Michigan has 83 counties, but it does not have 83 health departments. Public health here is delivered through county departments, multi-county district agencies and a small number of city departments, all operating under the state's Public Health Code. If you need a vaccine, a restaurant complaint filed, a well permit or a WIC appointment, the first task is finding which agency covers your address. This page explains how the system fits together and how to reach the right office.

How Health Departments Are Structured Across Michigan

The Michigan Public Health Code, Public Act 368 of 1978, is the main statute behind local public health work. It calls for every county to be served by a local health department. A county can meet that duty by running its own department, by joining neighbors in a district, or by contracting with an existing agency.

The result is a mix of structures. Kent County, Macomb County and Berrien County each run a department of their own. In the north, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan operates from 220 West Garfield Avenue in Charlevoix and covers several counties. The Branch-Hillsdale-Saint Joseph Community Health Agency in Coldwater and the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department in Benzonia follow the same multi-county model.

This matters when you search. A listing may carry one county's name while the agency behind it serves a wider area. District Health Department 4, based at 100 Woods Circle in Alpena, serves several northeastern counties. Smaller offices in the region, such as the Montmorency County Health Department on State Street in Atlanta, may operate as branches of a regional agency rather than as independent departments.

Cities can run departments too. Detroit has its own city health department, separate from the county system. Before you drive anywhere, confirm which agency handles permits and records for your township.

Who Oversees Michigan's Local Offices: MDHHS, Boards of Health and Partner Agencies

At the state level, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) sets public health priorities, passes down state and federal funding, tracks reportable diseases and maintains the Michigan Care Improvement Registry, the state's immunization record system. MDHHS was formed in 2015 when the Department of Community Health merged with the Department of Human Services. Our database still lists a Michigan Department Of Community Health office at 320 South Walnut Street in Lansing, Ingham County (517-373-3740). Because that is the older name, call ahead to confirm which MDHHS unit handles your question.

Local departments answer to a local board of health. In county departments, the county board of commissioners generally appoints that board, and a health officer runs daily operations. The board adopts local fees and policies, so the price of a septic evaluation or a food license can differ from one county to the next. Ask for the current fee schedule instead of relying on a neighbor's number.

Other state agencies share the work. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) administers the Michigan Food Law of 2000, while local health departments handle restaurant licensing and inspection. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) regulates public water systems, but private wells and home septic systems are local health department territory. Michigan has relied on local sanitary codes rather than one statewide residential septic code, so the rules for your property depend on where it sits.

One common mix-up: birth, death and marriage records are not kept by most health departments. County clerks issue them, and the state Vital Records office in Lansing holds the statewide files.

Metro Detroit, West Michigan and the North: How Offices Differ Across the State

Southeast Michigan

Southeast Michigan has the densest concentration of listings. Wayne County alone has eight in our database, including the Wayne County Health Department at 19130 Sumpter Road in Belleville (734-697-9455). Detroit residents deal with the city's own health department, listed at 17330 Greydale Avenue under the name Michigan Health Department (313-387-7100). In Macomb County, the county health department sits at 43525 Elizabeth Road in Mount Clemens (586-469-5235). Expect larger clinics, specialized programs and services offered at several sites, but also busier phone lines.

West and Central Michigan

The Kent County Health Department is at 121 Franklin Street Southeast in Grand Rapids (616-336-3914). The Allegan County Health Department is at 2283 33rd Street in Allegan (269-673-0519). Ottawa County, west of Kent along Lake Michigan, also runs its own department. Along the I-75 corridor, the Saginaw Health Department is at 1600 North Michigan Avenue (989-758-3807), and the Bay County Health Department is at 1200 Washington Avenue (989-895-4009). In the Thumb, the Huron County Health Department is at 1142 South Van Dyke Road in Bad Axe (989-269-9721).

Northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula

Rural areas look different. Offices cover large territories, staff are fewer, and some services run by appointment or on set days at branch sites. The Health Department of Northwest Michigan in Charlevoix (231-547-6523) serves a multi-county area, while the Bellaire Health Department at 209 Portage Drive (231-533-6255) is a local site in Antrim County. Grand Traverse County operates its own department at 880 Parsons Road in Traverse City (231-922-6416). Further south, the Mecosta County Health Department in Big Rapids (231-796-8876) and the Oceana County Health Department in Hart (231-873-2193) serve smaller communities.

The Upper Peninsula relies heavily on multi-county agencies because populations are small and distances are long. Travel time can be part of the job in these areas, so check hours and call before you go.

What You Can Get Done at a Michigan Health Department

Services vary by agency, but most Michigan local departments offer a core set under state programs:

Michigan has one state-specific rule worth knowing. Parents who want a nonmedical vaccine waiver for school or childcare must complete an education session at their local health department. Schedule it before the school year starts, because sessions may only be offered on certain days.

Bring photo ID, your insurance or Medicaid card if you have one, and any immunization records. For WIC, bring proof of income and address. Many departments take Medicaid, including the Healthy Michigan Plan, and some offer reduced fees, but policies vary, so ask when you call. If you cannot tell who to call, dial 2-1-1 for referrals.

Phone area codes can hint at geography. Numbers starting 313 and 734 point to the Detroit area, 586 to Macomb County, 616 and 269 to West and southwest Michigan, 231 to the northwest, 517 to Lansing and south-central Michigan, and 989 to the Thumb, Saginaw Valley and north-central region.

The health department network in Michigan 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 95 cities across Michigan. They are spread across 74 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Detroit, Charlevoix, Traverse, which operate full-service health departments providing comprehensive clinical and environmental health services to large urban populations.

Residents of Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan to find the nearest location.

Practical Tips for Dealing With Michigan Health Departments

Start with your address, not the office name. In Michigan, jurisdiction follows the county or district line, so the nearest building is not always the right agency. In Berrien County, for example, you will find two Benton Harbor listings: the Berrien County Health Department at 769 Pipestone Street (269-926-7121) and the Benton Harbor Health Department at 455 Bond Street (269-926-1865). Call to learn which one handles your request, or browse health departments in Berrien County.

Check how each office schedules visits. Larger departments often use online booking or call centers, while rural offices may hold clinics on set days. The Shiawassee County Health Department on East Mack Street in Corunna (989-743-2355) and the Livingston County Department of Public Health on East Grand River Avenue in Howell (517-546-9850) are examples of county offices where a quick call can save a wasted trip. Bring the following:

Report urgent issues, such as suspected foodborne illness, right away. For emergencies, call 911.

Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan Health Departments

Detroit operates its own city health department, listed in our database at 17330 Greydale Avenue under the name Michigan Health Department (313-387-7100). The Wayne County Health Department in Belleville, at 19130 Sumpter Road (734-697-9455), serves other Wayne County communities, though a few cities may have their own arrangements. Boundaries matter for permits, immunization clinics and inspections, so confirm coverage by address. Call the number listed, give your street address and ask which office handles your need, such as WIC, restaurant complaints or vaccines.

Michigan keeps immunization histories in the Michigan Care Improvement Registry, known as MCIR, which MDHHS runs. Doctors, schools and local health departments enter shots into it. You can ask your provider or your local health department for a copy, and adults may request their own record. Bring photo ID, and for a child, be ready to show you are the parent or guardian. If you were vaccinated before the registry existed or in another state, the record may be incomplete, so also check old clinic and school files.

For a nonmedical waiver, yes. Michigan requires parents to receive vaccine education at a local health department before the waiver is valid for school or childcare entry, and the department certifies the waiver after the session. Medical exemptions work differently and need a physician's statement. Contact your county or district office to book, because sessions may be offered only on set days, and schedule well before the school year begins. While you are there, ask about catch-up vaccines, since many offices can provide them on site.

Local health departments license and inspect restaurants and other food service establishments under the Michigan Food Law of 2000. Report a complaint, such as suspected food poisoning, to the department covering the restaurant's location, not your home. In Charlevoix County and nearby counties, that may be the Health Department of Northwest Michigan in Charlevoix (231-547-6523). Give the business name, address, date and symptoms. Grocery stores and food processors are generally regulated by MDARD instead. Keep any leftover food and note when symptoms began, since investigators often ask for both.

Generally yes. Local health departments permit and inspect private wells and home septic systems, and each county or district follows its own sanitary code. Contact the office for your parcel before you dig or sell a property, because some local codes require an evaluation at the time of sale or transfer. Expect to provide a site plan, a parcel number and a fee. Rules and costs differ between, for example, the Allegan County Health Department (269-673-0519) and the Calhoun County Health Department (517-629-9434), so use your own county's schedule.

Usually not. In Michigan, birth, death and marriage certificates come from the county clerk in the county where the event occurred, or from the state Vital Records office in Lansing. Health departments focus on clinical and environmental services. Some offices may point you to the right place, but do not plan on a same-day certificate from a health clinic. Bring government photo ID, and be ready to prove your identity and your relationship to the person named on the record. Fees vary by clerk, so confirm the price by phone.

Ask the health department what it offers at low or no cost. WIC is income-based, and many offices help with Medicaid enrollment, including the Healthy Michigan Plan for eligible adults. Immunizations for eligible children may be free through the Vaccines for Children program. Fees for adult clinical services often follow a sliding scale, though that varies by agency. If the office cannot help, dial 2-1-1 to reach a Michigan referral line for food, housing and health resources. Bring proof of income and ID to your first visit so staff can screen you quickly.