District Environmental Services
The District Environmental Services Division (DES) is one of the three divisions of the Department of Environmental Health (DEH). The DES Division has regulatory control over all food and restaurant based programs, the food worker card exam, pools and spas, vector control and residential trash and sewage complaints.
DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES
Click here for a copy of the current food law (Cal Code)
Food
Worker Certification
The Food Worker Certification program is designed to educate and test food facility
workers within Riverside County. The certification assures that food workers have knowledge of
proper sanitation procedures and practices. The certification testing is offered at each of our
Area Office locations. To
prepare for the test, we provide our
Food Worker Certification Manual at each of our offices, and also for viewing
here in PDF format in English and Spanish. A more detailed description of the program can be
obtained on our
Food
Worker Card Page.
Food Facility Plan Check
DES is responsible for all plan check and field inspections for all new facility
construction or remodeling of existing facilities. We provide consultation as part of the
food facility plan check process for remodeling and/or new construction. Go to our
Forms and Guidelines
page for a complete listing of guidelines, applications and other materials
available for download.
Mobilehome Parks
We conduct inspections of utililty connections and safety conditions in mobilehome
parks to assure safe and healthy living conditions for occupants.
Organized Camps
Annual inspection are conducted at outdoor group living experiences. We check all
of the following things: safety of
camper health, emergency preparedness, food protection, boating and swimming
activities, and maintenance and safety of the camp to insure compliance with state regulations.
Pools and Spas
Inspections are conducted at public swimming pools and spa facilities, including
apartments, condos, hotels and motels. The random, unannounced inspections are done to check
compliance with all applicable state and local requirements. The public pools and spas are
checked for issues such as safe water quality, proper life-saving equipment, correct
fencing/enclosure, proper safety signs and adequate water recirculation equipment.
Public complaint investigations are also done as needed at the same
facilities. Complaints (no safety signs, unclean pool, etc.) can be made by calling your
local area office, or
by using our
online complaint form.
Poultry Ranches
Inspection of poultry/egg ranches for compliances with state and local requirements.
Contact our Hemet office for information.
Public Swimming Pools/Spas Construction Plan Check
Plan Check and field inspection of all new pool and spa construction. Consultation
as part of the Food Facility Plan Check process provided for remodeling and/or new construction. Go
to our
Forms and Guidelines
page for a complete listing of guidelines, applications and other materials
available for downloading.
Retail Food Service
DES conducts inspections of all facilities that sell food and/or drinks to the
public. The random, unannounced inspections are done to check compliance with all applicable
state and local requirements. The facilities are checked for issues such as proper employee
handwashing, safe food handling practices, food preparation techniques, food storage, facility
cleanliness, insect or rodent infestations and sanitizing procedures. These facilities include
restaurants, markets, vehicles, and schools, as well as temporary and occasional events, such as “
market nights” and festivals.
The permanent food facilities that handle open foods receive a grade at the end of
an inspection. Each violation has a point value that is deducted from 100 possible
points. Grades are given on the following scale of 100-90 points (A), 89-80 points (B),
79-Below (C). Grades of B and C, also known as “Downgrades,” are failed inspections, meaning
that a facility did not meet minimum health standards at the time of the inspection.
Click here for
a listing of recently downgraded facilities.
Public complaint investigations are also done as needed at the same
facilities. Complaints (foodborne illness, food contamination, improper employee handwashing,
etc.) can be made by calling your
local area office, or
by submitting one with our
online complaint form.
Temporary Food Facilities
Temporary food facilities are food facilities that are set up at a fixed location for a maximum of 25 days over a 90 day period. The events must be sanctioned, and of a civic, political, public or educational nature. Examples of temporary food facilities are state and county fairs, city festivals, circuses and other public gathering events that are approved by the Environmental Health Department.
Permits are required from your local Environmental Health Office to operate a temporary food facility. Temporary food facilities will be inspected on the day of the event, and throughout the event as needed, to check compliance with all applicable state and local requirements. Click to obtain the Temporary Food Facility Guidelines and the Temporary Food Facility Fees.
Trash/Sewage Complaints
The District Environmental Services Division investigates complaints concerning the
improper disposal/storage of
household trash and garbage, and complaints concerning overflowing sewage from
private septic systems in the unincorporated areas of the County and in certain contract cities
(i.e. Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Canyon Lake, Murrieta, Temecula).
To file a complaint of the above issues, either call your
local area office
, or use our
online complaint form
.
For complaints concerning illegal land filling of trash or garbage, contact our Local Solid
Waste Management Enforcement Program.
For complaints regarding junk cars or other debris and dumping in open lots or areas,
contact County Building & Safety’s Land Use Office at (951) 275-3200.
Vector Control
We conduct monitoring and control efforts against principal arthropod-borne diseases
such as encephalitis and plague, as well as general vector control complaint response, in the
unincorporated areas of the County only, and in cites with contracts. Contact our
Hemet office for
information. Go to our
Public Information page
for information regarding West Nile Virus, Hantavirus, Lyme Disease and other vector control
subjects. We also have more information available on our
Vector Control
page.
If you would like a copy of our 2004 Vector Control Program Year End Report it may
be viewed or printed in
PDF Format Here.
This report provides a complete overview of the Program's activities, findings and accomplishments
for the 2004 calendar year.