We’re recognizing the professionals who work to keep the places where we eat, swim, learn and live safe because it is North Carolina Registered Environmental Health Specialist Week. To celebrate our talented REHSs, we're sharing the Environmental Health Section's 2025-26 Annual Report, which showcases the important work they carry out all year. Here are a few highlights from the last fiscal year:
- Food Protection and Facilities Branch: North Carolina now has 50,422 permitted food establishments, the most in state history. Environmental health specialists conducted more than 87,000 inspections and made more than 12,000 educational visits to help operators prevent problems before they start.
- Swimming Pool, Institution and Tattoo Program: Specialists oversaw more than 11,300 swimming pools, wading pools and spas across the state and conducted more than 10,700 inspections.
- Children’s Environmental Health: More than 139,000 young children were tested for elevated blood lead levels in 2025. Thousands of schools and child care centers have also been tested for lead in drinking water, and any hazards are being addressed.
- Public Data Portal: New public dashboards are making environmental health data easier for anyone to explore, which helps communities, policymakers and local health departments see where the needs are.
Read the full 2026 Environmental Health Annual Report
To the REHSs across North Carolina: Thank you for the work you do every day to protect the health of our state.
Get More Information
- Governor Stein Proclaims North Carolina Registered Environmental Health Specialist Week (2026)
- Division of Public Health: Environmental Health Section
- Learn more about Centralized Intern Training and Authorization, the first step to becoming an agent of the state. Agents of the state help enforce sanitation laws and rules.
- Find your local health department