Merced County Municipal Code Ch. 9.49 Environmental Health

§ 9.49.010. Environmental health fees.¶

Food Program	$ Rate/Frequency
Food facility with food preparation (i.e. restaurants, delicatessens):
0–49 seats	442/year
50–149 seats	619/year
>150 seats	760/year
Hotel/motel continental breakfast only	256/year
Bar	475/year
Bakery	475/year
Cafeteria	475/year
School cafeteria other-warehouse	398/year
Commissary	475/year
Satellite food distribution facility	239/year
Restricted food service transient occupancy establishment (bed and breakfast)	475/year
Cottage food operation Class A	66/year
Cottage food operation Class B	264/year
Farmers market (certified)	239/year
Produce stand	239/year
Farm stand	264/year
Produce vehicle	119/year
Food borne illness investigation	118/hour
Vending machines (per machine)*
1–5 at location	23/year
6 or more at one location	13/year
*Excludes machines with food or beverage which are not potentially hazardous pursuant to Health & Safety Code (HSC) Section 113938.
Mobile food facility:
Mobile food facility (basic cart) with packaged non-potentially hazardous or commercially packaged frozen foods (i.e. produce, baked goods, packaged ice cream bars, packaged frozen meat)	199/year
Mobile food facility (intermediate cart) with packaged potentially hazardous food (i.e. hot food sales), sales of raw fish	231/year
Mobile food facility (advanced cart) with non-potentially hazardous food preparation, preparation of hot dogs or coffee-based drinks with milk as an ingredient (i.e. snow cones, fresh popped popcorn, cotton candy, churros)	264/year
Mobile food facility (deep fat fryer, and/or cooked to order carts)	475/year
Single operating site mobile food facility w/non-potentially hazardous food	133/year
Single operating site mobile food facility w/potentially hazardous food	199/year
Mobile support unit	239/year
Mobile food facility (Food Preparation Unit)	657/year
Food bank/pantry	133/year
Temporary food facility:
Temporary food facility operating at a weekly or monthly community event less than 25 consecutive or non-consecutive days in any 90-day period	398/event
Temporary food facility—low risk single event	34/event
Temporary food facility—low risk annual fee	173/year
Temporary food facility—high risk single event	99/event
Temporary food facility—high risk annual fee	493/year
Community event organizer:
2–5 temporary food facilities	177/event
6–15 temporary food facilities	295/event
16–25 temporary food facilities	413/event
26+ temporary food facilities	649/event
Swap meet prepackaged food stands	221/year
Swap meet/flea market organizer fee:
2–5 facilities	194/year
6–15 facilities	321/year
16—25 facilities	451/year
26+ facilities	710/year
Retail market (grocery store):
<300 sq. ft. (Pre-packaged, non-hazardous food)	33/year
<2,000 sq. ft.	356/year
2,001–6,000 sq. ft.	475/year
6,001–15,000 sq. ft.	715/year
15,001–30,000 sq. ft.	1,002/year
>30,001 sq. ft.	1,174/year
Licensed health care facility:
16-99 beds	475/year
100-199 beds	715/year
200+ beds	955/year
Plan checks:
Prepackaged food/equipment remodel (2.5-hour minimum, each additional hour at hourly rate)	295/each
Unpackaged food, food preparation (7-hour minimum, each additional hour at hourly rate)	826/each
Hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) plan review (3.5-hour minimum, each additional hour at the hourly rate)	413/each
Re-inspection fee	118/hour
Multiple food establishment fees:
Fees shall be set on any premises with multiple food establishments operating under the same business name/ownership, and shall pay the following fees: 100% of annual fee for the type of establishment with the highest prescribed fee, and 70% of each remaining fee. Mobile food facilities and retail food vehicles shall not be included as multiples and shall pay the standard fees.

Organic Waste/Edible Food Recycling	$ Rate/Frequency
Facilities meeting the definition of a Tier 1 facility or a Tier 2 facility (MCC § 9.06.030 ) that already have a permit and a scheduled inspection shall pay in addition to the Health Permit Fee	118/year
Facilities meeting the definition of a Tier 1 facility or a Tier 2 facility (MCC § 9.06.030 ) shall obtain a Health Permit and shall pay the following fees	236/year

Housing Program	$ Rate/Frequency
Hotel/motel:
Confirmed complaint	118/hour
Clearance of substandard housing/posted building	955/each

Public Water System Program	$ Rate/Frequency
State small water systems (5–14 connections)	291/year
Permit application—Initial	194/each
Public well construction permit and installation inspection (no water samples)	806/each

Private Water System Program	$ Rate/Frequency
Domestic well permit and installation inspection (to include bacteriological and chemical water samples)	836/each
Other well permits and installation inspections	283/each
Domestic surface water system approval	806/each
Low temperature geothermal well permit (per site)	329/each

Food Program	$ Rate/Frequency
Monitoring and test well permits	252/each
Each additional monitoring/test well per assessor's parcel number/project	48/each
Soil boring and test hole permits	252/each
Each additional soil boring/test hole per assessor's parcel number/project	48/each
Out-of-service well permit	221/each
Reconstruction of existing well permit	221/each
Water well destruction permits:
Permit obtained with well construction permit	58/each
Permit obtained without construction permit	221/each
Permit obtained after 30 days of date on written notice*	705/each
Monitoring well permit (first)	221/each
Each additional well per assessor's parcel number/project	58/each
* When a violation letter is issued requiring a well to be destroyed under permit by a specific date, the higher fee will be charged if the permit is obtained more than 90 days past the destruction due date indicated in the violation letter.

Public Swimming Pool Program	$ Rate/Frequency
Public pool (year-round)	715/year
Public pool (seasonal)	356/year
Each additional pool per site or facility	159/year
Reopening of closed pool	475/each
New pool plan check: (5.5-hour minimum, each additional hour at the hourly rate)	649/each
Pool renovation plan check (3-hour minimum, each additional hour at the hourly rate)	354/each
Water activity park	1,192/year

Liquid Waste Program	$ Rate/Frequency
Septic tank/chemical toilet cleaning business	239/vehicle/year
Sewage system permit (new or repair)	592/each
Special sewage system permit	950/each
Septic tank abandonment permit	473/each
Septic tank abandonment permit with new system	239/each
Reclamation wastewater permit	239/year
Greywater permit	354/year
Zone of benefit sewage inspection	118/hour

Sludge Program	$ Rate/Frequency
Sludge Management Plan	2,544/each
Sludge Site	1,906/each
Permit Sludge Appeal	955/each
Sludge Monitoring	118/hour

Solid Waste Program	$ Rate/Frequency	$ Rate/Frequency	$ Rate/Frequency
Facilities/Operation	Notification	Registration	Full Permit
Agricultural material composting operation	381/year	—	—
Green material composting operations and facilities	381/year	—	—
Biosolids composting facility	—	—	6,808/year
Research composting operation	381/year	—	—
Chipping and grinding operations	381/year	760/year	2,382/year
Construction inert demolition processing operations
Small volume	381/year	—	—
Medium volume	—	760/year	—
High volume	—	—	2,382/year
Agricultural waste disposal permit (per facility)	—	—	381/year

Wrecked, Abandoned Vehicle Program	$ Rate/Frequency
Abandoned vehicle	118/hour*
Abandoned vehicle removal <14,000 pounds	145/each
Abandoned vehicle removal >14,000 pounds	291/each
* If the responsible party for the vehicle is determined.

Hazardous Material Waste Program	$ Rate/Frequency
Underground storage tanks:
Operating permit—underground storage tanks (UST)* :
New or existing facility and first tank	660/year
Each additional tank	119/year
Existing facility with < 3,000 gallons total capacity	409/year
Permanent closure (per tank)	1,032/each
Temporary closure (per tank)	1,032/each
Major modification permit (per facility)	1,032/each
Minor modification permit (per facility)	386/each
Installation permit (per facility)	1,032/each
Each additional tank	148/each
Remediation	118/hour
* Includes business plan fee	* Includes business plan fee
Hazardous waste generators:
Small quantity generators (less than 2,199 pounds/month)	239/year
Large quantity generators (greater than 2,200 pounds/month)	955/year
Small quantity generators of waste oil, oil filters, radiator fluid only (less than 2,199 pounds/month)	133/year
Large quantity generators of waste oil, oil filters, radiator fluid only (greater than 2,200 pounds/month)	159/year
RCRA large quantity hazardous waste generator	1,112/year
Tiered permits:
Conditionally exempt	174/year
Conditionally authorized	698/year
Permit by rule	698/year
Business plans:
Hazardous material storage permit: (For storage of any hazardous material above these threshold limits – 500 pounds solid; 55 gallons liquid; or 200 cubic feet of gas at standard temperature and pressure (STP). The threshold for an asphyxiating non-flammable gas or medical gas (oxygen or nitrous oxide) is greater than or equal to 1,000 cubic feet; the threshold for an irritant or sensitizer solid or liquid is 5,000 pounds.
1–5 chemicals	159/year
1–5 chemicals (large volume/high risk)*	317/year
6 or more chemicals	317/year
6 or more chemicals (large volume/high risk)*	556/year
* If business stores greater than 2,000 pounds, 220 gallons or 800 cubic feet of gas at STP and/or stores any acutely hazardous material.
California Accidental Release Program (Cal/ARP) Risk Management Plan (RMP)
RMP application review and approval (3 hours minimum, each additional hour at hourly rate)	354/each
Cal/ARP annual operating fee	1,587/year
Remedial action/oversight of hazardous waste site	118/hour
Hazardous material/waste investigation/response	118/hour
Aboveground storage tank program
10,001–100,000 gallons	308/year
100,001–1,000,000 gallons	308/year
1,000,001–10,000,000 gallons	308/year
10,000,001–100,000,000 gallons	308/year

Medical Waste Program	$ Rate/Frequency
Small quantity generators (with no on-site treatment)	76/year
Small quantity generators on-site treatment (less than 200 pounds/month)	149/year
Common storage facility serving:
2–10 generators	303/year
11–49 generators	752/year
50 or more generators	1,509/year
Large quantity generator (200 or more pounds/month):
Acute care hospital
1–99 beds	1,814/year
100–99 beds	2,598/year
200–250 beds	3,319/year
251 or more beds	4,224/year
Acute care hospital with onsite treatment pays the additional fee of:
1–99 beds	907/year
100–250 beds	1,509/year
251 or more beds	3,017/year
Specialty clinic (surgical, dialysis, etc.)	1,055/year
Skilled nursing facility:
1–99 beds	830/year
100–199 beds	1,055/year
200 or more beds	1,207/year
Acute psychiatric hospital	608/year
Intermediate care facility	907/year
Primary care clinic	1,055/year
Clinical laboratory (licensed)	608/year
Health care service plan facility	1,055/year
Veterinary clinic or hospital	608/year
Medical/dental/veterinary office	608/year
Large quantity generator with on-site treatment additional fee (except for acute care hospitals)	907/year
Plan review for on-site treatment	118/hour
Limited quantity haulers
1—4 haulers	119/year
Each additional hauler over 4 (25 max total)	43/year
Tattooing, body piercing, permanent cosmetics, or ear piercing:
Body art facility permit	715/year
Practitioner annual registration fee	100/year
Ear piercing notification fee (one-time)	49/year

Animal Confinement Facility Program	$ Rate/Frequency
Cow dairy fees * (based on the number of milk cows):
Less than 300 milk cows	204/year
300–699 milk cows	408/year
700–1,499 milk cows	664/year
1,500 + milk cows	1,225/year
Feedlots goat dairies	460/year
Hog/swine/horse/sheep/lamb animal confinement facilities	308/year
Poultry (facilities with potential to discharge)	460/year
Retention pond/settling basin construction permit fee	460/each

Wrecked, Abandoned Vehicle Program	$ Rate/Frequency
* Facilities certified under a quality assurance program approved by the State Water Resources Control Board will receive a 25% fee reduction. Annual fees will be charged for facilities that are required to be regulated through waste discharge requirements.

Miscellaneous Fees	$ Rate/Frequency
Photocopy charges per page (if greater than 50 pages) In addition, copies in excess of 50 pages may be charged for filing and copying time at the hourly rate.	.26/copy
Environmental sampling (lab cost plus):
Water	54/per event
Soil	54/per event
Sludge	54/per event
Plant	54/per event
Manure	54/per event
Hazardous Waste	54/per event
Other sample type handling fee	54/per event

Services And Costs Not Specifically Described
A service fee based on a per hour fee of $118.00 or $177.00 for overtime or costs (cleanup, laboratory costs, etc.) may be charged for services or costs rendered by personnel or contractors of the Division of Environmental Health that are necessary to the performance of their duties as required by law, not specifically described in this Ordinance (e.g. smoking enforcement, drug lab response, solid waste, and other types of environmental health activities).

Services And Costs Not Specifically Described

A service fee based on a per hour fee of $118.00 or $177.00 for overtime or costs (cleanup, laboratory costs, etc.) may be charged for services or costs rendered by personnel or contractors of the Division of Environmental Health that are necessary to the performance of their duties as required by law, not specifically described in this Ordinance (e.g. smoking enforcement, drug lab response, solid waste, and other types of environmental health activities).

Inspection Frequency	$ Rate/Frequency
Facilities, as identified below, which are assessed an annual operating permit fee and then receive less than the minimum inspection frequency, will be exempt from fees the next fiscal year, if adequate staffing was available during the period of time that the inspection(s) were missed.
Food facility:
Restaurant	1/year
Market	1/year
Mobile food facility	1/year
Hotel/motel	Inspected on a complaint basis only
Public pool:
Seasonal	1/year
Year round	2/year

Pro-Rated Fees For New Businesses
The annual fee shall be pro-rated by month except for mobile food facilities, mobile support units, temporary food facilities, and state fees.

Reinspection Fees
A reinspection is a follow-up inspection. A fee may be charged for each reinspection needed to ensure or confirm correction of documented violations.
Except when otherwise specified, all services in this Ordinance, which are charged at an hourly rate, are 1-hour minimum and charged in half hour increments thereafter.

Late Fees/Failure To Obtain Permit/Suspended And Revoked Permit Fees
Any fee not paid within 30 days of the initial billing will incur a penalty of 25% of the initial fee. If the fees are not paid within 60 days of initial billing, the initial fee will be doubled. Fees not paid after 90 days of the initial billing will be forwarded to Revenue and Reimbursement.
Any person who fails to obtain any required construction and/or operating permit prior to commencing work or operation may be subject to closure of the facility or stoppage of work and must pay the original permit fee and a penalty of three times the regular or full annual permit fee.
The suspended permit reinstatement fee shall be $460.00 in addition to the fee for reinspection.
In order to reopen a facility after permit revocation, the full annual fee and reinspection fee must be paid.
As a condition for the issuance of a permit, the permittee must have clearance from the appropriate planning agency to operate. Failure to obtain the appropriate clearance from the planning agency will result in suspension of the permit.

Consumer Price Index Adjustment
All Environmental Health fees referenced in this section, with the exception of State-established surcharges, shall be adjusted as of July 1 of each year based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, All Urban Consumers (All Items), for the West Urban area, with the Standard Reference Base (December 1996=100), or closest corresponding reference base as may be updated, and as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The "annual average" percentage published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics will be used to determine the maximum annual increase. This percentage, which is calculated at the end of each calendar year, is available in January following the end of the previous calendar year. If reasonable program costs exceed the maximum annual increase, an additional fee increase may be established by ordinance of the Board of Supervisors. Fees will be rounded to the nearest whole dollar.

Consumer Price Index Adjustment

All Environmental Health fees referenced in this section, with the exception of State-established surcharges, shall be adjusted as of July 1 of each year based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, All Urban Consumers (All Items), for the West Urban area, with the Standard Reference Base (December 1996=100), or closest corresponding reference base as may be updated, and as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The "annual average" percentage published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics will be used to determine the maximum annual increase. This percentage, which is calculated at the end of each calendar year, is available in January following the end of the previous calendar year. If reasonable program costs exceed the maximum annual increase, an additional fee increase may be established by ordinance of the Board of Supervisors. Fees will be rounded to the nearest whole dollar.

(Ord. 1762 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1797, 2006; Ord. 1804, 2007; Ord. 1820 § 1, 2007; Ord. 1847 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1862 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1871 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1885 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1898 § 1, 2012; Ord. 2022 § 1, 2022)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 9.49.020. Clinical fees.¶

All clinical fees will be set at the published Physician Medicare Fee Schedule. In those cases where there are no published rates in any of these programs, fees will be established at costs plus the administrative fee applicable to the service provided as detailed in the Physician Medicare Fee Schedule.

Clinical fees may be discounted or waived when grant special funding is available to cover the costs of program services.

Clients who do not have insurance and do not otherwise qualify for grant funded programs may qualify for discounted services based on the department of public health's sliding fee schedule. Eligibility for the sliding fee schedule is based on client income disclosure and Federal Poverty Level Guidelines.

All Clinical Services

Income less than 100% federal poverty level	0%
Income less than 200% federal poverty level	25%
Income less than 250% federal poverty level	50%
Income less than 300% federal poverty level	75%
Income more than 300% federal poverty level	100%

California Children's Service (CCS)—Medical Therapy Unit

X3908	Physical therapy initial treatment	State
X3910	Physical therapy treatment	State
X3920	Physical therapy initial evaluation	State
X3922	Physical therapy evaluation	State
X3926	Physical therapy initial case conference	State
X3930	Physical therapy case conference	State
X3928	Physical therapy consultation	State
X3932	Physical therapy field visit	State
X3934	Physical therapy mileage	State
X3936	Physical therapy unlisted services	State
X4110	Occupational therapy initial treatment	State
X4112	Occupational therapy treatment	State
X4110	Occupational therapy initial evaluation	State
X4102	Occupational therapy evaluation	State
X4104	Occupational therapy initial case conference	State
X4106	Occupational therapy case conference	State
X4114	Occupational field visit	State
X4116	Occupational therapy mileage	State
X4118	Occupational therapy unlisted services	State

Other Fees

Birth and death certificates	State
Disposition of remains permit	State
Photocopy charge per page	$0.25/page
Photocopy of medical record file with written release	$15
Car seat class	$25 per attendee
Car seat class—violators	$50 per attendee
Car seats	Cost
Each additional car seat	$25
Patient medical marijuana identification card	$100
Patient medical marijuana identification card, Medi-Cal	$50
Caregiver medical marijuana identification card	$100
Caregiver medical marijuana identification card, Medi-Cal	$50
Emergency medical marijuana identification card	$100
Emergency medical marijuana identification card, Medi-Cal	$50

Waiver of Fees

The director of public health may waive any clinical or other fee on a case-by-case basis or for specific events if such waiver is determined to be in the best interest of protecting and promoting the public health of the county. All fees shall be waived for any persons identified as a contact in relation to an epidemiological investigation and who is mandated by health department staff to present for medical treatment for the subject communicable disease. All fee waivers must be documented in writing either for specific events or in the individual medical record.

Collection of Fees

Clinical and other fees not collected at the time of service will be billed to the responsible party through a monthly billing cycle for three months, if not paid earlier, at which time any delinquent account greater than $25 will be forwarded to revenue and reimbursement. Delinquent accounts of $24.99 or less will be considered uncollectible.

Emergency Medical Services Fees

The most up to date Emergency Medical Service Fee Schedule is reflected on the Merced County website at https://www.countyofmerced.com/588/EMS-Certification.

Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) Certification/Recertification	$50
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification/Recertification	$50
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) State Certification	$75
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) State Recertification	$37
Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic (EMT-P) Accreditation/Reaccreditation	$100
Mobile Intensive Care Nurse (MICN) Certification/Recertification	$100
Replacement Certification/Accreditation Card	$15

*Ambulance Service License Fee and Annual Convalescent

Convalescent/litter van annual license	$100
Air and ground ambulance service provider license fees are subject to an annual county staff time cost evaluation conducted through county cost system

*Specialty Center

Trauma Center Level 2 Application & Designation	$85,000
Trauma Center Level 3 Application & Designation	$85,000
Trauma Center Level 2 Annual Fee, subject to 3% annual increase	$85,000
Trauma Center Level 3 Annual Fee, subject to 3% annual increase	$85,000
STEMI Receiving Center Application & Designation	$30,000
STEMI Receiving Center Annual Fee, subject to 3% annual increase	$30,000

For Information regarding Trauma Center and STEMI Center Application and Designation procedures are reflected on the Merced County website at https://portal.acidremap.com/sites/MercedCounty/.

*Late Fee

A one-time late fee of $100 or 1.5% of the overdue amount, whichever is greater, will be assessed on any payment not received by the due date.

In addition to the late fee, any unpaid balance shall accrue interest at a rate of 10% per annum, calculated from the original due date until the full balance is paid.

(Ord. 1613 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1762 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1797, 2006; Ord. 1804, 2007; Ord. 1847 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1863 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1933 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1950 § 1, 2017; Ord. 1985 § 1, 2019; Ord. 2058, 4/21/2026)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 9.49.030. Public health laboratory fees.¶

All fees will be set at the published Physician Medicare Fee Schedule. For those services where no Medicare rate is established, fees will be at the greater of Central California Alliance for Health or Medi-Cal rates. In those cases where there are no published rates in any of these programs, fees will be established at costs plus the administrative fee applicable to the service provided as detailed in the Physician Medicare Fee Schedule.

All laboratory fees are subject to the sliding fee scale when added with clinic visit, pharmaceutical and other charges.

Health Screening Certification:

The Merced County Public Health Laboratory may impose application/review/approval fees for the certification of operations of Non-Diagnostic General Health Assessment (NGHA) screenings within the county, which are addressed in the following table:

NGHA	Charge
Single event	$45.00
Multiple event	$100.00
Each additional site w/filing	$25.00
Each additional program w/filing	$20.00
Added site after filing	$30.00
Added program after filing	$25.00
Consultation (per hour)	$35.00

Waiver of Fees

The director of public health may waive any laboratory fee on a case-by-case basis or for specific events if such waiver is determined to be in the best interest of protecting and promoting the public health of the county. All laboratory fees shall be waived for any persons identified as a contact in relation to an epidemiological investigation and who is mandated by Health Department staff to present for medical treatment for the subject communicable disease. All fee waivers must be documented in writing either for specific events or in the individual medical record.

(Ord. 1985 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1950 § 1. 2017; Ord. 1933 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1863 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1847 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1804, 2007; Ord. 1797, 2006; Ord. 1762 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1613 § 3, 1998)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 9.49.040. Validity.¶

If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, word, or phrase of this ordinance is held to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this chapter. The board of supervisors hereby declare that they would have passed the ordinance codified in this chapter, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, word or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, words, or phrases may be declared invalid or unconstitutional.

(Ord. 1950 § 1, 2017; Ord. 1985 § 1; 2019)

Exceptions & meaning →