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  1. Public Health — Seattle & King County
  2. Board of Health

King County Board of Health

Setting county-wide policies and regulations to protect and promote the health of King County residents.

In 2023, the Board will expand to include 8 non-elected members and 4 non-elected alternate members to comply with a change in state law. The American Indian Health Commission of Washington State named a member and alternate. The remaining 7 Board members and 3 alternates will represent public health consumers, healthcare, and other community stakeholders. At least one non-elected Board Member must have expertise in environmental health.

Read more about the make up of the Board (PDF)

The Board is currently considering applications for membership they received by June 30th. This fall the Board will send their recommendations to the King County Council, who will appoint members before the end of the year. New members will begin their terms January 1, 2023, and will join elected officials representing the King County Council, Seattle City Council and Sound Cities Association on the reconfigured Board.

Other formats or translation of this web page or any Board materials are available upon request – please email KCBOHAdmin@kingcounty.gov or call 206-296-4600.

En 2023, la Junta Directiva se expandirá para incluir 8 miembros no electos y 4 miembros suplentes no electos para cumplir con un cambio en la ley del estado. La Comisión de Salud de los Indios Americanos del Estado de Washington nombró a un miembro y suplente. Los 7 miembros restantes de la Junta y los 3 suplentes representarán a los consumidores de salud pública, atención médica y otras partes interesadas de la comunidad. Por lo menos un Miembro no electo de la Junta Directiva debe tener experiencia en salud ambiental.

Lea un resumen de la Junta Directiva de Salud del Condado de King (en el formato de PDF)

Actualmente, la Junta Directiva está considerando las solicitudes de membresía que recibió antes del 30 de junio. Este otoño, la misma enviará sus recomendaciones al Consejo del Condado de King quien designará a los miembros antes de fin de año. Los nuevos miembros iniciarán sus mandatos el 1 de enero de 2023 y se unirán a los funcionarios electos que representan al Consejo del Condado de King, el Consejo de la Ciudad de Seattle y la Asociación Sound Cities dentro de la Junta reconfigurada.

La traducción u otros formatos estarán disponibles bajo solicitud; favor de enviar un correo electrónico a KCBOHAdmin@kingcounty.gov o llamar al 206-296-4600.

What the Board of Health does:

The role of the Board is to advocate for the preservation, promotion, and protection of public health, prevent the spread of disease, set local public health regulations and some fees and licenses, and enforce state and local public health laws. The Board does not have appropriation (budget) authority. The Board takes a racial equity approach to its work, and expects its members to be committed to racial equity and ending the impacts of racism on health.

The Board is responsible for:

Passing rules and regulations pertaining to public health (not health care) most typically around issues relating to the spread of communicable disease, nuisances like rodents, septic systems, and food establishments like restaurants. For example, the Board sets fees that the Health Department charges for restaurant inspections, creates rules to control of rabies in pets, and establishes laws such as regulating e-cigarettes.

Creating and passing resolutions, which are policy statements in support of projects or programs. Resolutions are not legally enforceable, but represent the voice of the Board in support of such issues as supporting funding for public health and declaring racism to be a public health crisis.
Using expert testimony and research, the Board creates guidelines and recommendations that may be adopted by various entities. For example, the Board has developed guidelines for healthy vending machines and recommendations for the components of healthy housing.

Over the years, the Board of Health has enacted countless measures to improve the health and well-being of King County residents, including banning trans fats in restaurants, regulating e-cigarettes and establishing the secure medicine return program.

4 images depicting Public Health activities

Sign up for free email alerts to access significant information posted to this site including monthly meeting agendas and other key announcements.

Meeting agenda Meeting proceedings Board of Health Code Regulations Resolutions Guidelines and recommendations Background and history

Link/share our site at www.kingcounty.gov/boh

Current membership roster of the King County Board of Health

The 11-member board is comprised of three health professionals and eight elected officials who serve terms ranging from one to three years. The Board of Health meets on the third Thursday of each month at 1:00 p.m. in the Metropolitan King County Council Chambers, unless otherwise specified. The composition of the board will change in January 2023 (See callout box above for a description of changes to the Board).

King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave, Suite #1200, Seattle, WA 98104
www.kingcounty.gov/council
Members are appointed for one year terms by the King County Council.

  • Joe McDermott
    Chair
    District 8
    Term expires December 21, 2022
  • Girmay Zahilay
    Vice-Chair
    District 2
    Term expires December 21, 2022
  • Rod Dembowski
    Alternate member representing the King County Council
    District 1
    Term expires December 21, 2022
  • Jeanne Kohl-Welles
    District 4
    Term expires December 21, 2022
Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Ave, 2nd Floor, Seattle, WA 98104
www.seattle.gov/council
Members are appointed for one year terms by the Seattle City Council.

Members are appointed for one year terms by the Sound Cities Association.

Health professional members are appointed by the other members of the board to three year terms including two voting members and one non-voting member.

Chinook Building, 401 5th Ave, Suite #1300, Seattle, WA 98104
 www.kingcounty.gov/health

  • Dennis Worsham, Interim Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County
    Executive Secretary and Administrative Officer of the Board

  • Joy Carpine Cazzanti, Government Affairs Administrator
    Board of Health Administrator

If you have any questions about the Board of Health, please use our online form or call 206-263-0365.

Mailing address:

King County Board of Health
ATTN: Board of Health Administrator
401 5th Ave., Suite 1300
Seattle, WA 98104

Email: KCBOHAdmin@kingcounty.gov