Maine Environmental Health – Augusta, ME

Protecting Maine’s Public Health

The Maine CDC Division of Environmental and Community Health is a vital regulatory body housed within the Key Plaza building in downtown Augusta. This division is responsible for minimizing public exposure to environmental hazards and ensuring the safety of the essentials Mainers rely on every day: clear water, safe food, and healthy communities. As part of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), this office oversees a broad spectrum of inspection and licensing programs that impact businesses and residents alike.

Key Programs and Divisions

This location serves as the headquarters for several specialized units:

• Health Inspection Program (HIP): This team licenses and inspects thousands of establishments across the state, including restaurants, hotels, campgrounds, youth camps, and body artists (tattoo and piercing studios). They ensure compliance with the Maine Food Code and other safety regulations.
• Drinking Water Program: Tasked with enforcing the Safe Drinking Water Act, this program oversees public water systems, ensuring that the water flowing from taps in schools, businesses, and municipalities is free from contaminants.
• Subsurface Wastewater Unit: This unit manages the rules for septic systems, licensing site evaluators and offering technical assistance to towns for wastewater disposal issues.
• Radiation Control: This program monitors radiation levels and regulates the use of X-ray equipment and radioactive materials in medical and industrial settings.

Administrative Office Notice

While the Division’s administrative offices are located at 286 Water Street (Key Plaza), public walk-in services are extremely limited and often restricted.

Licensing and Meetings

Most licensing actions, such as submitting applications for a new restaurant or paying fees, are encouraged to be done online or via mail. Important: Meetings with Health Inspection Program staff are typically not held at this Water Street location. Instead, in-person consultations are often scheduled at the DHHS offices on Capitol Street or conducted virtually. Visitors seeking to meet with a specific inspector or program manager must contact the office by phone to schedule an appointment and confirm the meeting location.

Location Details

Key Plaza is a prominent office building on the banks of the Kennebec River.

Parking

Public parking is available in downtown Augusta, including street parking on Water Street and nearby public lots.

Security

As a state government office within a shared commercial building, visitors may need to sign in at the reception desk. Valid photo identification is generally required for entry into the state-occupied suites.