Suffolk County public health services, direct phone numbers and Long Island help
If you live in Brookhaven, Islip, Babylon, Huntington, Smithtown, Riverhead, Southampton, Southold, East Hampton, Shelter Island or another Suffolk County community, the fastest route usually depends on the exact service you need—not just the department’s main switchboard.
This guide separates public health, vaccines, WIC, food permits, septic and wastewater approvals, children’s services, health-center contacts, record requests and emergency routing so you can start with the right county program.
What does the Suffolk County Department of Health Services handle?
Suffolk County Department of Health Services covers much more than a single clinic. Its programs include disease surveillance and control, public-health protection, patient-care programs, immunizations, WIC, tuberculosis services, lead poisoning prevention, food safety, environmental quality, wastewater and septic approvals, children with special needs programs, public-health preparedness and community health work.
Vaccines, WIC, lead prevention, TB services, maternal and infant programs, health-center routing, early intervention and public-health guidance.
Wastewater approvals, septic systems, cesspool replacement, private-well and sanitary-system questions, permit status and environmental-health routing.
Food permits, plan review, restaurant inspections, temporary events, food complaints, public-health protection and related county sanitary requirements.
Suffolk County Department of Health phone numbers by service
Start with the exact issue instead of asking for “the health department.” A direct program number is usually faster for vaccines, food permits, wastewater, WIC, TB, lead prevention or child-development services.
| Service | Phone | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Health Services administration | 631-854-0000 | General department routing and administrative contact. |
| Public Health | 631-854-0333 | Communicable disease, epidemiology, public-health questions and current after-hours/weekend routing shown on the department homepage. |
| STD / HIV prevention and control | 631-854-0364 | Program-specific STI/HIV public-health questions and reporting. |
| Public Health Protection | 631-852-5900 | Public-health protection program routing. |
| Patient Care Services | 631-854-0200 | County patient-care programs and referrals. |
| Immunization Action Program | 631-854-0222 | Vaccine appointments, VFC/VFA questions and immunization program help. |
| WIC administrative office | 631-853-3014 | County WIC program routing and location help. |
| Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention | 631-854-0215 | Lead screening and prevention program questions. |
| Tuberculosis / Chest Diseases | 631-854-2200 | TB-control and Bureau of Chest Diseases questions. |
| Food Protection | 631-852-5999 | Food establishments, permits, inspections, complaints and temporary events. |
| Wastewater Management | 631-852-5700 | Septic, cesspool, sanitary-system, residential permit and application-status questions. |
| Children with Special Needs | 631-853-3100 | Early Intervention, preschool special education and children with special health care needs. |
Which Suffolk County Health Services division should you use?
Start with Public Health at 631-854-0333 for communicable disease control, epidemiology, vector-borne disease and related public-health routing.
Use the Immunization Action Program at 631-854-0222. Current county guidance says VFC/VFA vaccines at Great River are offered by appointment.
Use the WIC Program and choose the correct clinic location. Suffolk County lists WIC sites throughout the county rather than one universal walk-in counter.
Call Food Protection at 631-852-5999 for establishment permits, plan review, inspections, consumer complaints and temporary-event food permits.
Use the Office of Wastewater Management at 631-852-5700 before construction, expansion, cesspool replacement or sanitary-system work.
Call Services for Children with Special Needs at 631-853-3100 for Early Intervention, preschool special education or special-health-care-needs routing.
Immunization appointments and WIC help in Suffolk County
Immunization Action Program
Suffolk County’s Immunization Action Program lists its Great River office at 3500 Sunrise Highway, Building 300. The program says VFC/VFA vaccines are offered there by appointment, and residents can call 631-854-0222 for scheduling and vaccine questions.
Suffolk County WIC
The county WIC program has sites in Amityville, Brentwood, Coram, Huntington Station, Patchogue, Riverhead, Shirley, Southampton and Wyandanch. Most listed sites use Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday hours of 9 AM–5 PM and Thursday 10 AM–6 PM, although Huntington has different Tuesday and Friday hours.
Suffolk County affiliated community health centers
Suffolk County says its Patient Care division is affiliated with nine community health centers. These are separate care locations, so call the center directly for appointments, clinical services, insurance questions or current hours.
| Area | Health center | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Amityville | Sun River Health Maxine S. Postal Health Center | 631-716-9026 |
| Brentwood | Sun River Health Brentwood Health Center | 631-416-5480 |
| Coram | Sun River Health Elsie Owens Health Center | 631-320-2220 |
| Huntington / Greenlawn | Northwell Dolan Family Health Center | 631-425-5250 |
| Patchogue | Sun River Health Patchogue Health Center | 631-866-2030 |
| Riverhead | Sun River Health Riverhead Health Center | 631-574-2580 |
| Shirley | Sun River Health Marilyn Shellabarger Health Center | 631-490-3040 |
| Southampton | Sun River Health Kraus Family Health Center | 631-268-1008 |
| Wyandanch | Sun River Health Martin Luther King Jr. Health Center | 516-214-8020 |
Birth records, vaccine records and health department files use different routes
One of the easiest ways to lose time in Suffolk County is to ask the Department of Health Services for a record it does not maintain. Decide what record you actually need first.
Suffolk County Health Services says it does not maintain these records. Start with the appropriate town clerk, registrar or New York State Department of Health Vital Records service.
The department only maintains records for county health-center patients and vaccines administered through county immunization clinics. It does not hold every shot given by private doctors.
Wastewater Management may have septic-system information for certain properties. For older residential record searches, have the property tax map number and approximate original construction year ready.
Food permits, restaurant inspections and temporary events
Suffolk County’s Food Protection Program enforces county sanitary requirements for food service establishments. New businesses, food trucks, restaurants and temporary-event vendors should contact the program before opening or serving food.
If the location has not had a Suffolk County food permit within the prior two years, or construction or operational changes are involved, plan review and a pre-operational inspection may be required.
The county says plan submissions are reviewed within five business days, although the overall process can take several weeks depending on completeness and corrections.
When required, equipment should be installed, operational, cleaned and sanitized before inspection. Do not store or prepare food until the county authorizes operation.
Event organizer applications and fees should be received at least 21 days before the event, while individual food vendors should file at least 14 days before the event to avoid late fees.
Septic permits, cesspool replacement and Wastewater Management
For many Suffolk County homeowners, builders and buyers, “health department approval” really means the Office of Wastewater Management. That office handles county sanitary review tied to septic systems, cesspools, onsite wastewater systems, water-supply facilities and certain residential development projects.
360 Yaphank Avenue, Suite 2C, Yaphank, NY 11980. Main phone: 631-852-5700.
The current county page lists Monday through Friday, 9 AM–4 PM for in-person application/resubmission drop-off.
The county says submissions generally take 2–4 weeks to review; emergency replacement SHIP applications are typically reviewed the same day.
For new construction, additions, accessory apartments, sanitary upgrades or lot changes, confirm which application, survey and design-professional documents apply.
Suffolk County says priority is given to online submissions through its environmental-quality Citizen Portal.
After an application is accepted and assigned a reference number, listed applicants can track status through the Accela Citizen Access portal.
Confirm inspection requirements before backfilling or completing a sanitary-system project. County guidance requires proper inspection and licensed installers for regulated work.
Early Intervention and Children with Special Needs
Suffolk County’s Division of Services for Children with Special Needs handles three distinct program areas. The office lists Monday through Friday hours of 8 AM–4 PM and a referral/contact line of 631-853-3100.
For children from birth through age 2 who may have developmental delays or an eligible diagnosed condition. Families can call the dedicated county referral line.
For children ages 3–5 with disabilities who may qualify for preschool special-education services.
The county program serves eligible children and young people from birth through age 21 with special health-care needs.
After-hours public health problems and medical emergencies
The current Suffolk County Health Services homepage lists 631-854-0333 for after-hours and weekend emergencies.
Call 911 for life-threatening symptoms, serious injury, fire, overdose danger, violence or another immediate emergency. A county program page is not an emergency-care substitute.
What to prepare for Suffolk County Health Services
Official Suffolk County Health Services links
Phone numbers, program rules, grant funding, clinic schedules, disease notices and permit procedures can change. Use these county pages when you are ready to act.
Suffolk County Department of Health FAQs
What is the Suffolk County Department of Health phone number?
The Suffolk County Department of Health Services main administrative phone number is 631-854-0000. Direct programs have separate numbers, so use the service directory when your question involves vaccines, WIC, food permits, wastewater, TB, lead prevention or child-development services.
Where is Suffolk County Health Services located?
The department lists its administrative address at 3500 Sunrise Highway, Suite 124, P.O. Box 9006, Great River, NY 11739-9006. Some programs operate from other locations, including Wastewater Management in Yaphank and WIC or health-center sites across Suffolk County.
What number handles Suffolk County public health emergencies after hours?
The current Health Services homepage lists 631-854-0333 for emergencies after 5 PM and on weekends. Call 911 for an immediate life-threatening emergency.
Where can I get vaccines through Suffolk County?
The Immunization Action Program lists vaccine services at its Great River office and community clinics. Call 631-854-0222 before visiting because appointments are required for the Great River VFC/VFA vaccine service.
Does Suffolk County Health Services have my immunization records?
Not necessarily. Suffolk County says it does not maintain a countywide registry of vaccines administered by private doctors and other outside providers. It maintains records for county health-center patients and vaccines given through county immunization clinics.
Does the Suffolk County Health Department issue birth or death certificates?
The department states that Suffolk County does not maintain birth, marriage or death records as a county Health Services function. Those records generally route through the appropriate town clerk or registrar or New York State Department of Health Vital Records.
Who handles restaurant permits and complaints in Suffolk County?
Use the Suffolk County Food Protection Program at 631-852-5999 for food establishment permits, inspections, temporary food events and restaurant complaints.
Who handles septic permits in Suffolk County?
The Department of Health Services Office of Wastewater Management handles many septic, sanitary-system and onsite wastewater approvals. Its office is at 360 Yaphank Avenue, Suite 2C, Yaphank, and the main phone is 631-852-5700.
How long does a Suffolk County wastewater application take?
The current Office of Wastewater Management page says submissions generally take 2–4 weeks to review. Emergency replacement SHIP applications are typically reviewed the same day, but project-specific timing can vary.
Who do I call for Suffolk County Early Intervention?
Call Suffolk County Services for Children with Special Needs at 631-853-3100. The division handles Early Intervention for eligible children under age 3 as well as preschool special education and programs for children with special health care needs.