[1]
State law reference – Local health departments, Code of Virginia, §§ 32.1-30 – 32.1-34.
There is hereby created a health department for the city, the head of which shall be the health officer, who shall be appointed by the city manager, subject to the approval of the council. The health officer shall be a physician licensed to practice in the commonwealth. The health officer shall be deemed to be the local health director within the meaning of Section 32.1-.30 of the Code of Virginia.
(Code 1964 § 13-2; Code 1985 § 2-114)
The city manager shall appoint, subject to approval by the council, an inspector for the health department, who shall be known as the sanitary inspector, who shall hold office at the will of the council.
(Code 1964 § 13-8; Code 1985 § 2-115)
The health officer shall see that the ordinances of the city relating to health, sanitation and foodstuffs are enforced and it shall be his duty to cause the arrest of any offenders against such ordinances. For the purpose of enforcing such ordinances, the health officer shall have police powers.
(Code 1964 §§ 13-3, 13-4; Code 1985 § 2-116)
The health officer shall keep a book of complaints in which shall be recorded all complaints made and any action thereon and shall provide convenient printed forms for use in connection with his duties, to be paid for out of the city's funds.
(Code 1964 § 13-7; Code 1985 § 2-117)
(1) 
It shall be the duty of the health officer to make, or have made by the sanitary inspector, periodic and frequent inspections of all premises, public and private, in the city and keep a record thereof. The health officer shall have power to inspect, or have inspected, and analyze, or have analyzed, all food offered for sale in the city and to condemn, seize and destroy, or have condemned, seized or destroyed, such as may be in any way injurious to health, and to cause the disinfection, where necessary, of all houses, places or rooms in which infectious or contagious diseases or conditions exist or have existed. He shall supervise the enforcement of measures for the prevention, treatment and extermination of infectious or contagious diseases, and shall have power to cause to be removed, destroyed or remedied any source of infection or unsanitary condition, at the expense of the person responsible therefor, unless the city manager shall determine that such expense shall be borne by the city.
(2) 
It shall be the duty of the sanitary inspector, under the direction of the health officer, to inspect from time to time all public buildings and places, churches, schools, theaters, food establishments, factories, stores, stables and other places where livestock is kept, cellars and the premises appurtenant thereto, dry and water closets, plumbing, water spigots and water connections on such premises, watersheds, reservoirs, springs, spring houses, streams, fountains and pumps and all premises which are required by state laws, city ordinances or rules and regulations of the health department to be kept in a sanitary and clean condition.
(Code 1964 §§ 13-6, 13-9; Code 1985 § 2-118)