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.
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 below.
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.
Please contact the Environmental Health Division with questions about this manual at AHS.VDHTHO@vermont.gov or 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
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 | THOs and Infectious Diseases | Mosquito and tickborne 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 |
