Vermont Department of Health 2026: Services & Phone

Last reviewed 2026. This guide is for the statewide Vermont Department of Health, not UVM Health, Vermont Health Connect, a town clerk, or a private clinic. Main office: 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8300. Main phone: 800-464-4343 or 802-863-7200.

State of Vermont Public Health

Vermont Department of Health: Phone Numbers, Services, Local Offices and Vital Records Help

Use this page when you need the Vermont Department of Health phone number, a local health office, WIC, immunization records, vital records, disease reporting, food and lodging questions, water or radon test kits, lead and asbestos help, rabies guidance, or the correct route for a public health problem in Vermont.

The fastest path is not always the main phone number. Vermont has a statewide Health Department, 12 local health offices, a Vital Records unit, the Public Health Laboratory, environmental health programs, town and city clerks, and emergency help lines. This guide separates those routes so visitors do not call the wrong office.

Main office800-464-4343 or 802-863-7200. Open weekdays.
Local offices12 offices statewide for WIC, family health, immunizations and community programs.
Vital records800-439-5008 in Vermont or 802-863-7275.
EmergencyCall 911 for immediate danger. Call or text 988 for suicide or crisis support.
Official HealthVermont routes State office plus local offices Vital records explained Mobile-first directory guide
Do not mix these up

The Vermont Department of Health is the state public health agency. It is not UVM Health, Vermont Health Connect, the Vermont Agency of Human Services benefits office, a hospital emergency department, or your town clerk. Some services start with the Health Department, some start with your local office, and some are faster through your town or city clerk.

Agency
Vermont Department of Health
Main address
280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8300
Fax and TTY
Fax: 802-865-7754. TTY/TDD: Dial 711 first.
Office hours
Monday-Friday, 7:45 AM-4:30 PM. Closed on Vermont State holidays.
Commissioner
Dr. Rick Hildebrant, Commissioner of Health. Deputy Health Commissioner: Julie Arel.
Vital records
800-439-5008 within Vermont or 802-863-7275. Town and city clerks may be the fastest and cheapest route for many records.

Quick answer: what the Vermont Department of Health does

The Vermont Department of Health works to protect and improve the health of Vermonters through disease prevention, immunization programs, WIC, family and child health, vital records, environmental health, food and lodging regulation, public health data, laboratory testing, emergency preparedness, local health offices, health alerts, tobacco prevention, injury prevention, lead poisoning prevention, drinking water guidance, radon testing, rabies guidance and public health surveillance.

For a resident, the main question is usually practical: who do I call first? If you need a broad state public health question, call 800-464-4343 or 802-863-7200. If you need WIC, immunizations, school health support or community health services, your local health office may be the better route. If you need a certified birth, death, marriage, civil union, divorce or civil union dissolution record, start with the Vital Records page or your town or city clerk. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. If someone is thinking about suicide or is in mental health crisis, call or text 988.

Main public health line 800-464-4343

Use this for statewide Vermont Department of Health questions, contact routing, WIC routing, environmental program questions and general help.

Vital records 800-439-5008

Use this within Vermont for birth, death, marriage, civil union, divorce or dissolution records. Outside the state, call 802-863-7275.

Infectious disease reporting 802-863-7240

Use this for immediately reportable infectious disease findings during business hours, or 1-800-640-4374 within Vermont.

Vermont Department of Health phone numbers by service

Do not treat every Vermont Department of Health need like one general phone call. A vital-records request, WIC appointment, rabies exposure, water test kit, food lodging complaint, disease report and local health-office appointment each has a better route.

Need Correct phone or route What to say first
General Vermont Department of Health contact 800-464-4343 or 802-863-7200 Say your town, county and service need: WIC, vaccines, vital records, food licensing, disease reporting, lead, radon or another program.
Fax or accessibility phone support Fax: 802-865-7754. TTY/TDD: dial 711 first. Ask for the specific office or program before sending sensitive documents.
Vital Records 800-439-5008 within Vermont or 802-863-7275 Say whether you need birth, death, marriage, civil union, divorce or civil union dissolution records.
WIC 800-464-4343 or 802-863-7200, or contact your local office Say whether you are pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding, calling for an infant or calling for a child under five.
Food and lodging program 802-863-7221 or 800-439-8550 in Vermont Say whether your question is about a food license, lodging, inspection, complaint or public health concern.
Lead, asbestos or healthy homes 802-863-7220 or 800-439-8550 in Vermont Say whether the issue involves a child, rental housing, school, child care, renovation, lead paint, asbestos or a licensed contractor.
Water or radon test kits 802-338-4724 or 800-660-9997 in Vermont for lab test kit ordering. Radon information: 800-439-8550. Say whether you need drinking water testing, radon in air testing, sample drop-off details or test-kit ordering help.
Infectious disease reporting 802-863-7240 or 1-800-640-4374 within Vermont during business hours Say whether the finding is immediately reportable. An epidemiologist is available 24/7 for immediately reportable diseases.
Rabies exposure involving a wild animal Rabies Hotline: 1-800-4-RABIES or 1-800-472-2437 Say the animal type, bite or exposure date, whether the animal can be found, and whether medical care has already been sought.
Poisoning Northern New England Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222. If the person collapsed or stopped breathing, call or text 911. Say the substance, amount, time, age and symptoms. Do not wait if breathing or consciousness is affected.
Suicide or mental health crisis Call or text 988. Use 911 for immediate danger. Say where the person is, whether there is immediate danger and whether they have access to harmful items.

Best calling strategy

Start every call with your town, county and exact problem. Vermont services often depend on where you live, whether you need a statewide program or a local office, and whether the issue is medical, environmental, records-related, food-related, school-related or urgent. A resident asking for WIC in Rutland, a school nurse reporting illness, a landlord asking about lead rules, a parent requesting vaccine records, and a person ordering a death certificate should not all take the same route.

Main office address, hours and map

The Vermont Department of Health main office is listed at 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8300. The main phone numbers are 800-464-4343 and 802-863-7200. The contact page lists fax 802-865-7754, and TTY/TDD callers should dial 711 first. Posted office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM, closed on Vermont State holidays.

Before you contact the Waterbury office

  • Decide whether your issue is statewide or local.
  • Use your local health office for many WIC, school, family health and community services.
  • Use the Vital Records section for certified record copies.
  • Use the lab pages for water and radon test-kit ordering and sample drop-off rules.
  • Use 911 for immediate emergencies, not a routine public health contact form.

Do not send sensitive information casually

  • Do not email private medical details unless an official page or program instructs you to do so.
  • Do not fax records until you confirm the correct program and fax route.
  • Do not use the general contact page for an urgent disease report if immediate reporting is required.
  • Do not rely on third-party vital-record ordering sites when official Vermont routes are available.

Vermont local health offices: find the office that serves your town

The Vermont Department of Health has 12 local health offices around the state. These offices provide health services and promote wellness in local communities. They work with individuals, families, schools, workplaces, towns, health care providers and local organizations. The local office is often the best first stop for WIC, family and child health, immunizations, infectious disease follow-up, school health, emergency preparedness, tobacco prevention, healthy homes and community prevention programs.

The official local office page also provides a town lookup tool, which is important because Vermonters do not always know which office serves their town. Do not guess based only on the nearest city. Use the local office lookup if you are unsure.

Local office Toll-free and local phone Good for
Barre 888-253-8786 or 802-479-4200 Local WIC, family health, school health, immunizations, infectious disease and community programs.
Bennington 800-637-7347 or 802-447-3531 Local family health, WIC, school health, immunizations and community prevention.
Brattleboro 888-253-8805 or 802-257-2880 Local WIC, dental health, school health, immunizations, infectious disease and community services.
Burlington 888-253-8803 or 802-863-7323 Chittenden-area WIC, family and child health, school health and community health programs.
Middlebury 888-253-8804 or 802-388-4644 Addison-area WIC, family health, school health and immunization support.
Morrisville 888-253-8798 or 802-888-7447 Lamoille-area WIC, family health, school health, immunizations and healthy homes.
Newport 800-952-2945 or 802-334-6707 Northeast Kingdom local public health services, WIC, dental health and family health.
Rutland 888-253-8802 or 802-786-5811 Rutland-area appointments, WIC, school health, immunizations and community programs.
St. Albans 888-253-8801 or 802-524-7970 Franklin and Grand Isle area WIC, family health, immunizations and prevention programs.
St. Johnsbury 800-952-2936 or 802-748-5151 Caledonia-area WIC, family health, school health, immunizations and healthy homes.
Springfield 888-296-8151 or 802-289-0600 Windsor-area family health, WIC, immunizations, infectious disease and school health.
White River Junction 888-253-8799 or 802-295-8820 Upper Valley-area WIC, family health, immunizations, school health and infectious disease support.

Open Vermont local health offices

Local office warning

Do not pick a local office only because it feels closest. Vermont’s official lookup tools are better than guessing. Your town, school, program, appointment type and county may affect the right local route.

Vermont WIC: phone, local offices and what families should prepare

Vermont WIC helps eligible pregnant people, postpartum parents, breastfeeding parents, infants and children. WIC can help with nutrition education, breastfeeding support, healthy foods, referrals and community resources. For Vermont WIC help, contact the Health Department at 800-464-4343 or 802-863-7200, or contact your local health office.

WIC is not the same as a vital-records request, Medicaid eligibility office, hospital clinic or emergency medical care. It is a nutrition and family health program. Families should call early if they are pregnant, recently delivered, breastfeeding, caring for an infant or caring for a child under five. Do not wait until benefits, formula questions or appointment deadlines become urgent.

Prepare before a WIC call

  • Your town and nearest local health office.
  • Pregnancy status or child age.
  • Contact information and appointment availability.
  • Income, benefits or household information if requested.
  • Breastfeeding, formula, nutrition or shopping questions.

Ask these questions

  • Which local office serves my town?
  • Can I complete part of the appointment by phone or video?
  • What proof do I need?
  • How do I transfer WIC from another state?
  • Where do I get help with breastfeeding or WIC shopping?

Open Vermont WIC   Apply to WIC

Vaccines, immunization records and school requirements

Vermont’s immunization pages are important for parents, schools, child care providers, college students, health care providers and adults who need vaccination guidance. Vermont mandates annual immunization reporting for regulated child care programs, K-12 schools and colleges. The state’s school entry immunization rule sets minimum vaccination requirements, and an official immunization record must be presented to the school upon admission.

For children and teens, Vermont says the Health Department provides all recommended childhood vaccines to health care providers free of charge. Providers may charge a small administration fee, which is typically covered by insurance. For adults, Vermont also says the Health Department provides recommended adult vaccines to primary care providers free of charge, and adults without insurance may be able to receive vaccines at no cost by contacting a local health office.

Vaccine need Best route What to prepare
Child or teen vaccine Start with your primary care provider or local health office. Prior vaccine record, insurance information, school forms and deadline.
Adult vaccine Primary care office, OB-GYN office, pharmacy or local health office. Age, health conditions, prior records, insurance and vaccine needed.
School entry requirement School nurse, child care provider, primary care provider or local health office. Official immunization record, exemption documentation if applicable, and admission deadline.
Copy of vaccine records Use Vermont Immunization Registry request information. Identity information, guardian relationship for minors, and secure request details.

Parent and school deadline advice

Do not wait until the first week of school to solve missing vaccine records. If the record is missing, incomplete, from another state, held by an old provider, or tied to an exemption question, the answer may take longer than one phone call. Ask the school exactly what document is required, then contact the provider or local health office early.

Open Vermont vaccine information   Recommended vaccines for children and teens   Recommended vaccines for adults

Vermont vital records: birth, death, marriage, divorce and civil union records

The Vermont Department of Health issues certified and noncertified copies of Vermont vital records for births, deaths, marriages, civil unions, divorces and civil union dissolutions. The Vital Records phone numbers are 800-439-5008 within Vermont and 802-863-7275. The official Vital Records email is listed by the state as VitalRecords@vermont.gov.

For many people in Vermont, the fastest and cheapest route is not a statewide online order. Vermont says that if you are in Vermont, the fastest and cheapest way to get a copy of a vital record is to order it directly from your town or city clerk. Town and city clerks can issue certified and noncertified copies of many records, including birth or death certificates from January 1, 1909 to the present, certain earlier birth or death certificates if filed in their office, and marriage or civil union certificates on file in their office.

Vital record need Best Vermont route Resident note
Birth or death certificate from 1909 to present Town or city clerk if you are in Vermont, or Vermont Vital Records online or by mail. Town or city clerk may be faster and cheaper for in-state residents.
Marriage or civil union certificate Town or city clerk where the record is on file, or Vermont Vital Records depending on record type. Know the town, date and names before ordering.
Divorce or civil union dissolution Use official Vermont Vital Records ordering instructions. The record type and year matter. Verify whether the Health Department, court or archives route applies.
Out-of-state record Contact the state where the event occurred. Vermont cannot issue a birth, death, marriage or divorce record from another state.
Online order Official Vermont Vital Records ordering service. The state notes an online processing fee for online orders.
  1. Identify the event type. Birth, death, marriage, civil union, divorce and civil union dissolution use different details.
  2. Confirm the state. Vermont can only issue Vermont records.
  3. Check whether your town or city clerk is faster. This is often best for Vermont residents.
  4. Use the official order page. Avoid third-party confusion unless you knowingly choose an authorized route.
  5. Prepare ID and payment. Requirements can vary by record type, certified versus noncertified copy and order method.

Open Vermont Vital Records   Order Vermont vital records

Environmental health: food, lodging, lead, asbestos and healthy homes

The Vermont Department of Health handles a large set of environmental health programs. For everyday users, the most common needs are food and lodging licensing or complaints, healthy homes, lead poisoning prevention, asbestos and lead regulatory questions, drinking water guidance, radon test kits, water testing, school and child care environmental health, and consumer routing when another agency is responsible.

For food and lodging, the Vermont Department of Health Food and Lodging Program lists phone 802-863-7221 or 800-439-8550 toll-free within Vermont. The Food and Lodging Program regulates and provides guidance for food and lodging settings, but not every complaint belongs there. FDA-regulated products, rental housing concerns, senior residential communities, dairy and meat products may route to different agencies.

Food and lodging

Use the Food and Lodging Program for food service, lodging, licenses, inspection questions and concerns within its jurisdiction. Call 802-863-7221 or 800-439-8550 in Vermont.

Open Food and Lodging Program

Lead and healthy homes

Use Healthy Homes and lead poisoning prevention resources for lead, asbestos, rental housing questions within program scope, school and child care environmental concerns, and safer renovation guidance.

Open Healthy Homes

Asbestos and lead rules

Use asbestos and lead requirement pages for licensed contractors, property owners, landlords, municipal officials, schools and child care providers.

Open asbestos and lead requirements

Complaint routing matters

If your complaint involves a restaurant, lodging establishment, food manufactured outside Vermont, rental housing, assisted living, nursing home, dairy product or meat product, do not assume one form handles everything. Vermont’s Food and Lodging pages explain which concerns the program can follow up on and which concerns must go to FDA, Public Safety, DAIL, or the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

Water testing, radon kits and Public Health Laboratory help

The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory provides testing for public and private drinking water. The lab pages are useful for private well owners, renters, landlords, municipalities, food and lodging businesses, farm operators and anyone who needs test-kit ordering or sample drop-off information. Vermont says about four out of 10 households drink water from private wells or springs, so the private drinking water guidance is not a small edge case.

For water and radon test kits, the lab lists phone ordering through 802-338-4724 or 800-660-9997 toll-free in Vermont. Radon test kit information is also routed through 800-439-8550. The lab also provides water and radon test-kit order forms, online ordering for water and radon test kits, drop-off locations and sample acceptance instructions.

Testing need Official route Do this before ordering
Private drinking water test Vermont Department of Health Laboratory drinking water testing pages Know whether you need bacteria, chemicals, metals, routine private well testing or a specific problem test.
Water test kit order Call 802-338-4724 or 800-660-9997 in Vermont, or use the official lab ordering pages. Read sample acceptance and timing rules. Some samples must be dropped off quickly.
Radon test kit Order through the lab webstore or call the listed test-kit phone numbers; radon information is at 800-439-8550. Know whether you need radon in air testing and follow placement and timing instructions.
Sample drop-off Use the official lab sample drop-off page. Check drop-off locations and hours before collecting the sample.

Open drinking water testing   Open lab forms and ordering   Open drinking water health guidance

Disease reporting, rabies, tick bites and urgent health routing

The Vermont Department of Health tracks and responds to infectious diseases and outbreaks. For immediately reportable disease findings, Vermont lists the Infectious Disease Program phone as 802-863-7240 or 1-800-640-4374 within Vermont during business hours. Vermont also states that an epidemiologist is available 24/7 for immediately reportable diseases.

For schools, child care, providers and labs, timing matters. Routine questions can go through a local health office or the infectious disease pages. Immediately reportable findings should follow the official reporting procedure. Labs that cannot report electronically may have fax or weekly reporting options, but immediately reportable findings should be called in as instructed.

Rabies and animal bites

If an animal bites you or your pet, Vermont advises washing the bite wound well with soap and running water, contacting your doctor and town health officer, and following their instructions. If the animal is wild, contact the Rabies Hotline at 1-800-4-RABIES or 1-800-472-2437, or a game warden.

Open Vermont rabies guidance

Infectious disease reporting

Health care providers in Vermont are required to report certain infectious diseases. Reports help epidemiologists track spread, identify people who may need preventive treatment, and control outbreaks.

Open infectious disease reporting

Emergency rule

For immediate danger, severe injury, collapse, stopped breathing, overdose, severe allergic reaction, suicidal crisis with immediate danger, or any life-threatening emergency, call or text 911. For suicide or mental health crisis support, call or text 988. For poisoning when the person has not collapsed or stopped breathing, call the Northern New England Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Health data, public records and public health alerts

The Vermont Department of Health publishes public health data, dashboards, reports, statistics and health alerts. The A-Z Data Library helps users find data by topic. The Health Statistics and Vital Records section includes vital records, public health GIS, registries and reports. The News Room and Health Alerts pages help residents and professionals watch for changing public health notices.

If you are a journalist, researcher, student, grant writer, local official, school administrator or public health partner, do not cite a random third-party statistic when the Vermont Department of Health publishes official data. Use the A-Z library, topic dashboards, vital statistics reports, public health GIS pages and official news releases.

A-Z Data Library

Use this for topic-based Vermont public health data and reports.

Open A-Z Data Library

Health alerts

Use health alerts and advisories for timely public health updates and provider information.

Open Health Alerts

Public records

Use official public records request channels for department records rather than informal email requests.

Open Public Records

What the Vermont Department of Health does not handle

A strong directory page should prevent the wrong next step. The Vermont Department of Health is important, but not every health-adjacent task belongs there.

If you need Do not use Correct route
Emergency medical care Main Health Department phone or contact form Call 911 or go to emergency care.
Private hospital appointment or bill Vermont Department of Health Contact the hospital, clinic or UVM Health office that provided care.
Health insurance enrollment or plan account help VDH as your first stop Use Vermont Health Connect or the appropriate benefits program.
Fast in-state vital-record copy Only online ordering without checking local route Your town or city clerk may be fastest and cheapest for many records.
Rental housing code enforcement Food and Lodging Program unless it specifically applies Follow the Health Department’s referral guidance, often involving other state or local agencies.
A record from another state Vermont Vital Records Contact the state where the birth, death, marriage, divorce or civil union event occurred.

Official Vermont Department of Health links

Use official links for final verification before visiting, paying, submitting a request, relying on a deadline or reporting a public health concern.

Vermont Department of Health FAQ

What is the Vermont Department of Health phone number?

The main Vermont Department of Health phone numbers are 800-464-4343 and 802-863-7200. The department fax is 802-865-7754, and TTY/TDD callers should dial 711 first.

Where is the Vermont Department of Health located?

The main office is listed at 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8300. Many services are also provided through Vermont’s 12 local health offices.

What are Vermont Department of Health office hours?

The main department contact page lists office hours as Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM. The department is closed on Vermont State holidays. Local office appointment availability can differ, so call your local office before visiting.

Who is the Vermont Commissioner of Health in 2026?

The Vermont Department of Health leadership page lists Dr. Rick Hildebrant as Commissioner of Health. Julie Arel is listed as Deputy Health Commissioner.

How do I contact Vermont Vital Records?

Call 800-439-5008 within Vermont or 802-863-7275. Vermont Vital Records handles certified and noncertified copies of Vermont birth, death, marriage, civil union, divorce and civil union dissolution records.

Is a town clerk faster for Vermont birth or death certificates?

Often, yes. Vermont says that if you are in Vermont, the fastest and cheapest way to get a copy of a vital record is usually to order directly from your town or city clerk, depending on the record type and year.

How do I find my Vermont local health office?

Use the official Vermont local health office page and town lookup. Vermont has local offices in Barre, Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Middlebury, Morrisville, Newport, Rutland, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, Springfield and White River Junction.

How do I contact Vermont WIC?

For Vermont WIC help, call 800-464-4343 or 802-863-7200, or contact your local health office. WIC helps eligible pregnant people, postpartum parents, breastfeeding parents, infants and children.

Where do I order Vermont water or radon test kits?

Use the Vermont Department of Health Laboratory forms and ordering pages. For water and radon test-kit ordering, call 802-338-4724 or 800-660-9997 toll-free within Vermont. Radon information is also routed through 800-439-8550.

Who handles food and lodging questions in Vermont?

The Vermont Department of Health Food and Lodging Program handles many food service and lodging questions. Call 802-863-7221 or 800-439-8550 toll-free within Vermont. Some complaints route to other agencies, so read the program guidance before submitting.

What do I do after an animal bite in Vermont?

Wash the bite wound well with soap and running water, contact your doctor and town health officer, and follow their instructions. If a wild animal is involved, contact the Rabies Hotline at 1-800-4-RABIES or 1-800-472-2437, or contact a game warden. Use 911 for immediate danger.

How do providers report infectious diseases in Vermont?

For immediately reportable findings, call the Infectious Disease Program at 802-863-7240 or 1-800-640-4374 within Vermont during business hours. Vermont says an epidemiologist is available 24/7 for immediately reportable diseases.

Is the Vermont Department of Health the same as Vermont Health Connect?

No. The Vermont Department of Health is the state public health agency. Vermont Health Connect is the state health insurance marketplace. If you need insurance enrollment or plan account help, use Vermont Health Connect or the appropriate benefits program.

What number should I call for poisoning or crisis help?

For poisoning, call the Northern New England Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. If the person collapsed or stopped breathing, call or text 911. For suicide or mental health crisis support, call or text 988.

Leave a Comment