How Arizona Splits Public Health Between the State and 15 Counties

Arizona runs public health on two levels. The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), headquartered in Phoenix, sets statewide rules, licenses health-care facilities and maintains vital records. The state's 15 counties deliver most of what residents walk in for: immunizations, restaurant inspections, disease investigation and community clinics. So the first question to answer is usually "which county do I live in?" rather than "which city?"

Our database lists 40 health department offices across the state. Two are state listings in Phoenix: the Arizona Department of Health Services at 150 North 18th Avenue (602-542-1025) and an Arizona State Health Department entry at 250 N 17th Ave (602-542-6128). Both are in Maricopa County, on neighboring avenues near the state Capitol.

Who Sets the Rules: ADHS and Title 36

Arizona's public health law sits mainly in Title 36 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. It gives ADHS authority over disease reporting, vital records and the licensing of facilities such as hospitals, nursing care institutions and child care facilities. The governor appoints the ADHS director.

Counties carry out the local work. County boards of supervisors oversee their health departments, and each county names its own health director. That is why two neighboring counties can run different clinic schedules, charge different fees and organize programs under different names.

ADHS also keeps statewide birth and death records through its vital records office. Certified copies can be requested from the state office in Phoenix, and some county offices help with them as well. Ask before you travel, because not every rural office offers counter service for records.

Metro Phoenix: Maricopa County's Multi-Site System

About three in five Arizonans live in Maricopa County, so its health system is the state's largest. Our listings include the Maricopa County Department of Public Health at 4041 North Central Avenue in Phoenix (602-372-3996) and the Maricopa County Health Department at 4419 East Main Street in Mesa (602-506-6805). The Mesa address is the practical choice for many East Valley residents.

The county also tracks heat-related illness and deaths each summer and publishes the findings. That work shapes cooling-center planning and public warnings across the Valley.

Phoenix has four listings in our database, more than any other Arizona city. Because state and county agencies share the same city, decide which level you need before you go. Licensing questions and statewide programs point to ADHS. Clinics, local inspections and neighborhood disease concerns point to the county.

Northern and Rural Arizona: Long Distances, Fewer Offices

Outside the Phoenix and Tucson areas, one county office can cover thousands of square miles. Mohave County shows how this works. The Mohave County Health Department and the Mohave County Department of Public Health both list 700 West Beale Street in Kingman and the phone number 928-753-0743, so they are effectively one location. Other Mohave County listings are in Bullhead City and Colorado City, near the Utah line. Mohave Valley has the Fort Mojave Health Department at 1607 E Plantation Rd (928-346-4679). Tribal health programs like this one mainly serve tribal members, so call to confirm eligibility before you visit.

Coconino County has the Coconino County Health Department at 2625 North King Street in Flagstaff (928-679-7272) and the Flagstaff Health Department at 1800 South Milton Road (928-214-8231). Flagstaff has three listings in all. Coconino is one of the largest counties in the lower 48 by area, and it includes the Grand Canyon and part of the Navajo Nation. A Flagstaff office may be hours from where you actually live, so ask about outreach clinics.

Navajo County splits services between Navajo County Public Health Services at 117 East Buffalo Street in Holbrook (928-524-4750) and the Navajo County Health Department at 600 North 9th Drive in Show Low (928-532-6050). Neighboring Apache County has offices in St. Johns at 75 West Cleveland Street (928-337-7525) and in Springerville at 116 South Mountain Avenue (928-333-0203). In the White Mountains, choose the office closest to your town and confirm which programs it offers.

Pinal, Southern and Western Arizona: Growth, Border Health and Desert Disease

Pinal County has offices in Apache Junction (575 North Idaho Road, 480-982-6758) and Florence (500 South Central Avenue, 520-866-7301). The two area codes reflect a county that stretches from the edge of the Phoenix metro area into central desert. Coolidge is another Pinal County city in our listings.

Southern Arizona adds its own concerns. Cochise County's office is at 1415 West Melody Lane in Bisbee (520-432-9400). Santa Cruz County's is at 2150 North Congress Drive in Nogales (520-375-7800). Pima County appears in our data in Ajo (Ste 3, 120 W Estrella Ave, 520-387-7206) and Green Valley (601 North La Cañada Drive, 520-648-1626). Border counties often coordinate on communicable disease and see more Spanish-speaking clients. Valley fever, a soil-fungus infection, is most common in Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties.

Other county offices in our listings include:

What to Prepare Before You Visit an Arizona County Office

Most offices keep weekday business hours, but hours and walk-in rules differ by county and by program. A short call saves a wasted drive, especially where the next office is an hour or more away. Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, so a 9 a.m. call in summer reaches the office when it is only 8 a.m. in California.

Use the listings on this page to find the office for your county, then confirm the address and hours by phone. Staff can usually tell you right away if another office handles your request.

The health department network in Arizona consists of the state health agency and a system of county and city health departments that together deliver public health programs, disease surveillance, and preventive services to residents statewide.

Health Departments locations are available in 33 cities across Arizona. They are spread across 15 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Phoenix, Flagstaff, St. Johns, which operate full-service health departments providing comprehensive clinical and environmental health services to large urban populations.

Residents of Arizona can access their local health department for vaccinations, vital records, food inspection reports, and communicable disease information. Many services are available by appointment, and some are walk-in friendly.

Health Departments by Counties

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Residents of Arizona can order certified birth and death certificates, check restaurant inspection scores, and access free or low-cost vaccination services through their local health department. Most departments offer online appointment scheduling for clinical services.

Browse Health Departments by county across Arizona to find the nearest location.

Choosing Between County, City and Tribal Health Offices in Arizona

Arizonans sometimes find two or three listings that seem to cover the same need. That is normal. Counties may run more than one site, cities such as Flagstaff may operate programs beside the county, and tribal governments run separate health services. A few rules of thumb help.

One timing note: most of Arizona does not change its clocks, but the Navajo Nation does observe daylight saving time. In summer, a tribal office can be an hour ahead of a county office a few miles away.

Arizona Health Department FAQs

Both, in different roles. The Arizona Department of Health Services in Phoenix sets statewide standards, licenses facilities and keeps vital records. Your county health department runs local services such as immunization clinics, disease follow-up and inspections of restaurants and other food establishments. County boards of supervisors oversee those departments, and a city like Flagstaff may add its own program. For a flu shot or a restaurant complaint, call your county. For a state license or a statewide records question, call ADHS at 602-542-1025. If you are unsure, call the county number in our listings and ask staff to route you.

Start with the ADHS vital records office in Phoenix, which holds statewide records, and ask whether your county office can also issue copies. Arizona limits certified copies to people with a legal connection to the record, such as the person named, a parent or a legal representative. Bring valid photo ID and be ready to show your relationship. Fees and processing times change, so confirm current amounts by phone at 602-542-1025 before you send payment. Death certificates follow a similar process, and funeral homes often order certified copies for families as part of their services.

The Navajo Nation covers parts of Apache, Navajo and Coconino counties, and county health departments serve their whole county. In our listings that means Apache County Public Health Services in St. Johns (928-337-7525), the Apache County Health Department in Springerville (928-333-0203), Navajo County offices in Holbrook (928-524-4750) and Show Low (928-532-6050), and Coconino County in Flagstaff (928-679-7272). Enrolled tribal members may also use Indian Health Service and Navajo Nation programs, which are separate from county systems. Call the nearest county office first and ask which program fits your situation.

There are two common reasons. Sometimes one office is listed under two names. In Kingman, the Mohave County Health Department and the Mohave County Department of Public Health share 700 West Beale Street and 928-753-0743. Other times a county really does run several sites. Pinal County has offices in Apache Junction and Florence, Navajo County has Holbrook and Show Low, and Pima County appears in Ajo and Green Valley. Match the address to your location and ask which site offers your service, because clinic days and programs can differ between sites.

Valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is an infection caused by breathing in spores of a fungus that lives in desert soil. Rates are highest in central and southern Arizona, especially Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties. Symptoms can look like flu or pneumonia, with cough, fever, fatigue and chest pain lasting for weeks. See a doctor for testing, since a blood test is the usual first step. Providers and labs report cases to the county health department, which monitors trends. For general questions, try Maricopa County at 602-372-3996 or Pinal County at 480-982-6758.

Often, yes. The federal Vaccines for Children program supplies vaccines for children who are uninsured, enrolled in AHCCCS (Arizona's Medicaid), American Indian or Alaska Native, or underinsured, through enrolled providers that include many county clinics. A small administration fee may apply. Adult vaccine availability and fees vary by county, so call first. Bring the child's immunization record, an insurance or AHCCCS card if you have one, and your photo ID. Arizona schools require certain immunizations for enrollment, so the county office can also help you check what a student is missing before the school year starts.