Health Department

About the Health Department

The Medford Health Department promotes and protects the health and well-being of all Medford residents through a broad range of public health services, programming, and regulatory responsibilities.

The Department accomplishes its mission through services including, but not limited to:

• Licensing and permitting
• Enforcement of city ordinances
• Monitoring and responding to infectious diseases through surveillance and mitigation
• Animal Control services, which ensure the safety and welfare of both residents and animals through enforcement of local and state animal regulations and humane response to animal-related concerns
• Health education and wellness promotion

The Board of Health permits and conducts complaint-based and mandated inspections of food establishments, swimming pools, tanning and body art establishments, body art practitioners, recreational camps, housing, and other permitted activities. The Board also enforces the State Sanitary Code, Housing Code, and Massachusetts and Federal Food Codes. Under M.G.L. c.111, sec. 31, Boards of Health have statutory authority to enact public health rules and regulations and to lead in many areas of environmental health.

In addition to its regulatory responsibilities, the Medford Health Department is home to the Office of Outreach & Prevention, which advances community health and well-being through a variety of supportive services. This includes social services navigation led by a Social Services Coordinator who connects residents to essential resources and basic needs; Recovery Coaching Services and peer-led Recovery Groups for those impacted by substance use; and a range of prevention programming focused on issues such as substance use, mental health access, violence prevention, and gambling harm reduction. Grounded in a commitment to health equity, the Department works to ensure all Medford residents have fair access to health resources. The Community Engagement Team—made up of Community Liaisons and Connectors—plays a vital role in this effort. The Community Liaisons are trained community health workers who speak Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Arabic, helping to connect historically underserved populations to city and regional services. Meanwhile, Medford’s Connectors focus on strengthening social resilience across six key areas: Children and Young Adults; Older Adults and People with Disabilities; ESOL and Immigrant Support; Food Systems; Financial Security; and Climate Change Resilience.

Together, the Medford Health Department’s regulatory and community-based initiatives reflect our deep and ongoing commitment to the health, safety, and vibrancy of the Medford community.