The Department shall include the Divisions of Environmental Health and Hazardous Materials and such other divisions deemed necessary by the Board of Supervisors from time to time.
(SCC 718 § 1, 1988; SCC 0989 § 1, 1995)
The Department shall be vested with such powers, functions, duties and responsibilities with respect to environmental health, sanitation, and hazardous materials, including, but not limited to, the following:
a. 
Supervision, inspection and regulation of food, water supplies and resources.
b. 
Supervision, inspection and regulation of wastewater disposal and reclamation, solid waste and hazardous waste.
c. 
Supervision, inspection and regulation of hazardous materials, safety and occupational health.
d. 
Supervision, inspection and regulation of housing and institutions.
e. 
Supervision, inspection and regulation of land and water recreational activities and safety.
f. 
Supervision, inspection and regulation of vector control programs.
g. 
Supervision, inspection and regulation of land development and use.
h. 
Such additional services and programs as may be authorized from time to time by the Board of Supervisors.
(SCC 718 § 1, 1988; SCC 0989 § 2, 1995)
The position of director of the Environmental Management Department is hereby created. The director shall be appointed by the County Executive in accordance with the provisions of the Charter.
(SCC 718 § 1, 1988)
The director of the Department shall have and exercise the following duties and responsibilities: (i) to be responsible for the planning, development, management and operation of the Department; (ii) to act as the appointing authority for all Department personnel, except as provided by the Charter, ordinance, or other law; and (iii) to perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Supervisors.
(SCC 718 § 1, 1988)
There are hereby created the positions of chief of Environmental Health, and Hazardous Materials. The division chiefs shall be appointed by and report directly to the Director of the "Department."
(SCC 718 § 1, 1988; SCC 0989 § 3, 1995)
The Environmental Health Branch of the former County Department of Health, is hereby transferred into the Environmental Health Division of the Department. The services and programs of the Environmental Health Division shall be maintained at levels of quality and efficiency equal to or higher than the levels of Environmental and Sanitation services and programs formerly provided by the Environmental Health Branch of the former County Department of Health. In accordance with State Law, the County Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Health Division shall maintain open lines of communication as necessary to ensure coordination of public health and environmental health services and programs.
(SCC 718 § 1, 1988; SCC 0869 § 1, 1992)
The Environmental Health Division chief shall possess the following minimum qualifications: (i) a valid California certificate of registration as a sanitarian; and (ii) three years or more experience in environmental health with at least two years experience in a supervisory or administrative capacity, provided that a master's degree in public administration, public health or health science may be substituted for one year of experience.
This division shall consist of such additional staff including sanitarians, support personnel and clerical employees as are necessary to assist the division chief in performance of the programs and services of the Department. All journey-level sanitarians employed by the "Department" shall possess a valid California certificate of registration at the time they are employed. All appointments to the classification of Sanitarian I or equivalent trainee classification shall be for a maximum of two years.
(SCC 718 § 1, 1988)
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit or otherwise restrict the authority of the County Health Officer during a state of emergency. The County Health Officer shall also retain such authority as necessary to meet all state and local requirements and responsibilities relating to the protection of public health set forth in section 452 of the California Health and Safety Code.
(SCC 718 § 1, 1988)