Local board of health; powers and duties
Wis. Stat. § 251.04
in effect(1) Except as authorized in s. 251.02 (2) (b), (3m), (3r), and (3t), a city board of health shall govern a city health department, a county board of health shall govern a county health department or multiple county health department, and a city-county board of health shall govern a city-county health department. A city board of health, a county board of health, a city-county board of health, or a board of health for a local health department as authorized in s. 251.02 (2) (b), (3m), (3r), or (3t) shall assure the enforcement of state public health statutes and public health rules of the department as prescribed for a Level I local health department. A local board of health may contract or subcontract with a public or private entity to provide public health services. The contractor’s staff shall meet the appropriate qualifications for positions in a Level I local health department.
(2) A city or county board of health or a board of health for a local health department as authorized in s. 251.02 (2) (b), (3m), (3r), or (3t) shall assure that its local health department is a Level I, Level II, or Level III local health department, as specified in s. 251.05 (1).
(3) A city or county board of health or a board of health for a local health department as authorized in s. 251.02 (2) (b), (3m), (3r), or (3t) may adopt those regulations, for its own guidance and for the governance of the local health department, that it considers necessary to protect and improve public health. The regulations may be no less stringent than, and may not conflict with, state statutes and rules of the department.
(4) A local board of health shall report to the department as required by rule.
(5) A local board of health shall meet at least quarterly.
(6) A local board of health shall:
(a) Assess public health needs and advocate for the provision of reasonable and necessary public health services.
(b) Develop policy and provide leadership that fosters local involvement and commitment, that emphasizes public health needs and that advocates for equitable distribution of public health resources and complementary private activities commensurate with public health needs.
(7) A local board of health shall assure that measures are taken to provide an environment in which individuals can be healthy.
(8) Unless the manner of employment is otherwise provided for by ordinance, a local board of health shall employ qualified public health professionals, including a public health nurse to conduct generalized public health nursing programs under the direction of the local board of health and in cooperation with the department, and may employ one or more sanitarians to conduct environmental programs and other public health programs not specifically designated by statute as functions of the public health nurse. The local board of health shall coordinate the activities of any sanitarian employed by the governing body of the jurisdiction that the local board of health serves. The local board of health is not required to employ different persons to perform these functions.
(9) In counties with a single county health department and either a county executive or a county administrator, the county executive or county administrator may assume the powers and duties of a local board of health under this section. If a county executive or a county administrator elects to assume those powers and duties, the local board of health shall be only a policy-making body determining the broad outlines and principles governing the administration of the county health department.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/251.04Fetched: 10/7/2026