Public Health Laws And Regulations
Topic | Public Health Area | Law/ Regulation/Ordinance Citation | Description |
Air - Indoor air/ smoking | Environment | COMAR 10.19.04 | Prohibition of smoking in indoor areas open to the public; local health departments investigate complaints |
Air - Open burning | Environment | COMAR 26.11.07 | Prohibits the start of an open fire without the proper permit and control officer approval. Local health departments may review and issue permits; investigate complaints |
Animals - Animal control | Animal control | Health General § 18-217 to 18-222 | Evaluation and control of animals |
Animals - Rabies | Animal control | Health General § 18-312 to 18-320 | Control and investigation of , animal bites, rabies and potentially rabid animals |
Animals - Rabies | Animal control | COMAR 10.06.02 | Local health departments investigate animal attacks involving humans; collects and sends animal specimens; enforces quarantine periods; conducts vaccination clinics |
Animals - Pet store inspections and exotic bird permits | Animal control | Health General §24-101 to 24-110 | Public health agency inspects pet stores for compliance with reptile caution notices, exotic bird records, humane and sanitary conditions |
Authority - Local Health Officer | Authority | Health General §3-301 to 3-309 | Local health officer powers and duties |
Authority - County Board of Health | Authority | Health General §3-301 to 3-309 | County Board of Health powers and duties |
Building - Permits | Environment | COMAR 26.04.02 | Local health department signs off on plans and issues building permits |
Building - Plan Review | Environment | COMAR 26.04.03 | Local health departments review site plans for major projects; public water and sewer site plan review; final plat review |
Camps - Campgrounds | Environment | COMAR 10.16.03 | Local health department performs inspections, investigates complaints and issues permits for campgrounds |
Camps - Youth Camps | Environment | COMAR 10.16.06 | Certifications for youth camps |
Camps - Migratory Labor Camps | Environment | COMAR 10.16.01 | Regulations protecting the public health and safety of occupants of migratory labor camps. |
Cancer - Breast Cancer Program | Cancer | Health General § 20-116 | Establishes the Breast Cancer Program |
Cancer - Breast and Cervical Cancer Program | Cancer | COMAR 10.14.04 | Description of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program including responsibilities of local health departments |
Cancer - Colorectal Cancer Control Program | Cancer | COMAR 10.14.06 | Description of the Colorectal Cancer Control Program including responsibilities of local health departments |
Cancer - Maryland Cancer Fund | Cancer | COMAR 10.14.05 | Description of the Maryland Cancer Fund |
Cancer - Use of Tanning Devices by Minors | Cancer | COMAR 10.52.06 | Use of Tanning Devices by Minors |
Disease Control - AIDS Investigations and Case Reporting | AIDS/ HIV | COMAR 10.18.03 | Lists requirements for reporting a case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and health officer follow-up of a physician report of AIDS |
Disease Control - HIV and CD4+Lymphocyte Investigations and Case Reporting | AIDS/ HIV | COMAR 10.18.02 | Requirements for physician reporting of a case of HIV or AIDS/ birth of an infant whose mother has tested positive for HIV; Institution reporting of a case of HIV or AIDS; Laboratory reporting of a test result for HIV infection or CD4+ count; and health officer follow-up of a physician report of AIDS |
Disease Control - HIV/AIDS Definitions | AIDS/ HIV | COMAR 10.18.04 | Definitions related to HIV/AIDS |
Disease Control - HIV Counseling and Testing for Pregnant Women | AIDS/ HIV | COMAR 10.18.09 | Requirements for counseling and requirements for informed consent when HIV testing is performed on pregnant women |
Disease Control - HIV Counseling and Testing Procedures | AIDS/ HIV | COMAR 10.18.08 | Requirements for pretest and post-test counseling and requirements for informed consent when HIV testing is performed |
Disease Control - HIV testing for Convicted | AIDS/ HIV | COMAR 10.52.10 | HIV Testing of Persons Accused or Convicted, or Both, of Certain Crimes |
Disease Control - Reportable diseases | Epi/ Comm Dis Control | COMAR 10.06.01.03 | List of Reportable Diseases and Conditions which health care providers, institutions and others are required to report. |
Disease Control - Reporting of infectious diseases | Epi/ Comm Dis Control | Health General §18-208 | Health Officer required to report incidence of disease endangering public and take action to contain and combat it |
Disease Control - Moving of infected individuals | Epi/ Comm Dis Control | Health General §18-211 | Individuals with certain infectious diseases may be moved to appropriate housing |
Disease Control - Isolation and quarantine | Epi/ Comm Dis Control | Public Safety §14-3A-05 | The Secretary of Health can order isolation and quarantine |
Disease Control - Quarantine | Epi/ Comm Dis Control | Health General §18-901 | Health official may issue a directive to an individual or a group to go and remain in places of isolation or quarantine |
Disease Control - Universal infection control precautions | Epi/ Comm Dis Control | COMAR 10.52.11 | Universal infection control precautions |
Disease Control - Sexually transmitted infections (STI) | Sexually Transmitted infections | COMAR 10.09.72 | Local health department provides STD clinical services for screening, diagnosis, partner identification and treatment |
Disease control - STI testing and contact tracing | Sexually Transmitted infections | COMAR 10.06.17 and .18 | Local health department must assure clients and their contacts that have or have been exposed to certain reportable STDs obtain appropriate treatment and follow-up and all info is entered into state database |
Disease control - Tuberculosis | Epi/ Comm Dis Control | COMAR 10.06.01.21 | Local health department must assure that individuals are assessed and treated per protocol and local health department must investigate contacts and treat accordingly - info entered into State database |
Emergency - Authority to enforce rules | Emergency | Public Safety §14-113 | Health Officer's ability to enforce rules and regulations made by the Governor during a state of emergency |
Emergency - Catastrophic Health Emergencies Act | Emergency | Public Safety §14-3A-03 | The Governor may order the Secretary of Health to control, restrict, or regulate the use, sale, or distribution of anything needed to respond to the medical consequences of an emergency and to require individuals to stay in isolation or quarantine until no longer a risk to others |
Emergency - Catastrophic health emergency | Emergency | COMAR 10.59.01 | Requirements and standards for isolation and quarantine. |
Emergency - Access to potable water | Environment | COMAR 26.04.01 | Local health department assures supply of fresh water in an emergency |
Emergency - Quarantine | Epi/ Comm Dis Control | Health General §18-901 | Health official may issue a directive to an individual or a group to go and remain in places of isolation or quarantine |
Facilities - Adult day care | Adult Health | COMAR 10.12.04 and 26.04.04 | A person may not establish, operate, or continue the operation of an adult daycare center without first obtaining a license from the State |
Facilities - Assisted living | Adult Health | COMAR 10.07.14 and 26.04.02 | State requirements and licensing procedures for operating an assisted living facility that promotes health, safety and maximizes independence. |
Facilities - Mobile home parks | Environment | COMAR 10.16.02 | Local health departments performs inspections, investigates complaints and issues permits for mobile home parks |
Facilities - Outdoor music festivals | Environment | COMAR 10.16.05 | Local health departments evaluate plans and inspect outdoor music festivals |
Facilities - ADA compliance | Environment | COMAR 26.08.02 | Requirements for handicap accessibility for facilities |
Family Planning - Family Planning Programs | Family Planning | COMAR 10.09.58 | Administration of family planning programs |
Food - Bottled Water | Environment | COMAR 10.15.11 | Procedures for obtaining proper permits for bottling and dispersing drinking water from spring construction to unit processing operations. State is responsible. |
Food - Canning | Environment | COMAR 10.15.01 | Requirements for operation of canning and acidified food manufacturing plants. State is responsible. |
Food - Crab Meat | Environment | COMAR 10.15.02 | Processing regulations to ensure safe and sanitary crab meat and working conditions for employees. State is responsible. |
Food - Food and Drink Processing and Transportation | Environment | COMAR 10.15.04 | Processing, producing, transporting and/or storing items for human consumption must be handled using sanitary practices. State is responsible. |
Food - Food Service Facilities | Food | COMAR 10.15.03 | Public health agency assures that food service facilities serve food that is safe for human consumption, that buildings meet proper standards for cleanliness, agency conducts inspections, provides training, issues food service facility licenses and conducts food service facility plan reviews. |
Food - Frozen Dairy Foods | Environment | COMAR 10.15.05 | Manufacture and Sale of Frozen Dairy Foods and Ices Manufactured for Sale in Maryland; State is responsible. |
Food - Manufactured Grade Milk | Environment | COMAR 10.15.06 | Production, Processing, Transportation, Storage, and Distribution of Manufactured Grade Milk. State is responsible. |
Food - Milk | Environment | COMAR 10.15.09 | Production, Processing, Transportation, Storage, and Distribution of Milk. State is responsible. |
Food - Seafood | Environment | COMAR 10.15.10 | Procedures for the Safe Handling and Processing of Seafood. State is responsible. |
Food - Shellfish | Environment | COMAR 10.15.07 | Requirement for processing, handling shellfish which are sold for human consumption. State is responsible. |
Food - Food borne illness investigations | Food | COMAR 10.06.01 and 10.15.03 | Local health department investigates foodborne and water borne illnesses related to food service facilities and within institutional facilities; State and local health depts have roles. |
Funding - State Funding for Local Health Services | Environment | COMAR 10.04.01 | Amounts of State General funds to be provided to local health departments for Core Public Health Services |
Hazards - Hazard investigations | Environment | Environment §10-201 | The local Health Officer has the authority to investigate any condition that dangerous to human health and to inspect schools, places of employment and businesses. |
Hazards - Hazardous substances | Environment | COMAR 10.19.02 | All provisions of 16 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1500 and 1505 apply; State and local health depts have roles. |
Hazards - Controlled dangerous substances | Environment | COMAR 10.19.03 | Regulation for the state health agency to control the manufacturing, distributing, and use of controlled, dangerous substances. State is responsible. |
Hazards - Poison prevention packaging | Dangerous Devices and Substances | COMAR 10.19.06 | All provisions of Code 16 of Federal Regulations Part 1700 apply. State is responsible. |
Hotels - Hotel/motel complaints | Environment | Health General §20-301 | Local health department investigates complaints regarding hotels and motels |
Immunizations - Meningococcal vaccination requirements | Epi/ Comm Dis Control | COMAR 10.06.05 | Requirements for meningococcal vaccination of individuals enrolled in institutions of higher education who are living in on-campus student housing. |
Immunizations - Requirements before entry into school | Epi/ Comm Dis Control | COMAR 10.06.04 | A school may not knowingly admit or retain a student unless the student's parent or guardian has furnished evidence of age-appropriate immunity |
Lead - Lead paint poisoning investigations | Environment | COMAR 26.02.07, 26.16.02 and 26.16.05 | Regulations for appropriate techniques for abatement of lead-containing substances from interior and certain exterior surfaces in residential areas and day care properties |
Medical Care Programs - Outreach to MCO clients | Medical Care Programs | COMAR 10.09.66.03 | Local health department assistance to bring individuals to care |
Medical Care Programs - MCO complaints ombudsman program | Medical Care Programs | COMAR 10.09.72 | Complaint resolution unit handles and transfers cases to local health departments |
Medical Care Programs - Maryland Children's Health Program | Medical Care Programs | COMAR 10.09.11 | Description of the Maryland Children's Health Program |
Medical Care Programs - MCHP eligibility | Medical Care Programs | COMAR 10.09.43.04 | Determining eligibility for the Maryland Children's Health Program |
Medical Care Programs - Community First Choice | Medical Care Programs | COMAR 10.09.84 | Description of the Community First Choice program |
Medical Care Programs - Medical Assistance Personal Care | Medical Care Programs | COMAR 10.09.20 | Description of the Medical Assistance Personal Care program |
Medical Care Programs - STEPS case management | Medical Care Programs | COMAR 10.09.30 | Describes Statewide Evaluation and Planning Services (STEPS) |
Medical Care Programs - AERS | Medical Care Programs | COMAR 10.09.61 | Describes Adult Evaluation and Review Services (AERS) |
Nuisance - Complaints | Environment | Environment § 10-201 | Local health departments follows up on nuisance complaints |
Nuisance - Regulation of general nuisances | Environment | County Code: Chapter 174 | Regulations concerning local nuisance complaints |
School Health - Documents for school entry | School health | COMAR 10.11.04.05 | Documents required for entry into prekindergarten and kindergarten |
School Health - Physical exams, student records, health appraisals, counseling, communicable disease | School health | COMAR 13A.05.05.07 | Standards for all students relating to Physical Exams, Student Records, Health Appraisals, Counseling, Communicable Disease |
School Health - Emergency services | School health | COMAR 13A.05.05.09 | CPR and first aid certification requirements |
School Health - School Health Council | School health | COMAR 13A.05.05.13 | School Health Council requirements |
School Health - High school AED program | School health | COMAR 13A.05.10.03 | Minimum requirement for high school AED program. |
School Health - Epi-Pen | School health | Education § 7-426.2 | Policy on use of epi-pen in public schools. |
Septic systems | Environment | COMAR 26.04.02 & .05 | Review applications; issue permits; provide installation inspection; investigate failing systems. |
Solid Waste - Special medical waste | Environment | COMAR 10.06.06 | Applies to entities which generate and handle special medical waste or sharps. Also applies to entities which treat and dispose of special medical waste. |
Solid Waste - Sewage sludge | Environment | COMAR 26.04.06 | Permitting process and requirements for sewage sludge management |
Swimming Facilities - Pool and spa licenses | Environment | COMAR 10.17.01 | Regulations to protect and promote the health and safety of those using public pools or spas including standards of construction and disinfecting. |
Swimming Facilities - Pool, spa, bathing beach inspections | Environment | COMAR 10.17.01,26.04.01 and 09 | The Department of the Environment is responsible for issuing permits and enforcing regulations on public water systems, natural wood waste recycling facilities, public pools and public spas |
Swimming Facilities - Swimming/ bathing beach licenses | Environment | COMAR 26.08.09 | Requirements for annual permit of operation of public beaches including sanitation quality of facilities and waters |
Tattoos - Tattoos and body piercing | Consumer Protection | COMAR 10.06.06G and 10.06.01.06H | Regulations on handling and disposing of sharp waste object that have come in contact with bodily materials. Also tattoo and body piercing shop should follow requirements of the Health Officers. |
Tobacco - Distribution of tobacco products to minors | Tobacco | Criminal Law § 10-107 | Prohibits distribution of a tobacco product or paraphernalia to a minor |
Tobacco - Distribution of electronic cigarettes to minors | Tobacco | Health General § 24-305 | Prohibits distribution of electronic nicotine devices to a minor |
Tobacco - Smoking indoors | Tobacco | COMAR 10.19.04 | Prohibition of Smoking in indoor areas open to the public; Local health departments investigate complaints |
Transportation Safety - Bike helmets | Injury prevention | Transportation § 21-1207.1 | Bicycle helmet requirements for individuals under the age of 16 |
Transportation Safety - Seat belts and child safety seats | Injury prevention | Transportation § 22-412 | Requirements for the use of seat belts and child safety seats |
Vital Records - Birth Certificates | Vital Records | Health General §4-204 | Birth, death, and fetal death certificate copies |
Water - Certificate of Potability | Environment | COMAR 26.04.04 | Regulations establishing the standards and procedures applicable to the construction of wells. |
Water - Percolation Testing | Environment | COMAR 26.04.02 | Local health department performs percolation testing and soil analysis; site plan review; ground water monitoring |
Water- Water Quality | Environment | COMAR 26.08.02 | Surface water quality protection |
Water - Well Construction | Environment | COMAR 26.04.04 | Local health department issues permits and conducts inspections |
Maryland Annotated Code | |||
COMAR Regulations | |||
Pending/Proposed Legislation Through MDH | |||
Pending/Proposed Legislation Through MDE Updated 11/22/17 |