Environmental Services

Maricopa County Environmental Services protects public health through food safety programs, restaurant inspections, public swimming pool oversight, mosquito and vector control, drinking water regulation, wastewater and septic programs, stormwater activities, and waste management. This article explains which Environmental Services program handles common requests, how county inspection and permitting systems work, what information to prepare before submitting an application or complaint, and how to avoid delays caused by choosing the wrong program or online system.

Environmental Services Responsibilities

The Maricopa County Environmental Services Department has worked with the community for more than 65 years to maintain a safe and healthy environment. Its work is intended to reduce exposure to hazards involving food, water, soil, mosquitoes, waste, and other environmental conditions that can affect residents and visitors.

The department's major service areas include food and restaurant regulation, aquatic health and public swimming pools, vector control, and water and waste management. The main Environmental Services Department page also connects users with restaurant ratings, swimming pool inspection information, mosquito-control information, office locations, the Environmental Health Code, and other department programs.

Choosing the correct program matters because different activities use different permits, inspections, searches, complaint procedures, and records. A restaurant inspection question, for example, belongs with the food program, while a septic-system application or solid-waste issue belongs with Water & Waste Management. Mosquito concerns are handled through Vector Control rather than the food or pool programs.

Food and Restaurant Services

The food program works with food service operators to promote safe food practices and food safety systems. County services include inspections and regulatory activities involving food establishments, along with access to complaints, restaurant ratings, public records, permit information, fees, food safety guidance, and the Environmental Health Code.

The county's Food & Restaurants program page is the appropriate starting point for restaurant operators, mobile food businesses, special-event food operations, and members of the public looking for food-safety information.

Restaurant Inspection Searches

Members of the public can review food establishment inspection information through the county's Restaurant Ratings search tool. Inspection reports available through the tool are public records and are provided online at no charge. The database makes reports available for three years after the inspection date. An official copy requires a public records request.

The search system accepts combinations of business and location information. Search fields include business name, address number, street direction, street name, street type, city, and ZIP code. Some address fields depend on another value being entered. For example, an address number requires either a street name or business name, and the city field requires a street name, business name, or ZIP code.

Search spelling should be entered deliberately. The system treats special characters as part of a word. A business name entered with an apostrophe can therefore be treated differently from the same name without the apostrophe. When a search returns no useful result, try the establishment's official name and then simplify the search by using fewer fields rather than entering several uncertain details at once.

After results appear, users can filter by permit type. Available food-related categories include food establishments, bakeries, daycare food service, food banks, catering operations, mobile food establishments, micro markets, meat markets, retail food, refrigerated warehouses, ice manufacturing, vending-related operations, and other regulated food activities.

Restaurant Grades and Violations

Maricopa County uses a voluntary grading system for food establishments. Participation is decided before each inspection. A participating establishment may receive an A, B, C, or D grade based on the number of Priority and Priority Foundation violations found during the inspection. Establishments that do not participate are shown as NP, or Not Participating, but the inspection still takes place.

A Priority violation is a major violation that directly increases the risk of foodborne illness or injury. A Priority Foundation violation does not directly create the same level of risk but can contribute to a Priority violation if it is not corrected. Core violations generally involve maintenance and sanitation matters.

The county also states that legal action for a pattern of noncompliance or a permit suspension results in a D grade. Because participation in posting a grade is voluntary, an NP designation should not be interpreted as meaning that no county inspection occurred.

Public Swimming Pool Oversight

Aquatic Health & Safety handles county services involving public and semipublic pools and other regulated aquatic facilities. The program provides permitting information, guidance, complaint functions, inspection records, public-record requests, fee payment access, and regulatory information. The Aquatic Health & Safety page is the relevant county source for construction, remodeling, operational permits, and inspection matters involving regulated swimming facilities.

Pool Inspection Records

The county's pool inspection database allows searches using combinations of business name and address information. Like the restaurant inspection system, special characters are treated as part of search terms, so exact spelling can affect results. ZIP codes must contain five digits.

Pool inspection reports are public records, are available online at no charge, and remain available through the search system for three years after the inspection date. Users needing an official copy should use the county's public-record request process.

Inspection search results can be filtered by aquatic permit type. Categories shown by the county include swimming pools, bathing facilities, bathing lakes, hydrotherapy facilities, special-use facilities, and wading pools.

Construction and Remodel Projects

Pool projects can involve approvals, permits, plan review, construction inspections, and operational requirements. The county's application guidance identifies public and semipublic pools, spas, wading areas, and splash pads among the activities for which applicants may need to submit permit applications or request inspections.

Applications involving new construction or remodeling should be prepared with the project plans and schematics required for review. Depending on the project, these materials can include layout, equipment, and plumbing information. Applicants should also have owner, property, and contact information available before starting the online application.

Vector Control Services

Maricopa County Environmental Services conducts mosquito surveillance and abatement throughout the year. The Vector Control Division places routine mosquito traps each week and may deploy additional traps in response to complaints. Staff also works with property owners and managers when mosquito breeding sources need to be eliminated.

The county's Vector Control program handles mosquito-related concerns as well as complaints involving feral bees, flies, and roof rats. Available county functions include filing or searching complaints, viewing mosquito management information, requesting outreach, submitting public-record requests, and joining the fogging notification list.

Mosquito Testing and Surveillance

Culex mosquitoes collected by the county are tested for West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are tested for Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika viruses. The county reports deploying more than 800 routine mosquito traps each week as part of its monitoring program.

The county's mosquito-prevention guidance emphasizes reducing breeding areas and avoiding bites. Residents can remove standing water from areas such as buckets, plant pots, bird baths, small pools, and fountains. The county also recommends repairing damaged window and door screens and using an EPA-registered insect repellent according to product directions.

Environmental Complaints

Residents who observe a condition that falls within Environmental Services can submit a county service request. The county's Service Request Access system supports new requests and allows registered users to track requests they have submitted. Public request listings can also include Environmental Complaint records.

The service request system is not intended for emergencies. Emergency situations should be reported through 911 rather than through an Environmental Services complaint form. For routine complaints, providing an accurate location and enough information to identify the issue can help place the request with the appropriate county program.

Existing requests may be identified by a request number. Users searching for a previously submitted matter should distinguish that request number from a permit number, inspection record, or other Environmental Services identifier. These records belong to different systems and serve different purposes.

Water and Waste Management

The Water & Waste Management Division is responsible for approving, regulating, educating, and in some cases managing activities involving water, wastewater, stormwater, and waste. Its work covers public health, sanitation, and pollution prevention.

The Water, Sewage, Stormwater & Waste program page provides access to complaints, complaint searches, septic-system searches, public-record requests, office information, fees, permit information, guidance, waste resources, and program-specific assistance.

The division reviews plans, conducts inspections, and issues permits for water-, wastewater-, and solid-waste-related activities throughout Maricopa County. It also regulates public water systems operating within the county. Its responsibilities include construction review and inspections for certain public and semipublic pools and artificial or semi-artificial lakes.

Septic System Requests

Onsite wastewater, commonly called septic, has its own application and inspection categories. The county identifies applications for alteration, closure or abandonment, minor plan review, site and soil evaluation, conventional system design, alternative system design, planning and development plan review, and transfer of ownership.

The county also provides a septic research request form and a self-service septic search tool. Users should distinguish a septic record search from a new permit application. A record search is used to research existing information, while construction, alteration, abandonment, or other project activity may require an application and review through the permitting system.

Drinking Water Programs

Environmental Services also regulates public water systems within Maricopa County. Application categories identified by the county include new source approvals, new community public water systems, operating permits for existing public water systems, new non-transient non-community systems, new transient non-community systems, and operational or compliance plan reviews.

Applicants should select the application that matches the specific public water activity rather than submitting a general environmental request. Program-specific questions are best directed to the relevant Water & Waste Management program staff through the county's program directory.

Solid Waste Activities

Environmental Services regulates several solid-waste transportation and handling activities. Application categories include biohazardous medical waste transportation vehicles, chemical toilets, construction debris landfills, non-hazardous liquid waste transportation vehicles, non-hazardous solid waste transportation vehicles, portable restroom units, portable waste holding tanks, and certain refuse-container variance plans.

Waste Resources also provides information involving transfer stations, tire recycling, and disposal resources. These functions should not be confused with restaurant waste practices or septic-system permitting, even though they fall within the broader Environmental Services structure.

Stormwater Applications

The county application guidance identifies separate processes for pre-construction and post-construction stormwater applications. Users should select the application corresponding to their project stage and review the stormwater fee information applicable to the submission.

Environmental Permit Center

Maricopa County launched Permit Center in June 2024 as a consolidated online permitting platform. Environmental Services is one of the county departments using it. The system also supports Planning & Development, the Flood Control District, and the Department of Transportation. Air Quality permits continue to use their separate existing system.

The county's Permit Center information page explains registration, accounts, applications, reviews, inspections, invoices, and payment functions. All new permit and plan applications for participating departments are submitted through Permit Center.

Account Registration Rules

Each Permit Center user must register with a unique email address. Anyone who needs access to permits carried over from the county's previous Accela system must register using the email address that was used for those existing permits.

Individuals should create personal accounts. Companies should establish a Main Contact or Company Account, preferably using a shared company email address. A company that previously used a shared email address in Accela must use that same address when registering if it needs access to existing permit records.

Because account email addresses affect access to older records, creating a new account under a different email can make an existing permit appear inaccessible. Confirm which email was associated with the earlier record before creating multiple accounts.

Permit Application Preparation

The county's new application guidance outlines the basic preparation and review process for Environmental Services applications. Before applying, determine the correct permit category and gather the information connected to that project.

For new construction or remodeling, applicants should have relevant plans or schematics available. The county specifically identifies layout, equipment, and plumbing information as examples. Applicants should also have contact details and owner and property information ready.

When requesting a pre-submittal discussion for a construction project, the county asks applicants to provide details about the project scope and the address or parcel of the project location. These details allow staff to understand what is being proposed and which program applies.

Environmental Services application categories listed by the county include:

Campgrounds.
Drinking water systems.
Food and restaurant operations.
Mobile home parks.
Onsite wastewater and septic systems.
Public accommodations such as hotels.
Public swimming pools and related aquatic facilities.
School grounds.
Solid-waste hauling activities.
Stormwater.
Subdivision and infrastructure approvals.
Water and wastewater treatment or reuse.

Application Processing

After an application is submitted, Environmental Services processes it and sends an email containing the permit number or numbers and payment instructions. The county advises applicants to check Junk or Spam folders if that email has not appeared within two business days.

Once processing is complete, the application and submitted plans move into review. Updated application information can be reviewed through Permit Center. Keeping the permit number associated with the application makes it easier to locate the correct record and distinguish it from complaint requests, inspection records, or unrelated county permits.

Construction Inspection Scheduling

The county instructs applicants to schedule an inspection when construction or remodeling involves certain Environmental Services activities. These include brick-and-mortar food establishments, onsite wastewater systems, public or semipublic pools and spas, wading facilities, splash pads, public accommodations such as hotels, and school grounds.

Applicants should not assume that submitting plans automatically schedules a construction inspection. Application review and inspection scheduling are separate stages. The Permit Center is used to request inspections for the applicable Environmental Services programs identified by the county.

Permit Fee Payments

Annual permit fees apply to operational permits except for onsite wastewater and subdivision or infrastructure permits. Environmental Services directs applicants to Permit Center for fee payment.

Maricopa County states that it will never request payment by wire transfer. Payments must be made through Permit Center, where users can review and verify invoicing information. The county also states that it will not solicit passwords or other confidential login information by telephone, email, or other communication. A request for wire-transfer payment or confidential login credentials should not be treated as a legitimate Permit Center payment instruction.

Environmental Health Code

The Maricopa County Environmental Health Code contains regulatory provisions covering many activities handled by Environmental Services. Its subject areas include sewage and waste, rodents and insects, land subdivisions, water supply, swimming pools, food employees, food products and establishments, recreational vehicle parks, residence accommodations, animals, campgrounds, schools, and indoor play areas.

The code applies in unincorporated areas within Maricopa County and in incorporated cities and towns whose governing bodies specifically request services from the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department. Operators and applicants using county Environmental Services programs should therefore identify which program and code area applies to the proposed activity instead of relying on requirements from an unrelated service category.

Common Filing Mistakes

Many Environmental Services transactions become easier when the user first identifies the type of record or action involved. Permit applications, complaints, inspection reports, septic searches, and public-record requests are separate functions even when they concern the same property or business.

Wrong Program Selection

A food establishment permit belongs with the food program; a public-pool construction matter belongs with Aquatic Health & Safety; mosquito concerns belong with Vector Control; and septic, public-water, stormwater, and solid-waste matters generally fall under Water & Waste Management. Selecting a broad Environmental Services category when a more specific application exists can make it harder to identify the correct process.

Incomplete Project Information

Construction and remodel applications should be prepared with available plans, schematics, owner information, property information, and applicant contact details. For pre-submittal construction questions, include the project scope and project address or parcel information. These are specifically identified by the county as information that helps staff address the proposed work.

Confusing Record Numbers

A service-request number used for an environmental complaint is not the same as a permit number issued after an application is processed. Inspection databases also use their own permit and inspection information. Keep the number associated with each transaction and use it in the system where that transaction originated.

Overly Narrow Inspection Searches

Restaurant and swimming-pool inspection searches combine the terms entered by the user. Entering an incorrect business spelling along with an incorrect address detail can prevent a useful match. Start with reliable identifying information, pay attention to apostrophes and other special characters, and then add fields when needed to narrow the results.

Using a New Account Email

Permit Center access to records migrated from Accela depends on the email address previously associated with those records. Individuals and companies seeking older permits should use the same email address that was used in the former system. Companies that previously relied on a shared address should use that same shared address for the company account if access to existing records is required.

Environmental Services Offices

Environmental Services Main Office
301 W. Jefferson St., Suite 170, Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-506-6616

Food & Restaurants
301 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85003
602-506-6824

Mobile Food & Special Events
1645 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
602-506-6616

Aquatic Health & Safety Plan Review/Construction
301 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-506-0070

Vector Control
3220 W Gibson Lane, Suite #500, Phoenix, AZ 85009
602-506-6616

Water & Waste Management
301 W Jefferson St, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-506-6616

Waste Resources & Recycling
2222 S. 27th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009
602-506-4006

Environmental Services FAQs

Should I apply with Maricopa County or my city for an environmental permit?

Where you begin depends partly on the project and its location. Maricopa County states that projects involving food or other environmental factors may require a county permit. Projects in unincorporated Maricopa County also generally begin with the county. For projects inside an incorporated city or town, the county advises applicants to start with that municipality unless the activity falls under a county-administered program. The Maricopa County Permit Center guidance can help applicants determine the appropriate permitting path.

Can I get in-person help using the Permit Center?

Yes. Maricopa County continues to provide a physical permitting services location even though applications are handled through the online Permit Center. County staff can assist visitors with using Permit Center kiosks. This can be useful for applicants who are unfamiliar with the online system or need help navigating an application rather than determining technical project requirements.

How can I follow proposed Environmental Health Code changes?

Maricopa County provides a regulatory process for proposed revisions to the Environmental Health Code. Interested residents, business operators, and other stakeholders can review information about proposed changes, stakeholder meetings, notifications, and opportunities to submit comments. The county's Environmental Health Code page is the official starting point for current code chapters and proposed revision information.

Can I request an accommodation for an Environmental Services program?

Yes. Maricopa County states that it provides equal access to county programs, services, and activities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accommodation requests may be made for Environmental Services activities. For requests connected with public meetings, the county recommends submitting the request at least three business days before the meeting when possible so arrangements can be coordinated.