Last reviewed 2026. This guide is for the Howard County Health Department in Howard County, Maryland. It is built for residents who need the correct phone number, clinic route, official service page, birth or death certificate path, complaint contact, Medicaid help, WIC support, immunization information, environmental health help or behavioral health referral without guessing.
Howard County Health Department Phone Guide for Columbia, Ellicott City, Laurel and Nearby Maryland Residents
The Howard County Health Department is the local public health agency serving Howard County, Maryland. The main public contact number is 410-313-6300, and many clinic and program services are based at 8930 Stanford Blvd, Columbia, MD 21045. Use this page to choose the right office before you call, visit, request certificates, report a health complaint, schedule a vaccine visit or ask for health insurance help.
This article is for Howard County, Maryland. Do not use this page for Howard County, Indiana or any other Howard County in another state. The Maryland department uses Howard County Government pages at howardcountymd.gov, and its main Columbia health location is on Stanford Boulevard.
- Agency
- Howard County Health Department, Maryland
- Official website
- https://www.howardcountymd.gov/health
- Main location
- 8930 Stanford Blvd, Columbia, MD 21045
- Main phone
- 410-313-6300
- Columbia Health Center
- 8930 Stanford Blvd, Columbia, MD 21045. Phone: 410-313-1412
- Clinic services
- Child immunizations, adult immunizations, sexual and reproductive health, STI services and related clinic questions: 410-313-7500
- Health Officer
- Dr. Maura J. Rossman is listed as the Howard County Health Officer.
- Emergency route
- Always call 911 for emergencies. For non-urgent after-hours contact, Howard County lists 410-313-2200.
Quick answer: what the Howard County Health Department helps with
The Howard County Health Department helps residents, workers, students, families and visitors with public health services in Howard County, Maryland. The most searched needs are vaccines, school immunization questions, adult immunizations, WIC, birth and death certificates, sexual and reproductive health, STI testing and treatment, HIV and PrEP services, TB questions, infectious disease reporting, Medicaid and health insurance enrollment help, food safety complaints, environmental health concerns, behavioral health referrals and community resource navigation.
The first rule is simple: do not assume the main phone number is always the best number. The general line is useful for broad questions, but clinic appointments, WIC, Environmental Health, Behavioral Health, Access to Health Care, Community Hygiene, Food Protection and TB all have more direct routes. Howard County is a large, busy county; residents from Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge, Laurel, Savage, Jessup, Clarksville, Fulton, Highland, Dayton, Glenwood, Cooksville, Lisbon, Scaggsville and nearby communities can save time by calling the correct program first.
General Health Inquiries
410-313-6300Use this number when you are not sure which Health Department program applies, or when you need birth and death certificate guidance from the Health Department administrative office.
Clinic Services
410-313-7500Use this number for child immunizations, adult immunizations, sexual and reproductive health, STI services, HIV and PrEP questions, and many clinic appointment questions.
Emergency Help
911For a medical emergency, severe injury, overdose, life-threatening symptoms, violent crisis, serious bite injury or urgent danger, call 911 first.
Howard County Health Department phone numbers by service
The phone table below is the practical routing tool. Read the service description before dialing. Many calls that feel like a general Health Department issue are actually best handled by a specific bureau, clinic or program.
| Need | Correct phone or route | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| General Howard County Health Department questions | 410-313-6300 | Ask which program handles your service, certificate, complaint, form or clinic need. |
| Columbia Health Center | 410-313-1412 | Use for Columbia Health Center routing and some infectious disease-related program contacts. |
| Childhood immunization | 410-313-7500 | Ask about vaccine eligibility, school vaccine requirements, appointment availability and what records to bring. |
| Adult immunization | 410-313-7500 | Ask about appointment-only vaccines for uninsured or under-insured adults age 19 and older. |
| Sexual and reproductive health, STI services, HIV and PrEP | 410-313-7500 | Ask about in-person clinics, telehealth, STI testing, treatment, birth control, pregnancy testing, HIV testing or PrEP. |
| WIC | 410-313-7510 | Ask about WIC eligibility, appointments, nutrition counseling and breastfeeding support. |
| Behavioral Health resources and referrals | 410-313-6202 | Ask for Behavioral Health Navigation, mental health or substance use resource referral help. |
| Health Improvement Coalition | 410-313-6204 | Ask about local health improvement, community health initiatives and coalition resources. |
| Health insurance, Medicaid and access to care | 410-313-5845 | Ask about Medicaid enrollment, health insurance application help, coverage renewal or Medicaid transportation support. |
| Environmental Health walk-in services or inspections | 410-313-2640 | Ask about Environmental Health walk-in services, permits, inspections or animal-bite-related environmental health routing. |
| Food Protection Program | 410-313-1772 | Ask about food facility questions, suspected foodborne illness, food safety concerns or plan review scheduling. |
| Community Hygiene health complaint | 410-313-1773 | Ask about unsafe or unhealthy conditions such as rodents, trash, nuisance properties or commercial noise complaints. |
| Tuberculosis Control Program | 410-313-0622 | Ask about TB questions from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. |
| Emergency | 911 | Use for emergencies, life-threatening situations and urgent danger. |
| Non-urgent after-hours county contact | 410-313-2200 | Use only for non-urgent after-hours routing when the Health Department offices are closed. |
How to get routed faster when you call
Start your call with one clean sentence: “I live in Howard County, Maryland, and I need help with child immunizations, WIC, a birth certificate, a food complaint, Medicaid enrollment, STI testing, TB, Behavioral Health referral, or Environmental Health.” Staff can route a clear service request faster than a long story.
Have your address, phone number, patient date of birth, school paperwork, vaccine record, insurance card, Medicaid information, business name, complaint location, or certificate details ready. The best callers are not aggressive; they are specific.
Howard County Health Department address, map and visiting tips
The commonly used Health Department location is 8930 Stanford Blvd, Columbia, MD 21045. Several health programs, clinic services and administrative functions use this Columbia location. Before you drive there, confirm whether your service is walk-in, appointment-only, phone-first or handled by a different department.
Before you visit Stanford Boulevard
- Call the correct program first if you are unsure.
- Bring identification and any paperwork tied to the service.
- For immunizations, bring the child’s or adult’s vaccine record.
- For access-to-care help, bring insurance, Medicaid, income or household details if requested.
- For complaints, bring the exact address, business name, date, time and a concise description.
When not to walk in blindly
- Do not assume clinic services are available without appointment or provider availability.
- Do not use clinic services for an emergency. Call 911.
- Do not report apartment rental housing complaints to the wrong program; some rental housing issues are routed to inspections and licensing.
- Do not assume certificate services have the same hours as every other Health Department program.
Howard County service area and nearby communities
The Howard County Health Department serves Howard County, Maryland. That includes residents in and around Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge, Laurel, Savage, Jessup, Clarksville, Fulton, Highland, Dayton, Glenwood, Cooksville, Lisbon, Marriottsville, West Friendship, Scaggsville and surrounding areas. Some programs may serve people who live, work, study or receive care in Howard County, while other services depend on Maryland residency, insurance status, age, income, school requirements or medical eligibility.
Child and adult immunizations in Howard County
The Health Department offers childhood immunizations for eligible children through the Vaccines for Children program. The official childhood immunization page says to call 410-313-7500 for more information or to make an appointment. It also says families must bring the child’s immunization record, and a parent or guardian must accompany the child to the clinic appointment.
For the 2026-27 school year, Maryland’s updated immunization requirements are available through the Maryland Department of Health. Howard County’s child immunization page highlights common school gaps: final DTaP, polio, MMR and varicella doses for many younger children, and Tdap plus MCV4 for 7th grade students. If your child is entering a Maryland school for the first time or you moved from another state or country, do not wait until the last week before school starts.
Child immunization checklist
- Find your child’s full vaccine record before calling.
- Check whether your child has private insurance, Medical Assistance or no vaccine coverage.
- Call 410-313-7500 for eligibility and appointment guidance.
- Bring the vaccine record and school paperwork to the appointment.
- Keep a clean copy of the updated immunization record after the visit.
Important insurance warning
The county’s childhood immunization information says private health insurance is not accepted at this time for child immunization through the Health Department. Children with private health insurance should schedule immunization appointments with their primary care provider.
Adult immunizations
The official adult immunization page lists select immunizations for uninsured or under-insured adults age 19 and older. Adult immunizations are scheduled by appointment only at the Columbia Health Center. Call 410-313-7500 for more information and to make an appointment.
Do not wait until August if your child is missing school vaccines. Clinics, pediatric offices and school offices all get busy before the academic year. If your child needs DTaP, polio, MMR, varicella, Tdap or MCV4 documentation, start early and keep copies of every record you receive.
Sexual, reproductive, STI, HIV and PrEP services
Howard County Health Department provides sexual and reproductive health services for women, men, teens and LGBTQIA+ communities. The official page says there is no residency requirement, no one is turned away because of ability to pay, services are confidential, and parental consent is not needed regardless of age. The department provides both onsite and telehealth services and accepts new patients. Call 410-313-7500 for more information.
| Clinic item | What the county lists | Resident action |
|---|---|---|
| In-person clinic at Howard County Health Department | Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM; Friday 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM. | Call 410-313-7500 to schedule or ask if walk-ins or provider availability are possible that day. |
| Telehealth services | Telehealth availability is listed by appointment and call-for-availability. | Ask whether your service can be handled by telehealth or needs an in-person visit. |
| STI testing and treatment | The Health Department provides STI education, screening and treatment services. | Call 410-313-7500. For more information or testing questions, some STI page information also points to 410-313-1412. |
| HIV and PrEP | HIV services, PrEP and related support are part of the Health Department’s clinic information. | Call 410-313-7500 and ask about HIV testing, PrEP eligibility or appointment options. |
For privacy-sensitive services, call before arriving and ask what information you must provide, what payment or fee scale applies, and whether same-day provider availability exists. Do not use email for urgent symptoms, emergency contraception timing questions, severe pain, suspected assault, severe allergic reaction or any emergency. Use emergency care or 911 when needed.
WIC and family nutrition support
The Howard County WIC Program helps pregnant people, new parents, infants and children under age five with healthy foods, nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and referrals. The WIC phone number is 410-313-7510. The official WIC page is Women, Infants & Children (WIC).
Call WIC when you need
- WIC eligibility information.
- A WIC appointment.
- Nutrition counseling.
- Breastfeeding support.
- Infant or child nutrition help.
- Referral to related health and community services.
Prepare before calling
- Know whether the appointment is for pregnancy, postpartum care, breastfeeding, an infant or a child under five.
- Have your address, phone number and household information ready.
- Ask what proof of income, benefits, identity or residency is needed.
- Ask if any forms should be completed by a healthcare provider.
Access to Health Care Services, Medicaid and health insurance help
The Bureau of Access to Health Care Services helps residents with health insurance application support, Medicaid navigation and transportation scheduling for Medicaid recipients who need necessary medical treatment. The official Access to Health Care Services page lists 410-313-5845 and support at 8930 Stanford Blvd, Columbia, MD 21045. It also lists Monday through Friday hours for health insurance and access-to-care help.
Use this program if you are trying to apply for coverage, renew Medicaid, update contact details, understand special enrollment options, ask about Maryland Health Connection, or get help navigating Medicaid. If you moved, changed phone numbers or changed email addresses, do not ignore renewal mail. Wrong contact information can cause people to miss important coverage notices.
- Call 410-313-5845 before visiting. Ask what documents you need and whether your issue can be handled by phone, email or in person.
- Gather household details. Bring or prepare income, household size, address, identification, insurance notices and Medicaid documents if requested.
- Ask about deadlines. Medicaid renewals and special enrollment periods are time-sensitive.
- Use the correct system. The Health Department can help residents navigate coverage, but benefit decisions and state systems may involve Maryland Health Connection or Maryland agencies.
Behavioral Health and community resource navigation
Howard County Health Department lists Behavioral Health resources and referrals at 410-313-6202. Behavioral Health Navigation can help connect residents to mental health and substance use resources, information and referrals. This is not the same as emergency crisis response. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or use an appropriate crisis line.
Howard County also promotes CAREAPP, a local resource tool that helps people find programs for food, health, housing, transportation, education, employment assistance and other social needs. This is useful when the problem is bigger than a clinic appointment. A resident may need insurance help, food support, housing help and behavioral health navigation at the same time, and CAREAPP can help identify community programs.
Call Behavioral Health when you need
- Help finding mental health resources.
- Substance use referral information.
- Behavioral Health Navigation.
- Adult, youth or family support routing.
- Information about local behavioral health programs.
Do not wait if it is urgent
If someone may harm themselves or another person, if there is a violent emergency, overdose, psychosis-related danger, severe withdrawal or immediate medical risk, treat it as urgent. Call 911 or use emergency crisis resources rather than waiting for routine office hours.
Environmental Health, health complaints and food protection
Environmental Health is the route for many everyday public health problems that are not clinic visits. This includes food safety, health complaints, community hygiene, inspections, animal-bite-related environmental health routing, regulated facilities and other conditions that may pose a public health risk.
The Environmental Health page lists walk-in, no-appointment-needed services between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM for certain services. For questions about walk-in services or scheduling an inspection, search results from the county page point residents to 410-313-2640. For health complaints, use Community Hygiene at 410-313-1773. For suspected illness from spoiled or bad food, contact the Food Protection Program right away at 410-313-1772.
| Issue | Best Howard County route | Practical details to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Food facility concern or suspected foodborne illness | Food Protection Program, 410-313-1772 | Business name, address, date and time, food eaten, symptoms, number of people affected and receipt if available. |
| Rodents, trash, nuisance condition, commercial noise or unhealthy property condition | Community Hygiene Program, 410-313-1773, or official Health Complaint Form | Exact location, photographs if available, dates, landlord or business information if known and your contact details. |
| New restaurant or food service facility plan question | Food Protection Program, 410-313-1772 | The county offers Wednesday morning slots for unusual food-service plan questions; call to schedule between 8:30 AM and 12:00 PM. |
| Environmental Health walk-in or inspection question | 410-313-2640 | Explain whether you need permit, inspection, animal bite, environmental health or facility guidance. |
| Apartment or rental housing complaint | Check whether Inspections, Licenses and Permits is the correct route | The Health Complaint page says rental housing complaints may route to the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits. |
A strong complaint is specific. “Restaurant was dirty” is weaker than “On May 3 at about 7:15 PM, at this business address, I saw this condition and became ill after eating this food.” Howard County may need your contact information, and an inspector may contact you for details. The county says it will not reveal who made the complaint while investigating.
Infectious disease, TB, tick-borne disease and provider reporting
Howard County Health Department helps respond to reportable illnesses, outbreaks, foodborne illness concerns, TB, hepatitis, tick-borne disease and other infectious disease issues. Providers who need to submit a reportable illness case to the Health Department are directed to call 410-313-1412 and may use the infectious disease email listed on the county page for assistance.
The county’s infectious disease information notes that reportable illnesses can include foodborne illnesses, hepatitis, tuberculosis, Lyme disease, meningitis, polio and outbreaks. The Health Department may contact people as part of an investigation to help prevent spread. This is public health work, not punishment. Accurate dates, symptoms, exposure locations and contact information matter.
Tuberculosis Control Program
For TB questions, Howard County lists 410-313-0622 from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. TB concerns can involve testing, latent TB referrals, active TB investigation, contacts of active cases and provider consultation.
Tick-borne disease
Howard County’s infectious disease page states that Lyme disease is endemic in Howard County. If you are bitten by a tick, remove it safely, watch for symptoms and contact a healthcare provider for medical advice.
What to do if you think you have a reportable illness exposure
- Get medical care when symptoms are urgent. Do not wait for routine public health follow-up if you are severely ill.
- Write down the timeline. Include date of exposure, symptoms, testing date, healthcare visit and locations.
- Keep contact information current. Public health staff may need to reach you quickly.
- Follow isolation or exposure guidance from healthcare providers or public health officials.
- For provider reporting, use the official infectious disease reporting phone listed by the county.
Birth and death certificates through Howard County Health Department
Howard County’s Birth and Death Certificates page is an important service page for residents who need certified records. The official page lists the Health Department Administrative Offices Vital Records Office and public service hours of Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. If you have questions, the page points residents to 410-313-6300.
Do not assume that birth and death certificate rules are the same as clinic rules. Eligibility, identification, certificate type, office hours, state record limits and fee details can be different from immunization or clinic services. If you were born before an older record cutoff, if you need a record for someone else, if you need a death certificate or if you are ordering for legal, passport, school, estate or insurance reasons, review the official page before visiting.
| Certificate need | Best route | Do not make this mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Use the official Birth and Death Certificates page or call 410-313-6300. | Do not assume any family member can obtain any certificate without required proof or eligibility. |
| Death certificate | Use the same official Vital Records route listed by the Health Department. | Do not wait until an insurance, estate or funeral-related deadline is already urgent. |
| Fee or payment question | Verify on the official page or call before visiting. | Do not rely on old third-party fee pages. Vital-record fees can change. |
| Older or special record | Read the official instructions first and call 410-313-6300 if unclear. | Do not drive to the office without knowing whether the local office can issue the record. |
Fees, insurance and payment expectations
Public health services do not all follow one payment rule. Childhood immunizations, adult immunizations, sexual and reproductive health, WIC, Medicaid enrollment help, vital records and Environmental Health permits or plan reviews can each have different rules. This is why a useful resident guide should not invent one fee table for the whole department.
| Service category | What to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Child immunization | Eligibility, appointment need, required record and insurance rule. | The child immunization page says private health insurance is not accepted at this time for that clinic route. |
| Adult immunization | Whether your vaccine is available, whether you are uninsured or under-insured and whether an appointment is open. | Adult immunizations are appointment-only and limited to select vaccines and eligibility groups. |
| Sexual and reproductive health | Sliding fee, telehealth availability, provider availability and confidential service route. | The county says no one is turned away because of ability to pay, but you should still ask what payment information is requested. |
| WIC | Income, pregnancy or child eligibility, documents and appointment process. | WIC is a benefit program with eligibility rules, not a walk-in grocery program. |
| Birth and death certificates | Current certificate fee, identity proof, eligibility and office hours. | Vital records have separate rules and hours from many clinic services. |
| Environmental Health | Inspection, permit, complaint, plan review or business process requirements. | Food and environmental reviews often need forms, dates, plans or inspection scheduling. |
What the Howard County Health Department does not handle
A good public health directory should stop residents from taking the wrong route. The Howard County Health Department is not the correct first stop for every health-adjacent issue in the county.
Medical emergency
Call 911. Do not call a routine clinic line if someone has chest pain, trouble breathing, severe allergic reaction, overdose, deep wound, violent crisis, severe bite injury or life-threatening symptoms.
Private doctor or hospital medical records
Contact the provider, hospital or clinic that created the record. Howard County Health Department can only guide you on records connected to its own services or public health programs.
Rental housing code enforcement
Some apartment or rental housing complaints may route to Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits rather than the Health Department complaint line.
Other Howard Counties
If you need Howard County, Indiana or another state’s health department, do not use Maryland phone numbers or Maryland certificate pages.
Official Howard County Health Department links
Use these official links for final verification before you call, visit, apply, submit a complaint, request a record or rely on a deadline.
Main pages
Immunization and clinic
Sexual health and infectious disease
WIC, family and insurance
Environmental health and complaints
Records and behavioral health
Howard County Maryland vs Howard County Indiana and other results
Search results can mix together places with the same county name. This is especially dangerous for health departments because phone numbers, birth certificates, disease reporting, food complaints and vaccine rules are local. Use the address and state as your filter before calling.
Howard County, Maryland
Official site: howardcountymd.gov. Main Health Department location: 8930 Stanford Blvd, Columbia, MD 21045. Main phone: 410-313-6300.
Howard County, Indiana
If you are in Kokomo or Howard County, Indiana, use Indiana’s local health department route, not the Maryland numbers on this page.
Hospital or private clinic
If you are trying to reach Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center, a private physician, urgent care or pharmacy, use that provider’s contact details instead.
Old third-party directory listings
Some older directory pages may show outdated addresses or phone numbers. For public health services, use the official Howard County Government pages first.
Howard County Health Department FAQ
What is the Howard County Health Department phone number?
The main Howard County Health Department phone number is 410-313-6300. For clinic services such as child immunizations, adult immunizations, sexual and reproductive health, STI services, HIV and PrEP questions, call 410-313-7500.
Where is the Howard County Health Department located?
The commonly used Health Department location is 8930 Stanford Blvd, Columbia, MD 21045. Call the specific program before visiting because some services are appointment-only, phone-first or have different service hours.
What number do I call for child immunizations in Howard County?
Call 410-313-7500 for child immunization information or to make an appointment. Bring the child’s immunization record, and a parent or guardian must accompany the child to the clinic appointment.
Does Howard County Health Department accept private insurance for child immunization clinic visits?
The county’s childhood immunization page says private health insurance is not accepted at this time for its child immunization clinic route. Children with private health insurance should schedule immunization appointments with their primary care provider.
What number do I call for adult immunizations?
Call 410-313-7500. The adult immunization page lists select immunizations for uninsured or under-insured adults age 19 and older, scheduled by appointment only at the Columbia Health Center.
How do I contact Howard County WIC?
Call 410-313-7510 for the Howard County WIC Program. WIC helps eligible pregnant people, new parents, infants and children under age five with healthy foods, nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and referrals.
How do I report a health complaint in Howard County?
For unsafe or unhealthy conditions, call the Community Hygiene Program at 410-313-1773 or use the official Health Complaint Form. For suspected illness from spoiled or bad food, contact the Food Protection Program at 410-313-1772.
What number do I call for Behavioral Health resources?
Call 410-313-6202 for Behavioral Health resources, information and referrals. If there is immediate danger, severe crisis, overdose or life-threatening risk, call 911 instead.
Can the Howard County Health Department help with Medicaid or health insurance?
Yes. Call 410-313-5845 for Access to Health Care Services. The bureau helps with health insurance application support, Medicaid navigation and transportation scheduling for Medicaid recipients who need necessary medical treatment.
Where do I get a birth or death certificate in Howard County?
Use the Howard County Health Department Birth and Death Certificates page or call 410-313-6300. The official page lists the Health Department Administrative Offices Vital Records Office and Monday through Friday public service hours from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
What number do providers call for reportable illnesses?
Howard County Healthcare Providers who need to submit a reportable illness case to the Health Department are directed to call 410-313-1412. The county also lists an infectious disease email for provider assistance on its official infectious disease page.
What number do I call for TB questions?
Call the HCHD TB Control Program at 410-313-0622 from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.
Is Lyme disease a concern in Howard County?
Yes. Howard County’s infectious disease information states that Lyme disease is endemic in Howard County. If you are bitten by a tick, remove it safely, monitor for symptoms and contact a healthcare provider for medical advice.
Is this the official Howard County Health Department website?
No. This is an independent directory guide. For official services, fees, forms, appointments, certificates, public health notices and program updates, use howardcountymd.gov/health.