Town Health Officer Manual | Vermont Department of Health
Source: http://healthvermont.gov/environment/town-health-officers/town-health-officer-manual
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:16
Town Health Officer Manual | Vermont Department of Health
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Town Health Officer Manual
Town Health Officers
Find Your Town Health Officer
Town Health Officer Manual
Forms & Resources for Town Health Officers
Town Health Officer Trainings
THO Manual
The Environmental Health Division at the Health Department provides technical support and training opportunities for Town Health Officers (THOs), including the THO Manual. The THO Manual is a key resource for your role as a THO, providing information on your statutory authority and the topics you are likely to encounter.
The Health Department strongly recommends all THOs review the manual closely and refer to it regularly.
Please contact the Environmental Health Division with questions about this manual at
[email protected]
or by calling
800-439-8550
.
For all
other THO documents
,
go to the Forms & Resources for Town Health Officers page
For
concerns about health or safety issues in rental housing
,
contact the Division of Fire Safety
THO Manual
Click on a section title to view or download the most up-to-date section of the THO Manual.
section #
Section Title
topics included
1
THO Appointments
Appointment Process, Training, Deputy Health Officers
2
THO Roles and Responsibilities
Inspections and investigations, selectboard
3
What is a Public Health Hazard?
Public vs private health hazards
4
THO Enforcement Tools
Voluntary compliance, health orders, emergency health orders, civil enforcement
5
Animal Bites and Rabies Testing
Bite investigation, animal confinement, dog on dog bites, rabies testing
6
Mosquitos and Tick Bite Illnesses
Mosquito and tick bite diseases, prevention measures
7
Outdoor Air Quality
Open burning, permits
8
Drinking Water
Private drinking water testing, boil water notices, flooding and droughts
9
Lead Paint
Vermont Lead Law, IRC practices, RRPM activities, prohibited work practices
10
Asbestos
Asbestos assessment, demolition, renovation
11
Heat & Heat-Related Illnesses
Heat safety, cooling centers, hot weather preparedness
12
Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
Local Emergency Management, Climate Adaptation Planning, emergency condemnation
13
Onsite Wastewater Systems
Wastewater/septic systems, responding to a failed or malfunctioning system
14
Rental Housing and Safety
Rental Housing Health and Safety Code
15
Recreational Water
E. Coli
, cyanobacteria, flooding
16
Solid & Hazardous Waste
Hazardous material spills, recycling and food scraps
The Environmental Health Division has revised the THO Manual in 2024 to be up to date with current guidance and legal authorities. Please refer to the updated sections in the table above.
We are finalizing revisions to the following chapters: Insects, Rodents and Pests and Indoor Air Quality. Please refer to the
2019 THO manual
for these chapters until revisions are posted.
Last Updated:
March 27, 2026
Skip to main content
MENU
x
CLOSE
Translations for you
Town Health Officer Manual
Town Health Officers
Find Your Town Health Officer
Town Health Officer Manual
Forms & Resources for Town Health Officers
Town Health Officer Trainings
THO Manual
The Environmental Health Division at the Health Department provides technical support and training opportunities for Town Health Officers (THOs), including the THO Manual. The THO Manual is a key resource for your role as a THO, providing information on your statutory authority and the topics you are likely to encounter.
The Health Department strongly recommends all THOs review the manual closely and refer to it regularly.
Please contact the Environmental Health Division with questions about this manual at
[email protected]
or by calling
800-439-8550
.
For all
other THO documents
,
go to the Forms & Resources for Town Health Officers page
For
concerns about health or safety issues in rental housing
,
contact the Division of Fire Safety
THO Manual
Click on a section title to view or download the most up-to-date section of the THO Manual.
section #
Section Title
topics included
1
THO Appointments
Appointment Process, Training, Deputy Health Officers
2
THO Roles and Responsibilities
Inspections and investigations, selectboard
3
What is a Public Health Hazard?
Public vs private health hazards
4
THO Enforcement Tools
Voluntary compliance, health orders, emergency health orders, civil enforcement
5
Animal Bites and Rabies Testing
Bite investigation, animal confinement, dog on dog bites, rabies testing
6
Mosquitos and Tick Bite Illnesses
Mosquito and tick bite diseases, prevention measures
7
Outdoor Air Quality
Open burning, permits
8
Drinking Water
Private drinking water testing, boil water notices, flooding and droughts
9
Lead Paint
Vermont Lead Law, IRC practices, RRPM activities, prohibited work practices
10
Asbestos
Asbestos assessment, demolition, renovation
11
Heat & Heat-Related Illnesses
Heat safety, cooling centers, hot weather preparedness
12
Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
Local Emergency Management, Climate Adaptation Planning, emergency condemnation
13
Onsite Wastewater Systems
Wastewater/septic systems, responding to a failed or malfunctioning system
14
Rental Housing and Safety
Rental Housing Health and Safety Code
15
Recreational Water
E. Coli
, cyanobacteria, flooding
16
Solid & Hazardous Waste
Hazardous material spills, recycling and food scraps
The Environmental Health Division has revised the THO Manual in 2024 to be up to date with current guidance and legal authorities. Please refer to the updated sections in the table above.
We are finalizing revisions to the following chapters: Insects, Rodents and Pests and Indoor Air Quality. Please refer to the
2019 THO manual
for these chapters until revisions are posted.
Last Updated:
March 27, 2026