ANCBH: Association of North Carolina Boards of Health
ANCBH: Association of North Carolina Boards of Health

Phone: (704) 300-1365
(ans. mach.)

General E-mail: ancbh@ancbh.org

Surface Mail and Shipping:
Association of North Carolina Boards of Health
4208 Galax Drive
Raleigh, NC 27612-3714

About Local Boards of Health

NALBOH Meeting 2006
2006 Meeting of the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH). Left to right: Lee Kyle Allen, Richard Dideriksen, Teme Levbarg, Mr. Howington, Westelle Cherry-Howington, Shirley Stowe, Rachel Stevens, Terry Hall, Maili Hall, Lorraine Salois-Deane, Rose Blackburn, Bob Blackburn.

North Carolina General Statutes defines both the responsibilities and the composition of local boards of health. The local board of health is charged with being “the policy-making, rule-making and adjudicatory body for a county health department.” And, with few exceptions, the typical board is composed of eleven members:

  • one physician
  • one dentist
  • one optometrist
  • one veterinarian
  • one registered nurse
  • one pharmacist
  • one county commissioner
  • one engineer
  • four general public representatives

The exceptions to the 11-member board include boards for a district health department, public health authority, and a consolidated human service agency or public hospital.

S.L. 2012-126 (H 438) extends to all counties and creates new options to allow a board of county commissioners to assume the powers and duties of certain boards, create a consolidated human services agency, or take both actions. The options are:

  • Assume direct control of certain boards by adopting a resolution abolishing the board(s) and transferring their powers and duties to the board of county commissioners;
  • Create a consolidated human services agency (CHSA) governed by a consolidated human services board appointed by the county commissioners; or
  • Create a CHSA governed directly by the county commissioners and appoint a health advisory committee.