enforcement.
Environmental Health plays a significant role in the enforcement of State statutes related to drinking water through the Public Water Systems Program and the permitting of individual wells, both private, domestic and agricultural. Additionally, Environmental Health provides education about proper water well maintenance and sampling to assist you in maintaining the health of your family and property.
The Land Use section of Environmental Health looks at wastewater design and installation, well siting and permits, land divisions, use permits, and other related projects that involve septic systems and wells.
We believe public health is best served and our programs are most effective when they are developed and implemented with direct input from the stakeholders that we serve. Environmental Health currently collaborates with four independent citizen groups covering Food Safety, Hazardous Materials, Wastewater, and Well Drillers respectively.