🏥 Yarmouth Board of Health
Protecting public health through regulation, inspection, and disease prevention across all of Yarmouth
5
Elected Members
3 yrs
Term Length
1st Mon
Meeting Schedule
7:00 PM
Meeting Time
⚖️ Elected Board: The Board of Health is an elected 5-member board — one of the only elected boards with direct regulatory authority. Members are elected at town elections for 3-year staggered terms.
👥 Board Members
Source: yarmouth.ma.us — Board of Health Directory
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Hillard Boskey, M.D. | Chair |
| Mary Craig | Vice Chair |
| Laurance Venezia, DVM | Member |
| Eric Weston | Clerk |
| Scott Brewer | Member |
📋 What the Board of Health Does
🔍 Inspections & Enforcement
Licenses and inspects food establishments, septic systems, swimming pools, stables, camps, and hazardous waste sites. Issues violations and cease-and-desist orders.
Licenses and inspects food establishments, septic systems, swimming pools, stables, camps, and hazardous waste sites. Issues violations and cease-and-desist orders.
🦠 Disease Prevention
Monitors and responds to communicable disease outbreaks, coordinates with Barnstable County Department of Health, and oversees vaccination clinics.
Monitors and responds to communicable disease outbreaks, coordinates with Barnstable County Department of Health, and oversees vaccination clinics.
📜 Local Health Regulations
Adopts health regulations that go beyond state minimums — including tobacco sales, kratom/cannabis restrictions, beachwater quality standards, and recycling requirements.
Adopts health regulations that go beyond state minimums — including tobacco sales, kratom/cannabis restrictions, beachwater quality standards, and recycling requirements.
🏠 Housing & Environmental Health
Enforces minimum housing standards, investigates tenant complaints about sanitary code violations, and oversees Yarmouth’s groundwater protection efforts.
Enforces minimum housing standards, investigates tenant complaints about sanitary code violations, and oversees Yarmouth’s groundwater protection efforts.
⚠️ Active Issues (2025–2026)
🌿 Kratom Regulation
The BOH held a public hearing in March 2026 on proposed regulations to restrict the sale of kratom (a psychoactive herbal substance) to minors. Yarmouth is among the Cape Cod towns taking proactive local steps.
The BOH held a public hearing in March 2026 on proposed regulations to restrict the sale of kratom (a psychoactive herbal substance) to minors. Yarmouth is among the Cape Cod towns taking proactive local steps.
🦟 EEE / West Nile Monitoring
Annual mosquito surveillance and Eastern Equine Encephalitis monitoring program — coordinates with state and county on aerial spray decisions and public advisories during peak season.
Annual mosquito surveillance and Eastern Equine Encephalitis monitoring program — coordinates with state and county on aerial spray decisions and public advisories during peak season.
🚽 Title 5 Septic & Nitrogen Loading
As part of the town’s comprehensive wastewater plan, the BOH oversees Title 5 septic system inspections and is working with the Sewer Commission on connecting high-nitrogen-load areas to new municipal sewer infrastructure.
As part of the town’s comprehensive wastewater plan, the BOH oversees Title 5 septic system inspections and is working with the Sewer Commission on connecting high-nitrogen-load areas to new municipal sewer infrastructure.
🍽️ Food Safety Inspections
Yarmouth’s seasonal tourism economy means hundreds of restaurants, food trucks, and takeout establishments require annual licensing and inspection. The BOH oversees this program, which ramps up each spring before summer season.
Yarmouth’s seasonal tourism economy means hundreds of restaurants, food trucks, and takeout establishments require annual licensing and inspection. The BOH oversees this program, which ramps up each spring before summer season.
📅 Meetings & Resources
Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at Yarmouth Town Hall, 1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth. Meetings are open to the public and recorded.
💬 Public Participation
The public may speak during the public comment period at any BOH meeting. To file a complaint (food establishment, housing, septic, etc.), contact the Health Department at Yarmouth Town Hall: 508-398-2231 ext. 1240.
To apply for a food service license, pool permit, or other health permits, visit the Health Department page on the town website.
DID YOU KNOW
Yarmouth’s Board of Health can issue orders and fines without going to court.