Alameda County Environmental Health Department

What Alameda County Environmental Health Department does

The Alameda County Environmental Health Department (EHD) is a division within Alameda County Health (part of the Health Care Services Agency, or HCSA), serving as the sole governmental regulatory authority for environmental health enforcement across Alameda County, California. The department's mission is to protect public health by enforcing environmental health codes covering food safety, recreational safety, water quality, hazardous materials management, vector control, medical and solid waste, body art facility regulation, and safe disposal of pharmaceuticals and sharps. It serves two principal constituencies: county residents (who benefit from food, water, and recreational safety programs) and county businesses and facilities (which require permits, inspections, and certifications to operate legally, including restaurants, mobile food vendors, cottage food operators, certified farmers markets, body art facilities, medical waste generators, hazardous materials handlers, and small water system operators).

The EHD is structured as six core service divisions — Environmental Protection, Hazardous Materials (Certified Unified Program Agency), Household Hazardous Waste, Land and Water Protection, Safe Drug & Sharps Disposal, and Solid/Medical Waste & Body Art — operating through more than twenty discrete regulatory and certification programs. Service delivery occurs via direct regulatory enforcement (inspections, permitting, plan reviews), online permit applications and fee payments through the county website, in-person walk-in services at the San Leandro headquarters, and accredited training programs such as the California Food Handler Certificate Program and Food Safety Manager Certification Class. The department uses standard government IT infrastructure; no proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or differentiated software platform are described. One documented strategic partnership exists with the East Bay Regional Park District for recreational water quality monitoring.

The department's funding comes from two streams: Alameda County general fund appropriations as part of the county health services budget, and transaction-based revenue from permit fees, inspection charges, certifications, and program registrations across food safety, hazardous materials, body art, medical waste, and solid waste programs. As a government entity, it has no private ownership, shareholders, or external investors, and traditional PE/VC/M&A metrics (valuation, multiples, churn, ARR) are not applicable. Its "moat" is statutory: it holds exclusive jurisdictional authority to enforce environmental health codes within Alameda County, and it is embedded in the integrated Alameda County Health delivery system covering Public Health, Behavioral Health, Housing, and Environmental Health services.

Name

Alameda County Environmental Health Department

Legal name

Alameda County Environmental Health Department

Website

https://deh.acgov.org

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Alameda County Environmental Health Department is the county government's sole regulatory authority for environmental health enforcement, regulating food safety, water quality, hazardous materials, solid and medical waste, vector control, and body art facilities for Alameda County residents and regulated businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Health Regulatory Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Hazardous Waste Collection (562112)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Refuse Systems (4953), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAJAFAJ

Environmental Health Inspections & Code Enforcement (Housing/Sanitation/Vector Control)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Environmental & Occupational Health Regulators

SECONDARYHLAJAFAI

Waste Management & Hazardous Waste Regulators (Medical/Industrial)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Environmental & Occupational Health Regulators

SECONDARYBPAIAJAE

Environmental Public Health (Food Safety, Water Quality, Sanitation)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Public Health Administration & Regulation

SECONDARYHLAJAFAD

Drinking Water Quality & Safe Water Regulatory Authorities

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Environmental & Occupational Health Regulators

SECONDARYBPALAGAA

Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) Collection & Transport

Business & Public Services/Waste Management & Remediation Services/Medical & Biohazard Waste Management

Keywords

• Environmental health regulation
• Food safety inspections
• Hazardous materials management
• Waste management services
• Public health permitting

Headquarters

HQ city

Alameda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Tax Revenue: Funded through Alameda County general fund appropriations as part of the county health services budget.
2. Permit and Fee Services: Generates revenue through fees for permits, inspections, certifications, and program registrations including food facility permits, hazardous materials handling, body art facilities, medical waste, and solid waste programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Alameda County Environmental Health Department safeguards public health by regulating food, water, waste, and hazardous materials within Alameda County. It issues permits, conducts inspections, certifies food handlers and food safety managers, regulates body art and medical waste facilities, manages household hazardous waste disposal, oversees onsite wastewater systems and small water systems, and provides vector control services. Core service domains include the Food Safety Program, Recreational Health Program, Hazardous Materials Division (Certified Unified Program Agency / CUPA), Household Hazardous Waste, Land and Water Protection, Safe Drug and Sharps Disposal, Solid/Medical Waste and Body Art, and Vector Control.

Product overview

Alameda County Environmental Health Department is a government regulatory agency organized as a platform of interconnected service divisions rather than a unified software product. The department operates through six core service divisions: Environmental Protection (covering food safety, recreational health, and disaster preparedness), Hazardous Materials Division (Certified Unified Program Agency), Household Hazardous Waste, Land and Water Protection Division, Safe Drug & Consumer-Generated Sharps Disposal, and Solid/Medical Waste & Body Art. Each division offers specialized programs and services including the Food Safety Program with certified food handler and manager training, Recreational Health Program for pools and beaches, Mobile Food Facilities Program, Cottage Food and MEHKO programs for home-based food businesses, Vector Control services, Medical Waste and Solid Waste programs, Body Art regulation, and various water quality oversight programs including onsite wastewater systems and small water systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Safety Program Provides food facility inspections, food handler certifications, foodborne illness investigations, and regulatory oversight for food service operations throughout Alameda County.
• California Food Handler Certificate Program Accredited food handler certification training and examination program for food service workers operating in Alameda County.
• Food Safety Manager Certification Class Food safety manager certification training course with supporting registration, learning resources, and FAQ support.
• Recreational Health Program Inspections and monitoring of pools, spas, and beaches to ensure compliance with recreational water safety standards.
• Hazardous Materials Division (CUPA) Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) providing hazardous materials management, underground storage tank oversight, and Local Oversight Program for hazardous material releases.
• Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Service Household hazardous waste collection and disposal services available to Alameda County residents.
• Onsite Wastewater System (Septic) Permits Local oversight, permitting, and inspections for onsite wastewater treatment systems (septic systems) to protect groundwater and surface water quality.
• Small Water Systems Program Regulatory oversight and inspections of small public water systems to ensure safe drinking water supply.
• Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program Cleanup and remediation oversight for contamination arising from leaking underground fuel storage tanks.
• Safe Drug and Consumer-Generated Sharps Disposal Oversight and disposal services for prescription drugs and consumer-generated sharps to prevent environmental contamination and public health hazards.
• Medical Waste Program Permitting and oversight of the handling, treatment, and disposal of medical waste generated by healthcare facilities.
• Solid Waste Program Regulation and permitting of solid waste management and disposal operations within the county.
• Body Art Program Permitting, inspection, and regulation of body art facilities, including tattoo and piercing establishments.
• Mobile Food Facilities Program Permitting and regulatory oversight for mobile food vendors and mobile food facilities operating in Alameda County.
• Cottage Food Operation (CFO) Program Permitting and regulation of home-based food businesses operating under California's Cottage Food Act.
• Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) Program Permitting and oversight for microenterprise home kitchen operations, allowing small-scale food preparation in residential settings.
• Caterer / Temporary Food Service Operation (TFSO) Program Permits and oversight for temporary food service operations, catering, and similar event-based food activities.
• Certified Farmers Market (CFM) Program Certification and regulation of farmers markets to ensure food safety and vendor compliance with environmental health standards.
• Responsible Beverage Services Training Program Training program for food service establishments on responsible alcohol service practices.
• Vector Control Services Surveillance and control of disease-carrying vectors such as mosquitoes and other pests to protect public health.
• East Bay Regional Park District Water Management Program Water quality monitoring and management for recreational facilities in East Bay Regional Parks through collaboration with East Bay Regional Park District.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• East Bay Regional Park DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the East Bay Regional Park District Water Management program for recreational water quality monitoring and protection in regional parks.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• San Mateo County Environmental Health Services: Direct peer Bay Area county EH division offering food facility permitting, hazmat CUPA oversight, medical waste regulation, and recreational health inspections within San Mateo County. Most comparable in jurisdiction size and demographic profile.
• Sacramento County Environmental Management Department: County-level environmental management agency performing food facility inspection, hazardous materials CUPA permitting, medical waste oversight, and recreational health for Sacramento County. Direct structural peer in regulatory scope.
• Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health: Direct peer county-level environmental health department in the adjacent San Francisco Bay Area. Performs the same food safety, hazardous materials, solid waste, and small water system regulatory functions for Santa Clara County's residents and businesses.
• Contra Costa County Environmental Health Division: Adjacent East Bay county environmental health division providing CUPA hazardous materials, food safety, solid waste, and land use inspections. Operates under identical state regulatory framework for a similarly sized county population.

Broad incumbents

• California Department of Public Health: State-level public health agency that sets the regulatory framework within which county EH departments such as Alameda operate. Provides direct comparison for the broader program architecture and accreditations referenced in Alameda County's offerings (e.g., California Food Handler Certificate Program).
• Orange County Health Care Agency - Environmental Health Division: Large Southern California county environmental health division providing food safety, hazmat, solid waste, and body art regulation. Overlapping mandate though serving a much larger population base.
• San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality: Large California county EH department delivering comprehensive food, hazmat, water, vector, and waste regulatory services. Comparable in service breadth (land/water protection, solid waste, food safety), though covering a larger and geographically distinct jurisdiction.
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health Division: The largest comparable county environmental health program in California. Operates the same core functions (food facility permitting, hazardous materials CUPA authority, medical waste oversight) at substantially larger scale; serves as a broad incumbent for the same regulatory jurisdiction type as Alameda.
• Riverside County Department of Environmental Health: Inland Empire county environmental health department offering the same food, hazmat, solid waste, and vector control regulatory services. Comparable function but serves a geographically dispersed, larger county.

Regional players

• Solano County Public Health - Environmental Health Division: Adjacent Bay Area Solano County division performing the same CUPA hazardous materials, food facility, and small water system functions. Smaller-scale counterpart offering a regional comparison point for operating cost and permit volume benchmarks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Dare2BWell
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@alamedacountyhealthcareser2792
• Facebookfacebook.com/Dare2BWell
• Instagraminstagram.com/dare2bwell

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alameda County Environmental Health Department