The Housing and Food Protection Program is responsible for the licensing and/or inspection of a wide range of activities, including all food service facilities (restaurants, grocery stores, bars and mobile food trucks), special events, multiple dwellings, mobile home parks, swimming pools, adoptive and foster homes, schools, camps and exotic bird facilities. This program also investigates complaints concerning food facilities and other issues concerning health, housing and safety hazards, including trash, garbage, sewage and wastewater discharges, general nuisance complaints, air pollution, rodents and housing violations.

Reporting Food and Housing Complaints

Additional functions of the program include lead paint inspections, recreational waters sampling and open burning permits. Inquiries concerning bodies of water such as creeks, streams, rivers and bathing beaches are also referred to this program. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, water quality information, as measured by enterococci, is available online or on a recording at (410) 222-7999. Year-round, the line has information on recreational waterway health advisories and closings.

For assistance with the following services, call...

• Air quality complaints - (410) 222-7250
• Commercial pool and spa inspections - (410) 222-7217
• Complaints of health, housing and safety hazards, such as garbage, sewage and wastewater discharges, and rodents - See map for regional phone numbers
• Exotic Bird Permits and pet stores - (410) 222-7168
• Group, adoptive and foster home inspections - See map for regional phone numbers
• Housing violations - See map for regional phone numbers
• Inspection of multiple dwellings, such as apartments, hotels or motels - (410) 222-0056 Ext. 3031
• Investigation of food service facility complaints and foodborne illness - See map for regional phone numbers
• Investigation of improper medical waste disposal - (410) 222-7241
• Licensing and inspection of food service facilities - (410) 222-7239
• Lifeguard and pool operator licenses - (410) 222-7217
• Mobile home park permits - (410) 222-7239
• Open burning permits - (410) 222-7250
• Raccoon Oral Rabies Vaccination Project - (410) 222-7168
• Recreational water quality monitoring - (410) 222-7241

- Water Quality Information Line - (410) 222-7999

• Article 15, Title 4 - Property Maintenance Code
• Bird Feeders: What Else are You Feeding?
• Disposal of Sharps Used in the Home
• Eliminating Rats in Your Neighborhood
• Food Facility Inspection Reports
• Holiday Tips for Handling Food Safely
• Household Refuse: Clean, Sanitary and Safe Storage
• Lead Poisoning Prevention
• Lifeguard Licenses
• Mobile Unit Food Service Facility License
• Operating Permit for Pool Facility
• Permanent Food Service Facility License
• Permit to Conduct an Open Fire
• Pool Operator Licenses
• Property Maintenance Code - Modification Application (pdf)
• Raccoon Oral Rabies Vaccination Project
• Special Events - Temporary Food Service Facility License
• Water Quality Measure and Swimming or Fishing In Anne Arundel County Rivers and Creeks