Environmental Health

• Review Inspection Scores from the Inspection Management System for establishments throughout the County

• Food Borne Illnesses
• Printable NC Food Code Manual
• NC Rules Governing Food Service Establishments
• Approved Catering List (PDF)

• State rules

New Hanover County's coastal environment and mild climate allow for the rapid development of mosquitoes from March through November. While mosquitoes cannot be completely eliminated, it is important to control mosquitoes because they are a known disease "vector," meaning they can transmit some diseases to humans. Even mosquitoes that do not transmit disease can be a nuisance in their biting behavior and, in severe instances, can be detrimental to the county's quality of life.

New Hanover County Mosquito Control uses a variety of prevention and control methods to reduce mosquito populations, including mosquito prevention education, larviciding to target larvae and breeding sites, and ultra-low volume mosquito spraying with EPA-registered pesticides. Learn more in the Mosquito Control Policy (PDF).

The New Hanover County Board of Health rule governing the fencing and operation of private swimming pools in the county (adopted October 4, 2000, and amended March 7, 2018) was repealed effective April 20, 2021, and is no longer in effect.

For more information and permitting for residential pools, contact New Hanover County Building Safety or visit the COAST portal to apply online.

Rules

• Water Samples
• Well Requirements
• Waste-water Regulations
• Well Water Regulations (PDF)
• NC 2C Well Standards (PDF)
• NC Well General Statute

Frequently Asked Questions

• FAQs about Wells in New Hanover County (PDF)

Rules

• Tobacco Control
• NC Smoke-Free Restaurants and Bars Law - On January 2, 2010, a law went into effect prohibiting smoking in restaurants and bars in North Carolina entitled an Act to Prohibit Smoking in Certain Public Places and Certain Places of Employment (S.L 2009-27) referred to as the NC Smoke-free Restaurants and Bars Law. If you observe or note a possible violation, please notify the owner or manager of the establishment. They are responsible for compliance and are required to direct a person who is smoking to extinguish the lighted tobacco product.
• Tobacco-related ordinances in New Hanover County

New Hanover County Smoking & Vaping Ordinance

(effective February 1, 2021)

On Monday, November 16, 2020, the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners voted to implement an ordinance mirroring a Health and Human Services Board rule (PDF) prohibiting the use of combustible tobacco and e-cigarette in New Hanover County, effective February 1, 2021.

The ordinance aligns the expectations of vaping with traditional cigarette smoking in most public places, and protects residents from unwanted inhalation of secondhand smoke and e-cigarette vapors. Areas where smoking and vaping will be prohibited include county, town, and city buildings, vehicles and grounds, and public places like restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues.

View the full ordinance (PDF).

Visit our Smoke and Vaping Ordinance page for educational materials, cessation resources and printable signage to assist with implementation of the new ordinance.

Smoking / Vaping Permitted as of February 1, 2021

• Personal residence
• Personal vehicle
• Designated areas of unenclosed sections in restaurants and bars.
• Privately owned unenclosed areas (business parking lot, business patio, etc.)
• Smoking/E-cigarette shop
• Cigar bar
• Designated smoking/vaping guest room in a lodging establishment
• Private club
• Movie, TV, theater or other live production set, only for the actor portraying smoking/vaping
• A public area at such time group therapeutic rehabilitation is being conducted

Smoking / Vaping Prohibited as of February 1, 2021

• County, Town and City buildings
• County, Town and City vehicles
• Any County, Town and City grounds, except where expressly permitted
• County, Town and City parks, playgrounds, athletic field and trails except where expressly permitted
• Bus stops on County, Town or City grounds
• Public Transportation
• Child Care Facilities
• Shopping Malls & Retail Stores
• Elevators
• Polling Places
• Public Restrooms
• Restaurants and Bars (except where expressly permitted in unenclosed areas)
• Galleries, Libraries and Museums
• Theaters, Entertainment and Sports Arenas
• Gaming facilities including Internet Sweepstakes
• Lobbies, hallways and common areas in multi-unit residential facilities (apartment buildings, retirement facilities, nursing homes, etc.)
• Offices and commercial establishments where the public is invited or permitted