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Borough of Saddle River
Board of Health
The Board of Health sets local public-health policy and oversees services provided to Saddle River through the Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission. Use this page to report a concern, find health applications, access vital-record services and attend Board meetings.
Need immediate help?
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Life-threatening emergency
Call 911.
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After-hours public or environmental health emergency
Call NWBRHC at 201-885-3572.
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Mental health or substance-use crisis
Call or text 988.
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Possible poisoning or medication exposure
Call New Jersey Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
For routine public-health matters, call NWBRHC at 201-445-7217, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Start here
How can we help?
Choose the service that matches your need. Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission provides Saddle River’s day-to-day environmental health, public-health nursing, communicable-disease and vital-statistics services.
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Report a public-health concern
Contact NWBRHC about food safety, rodents, insects, lead, communicable disease, septic or well concerns, and other public or environmental health matters. For sensitive health information, call for submission instructions instead of sending details by ordinary email.
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Animal bites, rabies and animal control
Wash an animal-bite wound with soap and water, seek medical care and promptly report the bite or possible rabies exposure to NWBRHC. Call 911 for an immediate threat. Police dispatch routes urgent animal-control calls.
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Food businesses and public events
Restaurants, food businesses, mobile vendors and public events serving food may require health review and annual or temporary licensing. Health approval does not replace required zoning, construction, fire or other municipal approval.
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Wells, water testing and septic systems
Contact the Health Office before installing, altering, repairing or abandoning a well or septic system. NWBRHC provides water-testing information, and Saddle River septic plan reviews are coordinated with the Borough’s administrative authority.
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Marriage licenses and vital records
NWBRHC processes marriage-license applications and eligible certified copies of birth, death and marriage records for Saddle River. Appointments are required for in-person service. Vital records are confidential and are not obtained through OPRA.
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Clinics, vaccines and health programs
NWBRHC provides public-health nursing, screenings, immunization programs, disease-prevention services and community health education. Check the current events calendar for dates, locations, eligibility and registration instructions.
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Childhood lead and healthy homes
Children should be tested for lead at ages 1 and 2, or before age 6 if they have never been tested. Contact your child’s health-care professional or NWBRHC for testing and public-health guidance.
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Pools, spas and personal-care businesses
Public recreational bathing facilities and personal-grooming establishments may require local licensing and inspection. Contact the Health Office before opening, changing ownership or renewing.
Private-well sales and rentals
New Jersey’s Private Well Testing Act requires testing for covered property sales and at least once every five years for covered rental properties. Sampling and analysis for a covered transaction must be performed through an NJDEP-certified laboratory. Review the NJDEP Private Well Testing Act guidance and contact NWBRHC with public-health questions.
Communicable-disease reporting for professionals
Health care professionals, administrators, laboratories, veterinarians and other required reporters must follow New Jersey reporting rules. Immediately reportable conditions must be reported by telephone to the local health department. Use the NJDOH disease-reporting guidance and contact NWBRHC for the correct reporting route.
Applications and permits
File with the correct health office
Application requirements depend on the activity. Before filing, contact the Saddle River Health Office or NWBRHC to identify the required form, supporting documents, inspections, fee and payment method.
Approval may involve more than one office
A health license or approval does not replace any required zoning, construction, fire, engineering or other approval. Do not begin a regulated activity until every required permit or license has been issued.
- Request a Saddle River health application Email the Health Office for food, bathing, personal-grooming, septic-contractor and related Borough applications.
- NWBRHC forms and files Vital records, water testing, food-safety guidance, septic abandonment and other regional materials.
- Dog and cat licensing Use the Borough’s online pet-license page and keep rabies information current.
- Health fees in Chapter 29 Review the live Borough Code and confirm the applicable fee before filing.
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Confirm the application
Describe the proposed activity, property or event to the Health Office and ask which form, plans and related approvals apply.
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Submit a complete package
Provide the signed application, plans or supporting records, required fee and any prior approvals identified in the instructions.
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Arrange required review
Make the site, facility or records available for plan review, testing or inspection when directed by the responsible health official.
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Wait for the written approval
A submitted application or payment is not permission to operate or begin work. Follow every condition, renewal and display requirement.
Annual licenses and changes in operation
Many Board of Health licenses run on a calendar-year basis and are not transferable. Contact the Health Office before a change of owner, operator, location or regulated activity to determine whether a new application or inspection is required.
Public business
Meetings, agendas and minutes
2026 meeting information
Regular 2026 Board meetings are listed for 7:30 p.m. in the Borough’s annual meeting calendar. Meetings are generally held at Borough Hall, 100 East Allendale Road, and may include remote access. The current agenda and public notice control the confirmed date, location, format and participation instructions.
Meetings are open to the public except when a closed session is permitted by law. Public participation follows the procedures announced by the Board.
Agendas and available minutes are posted in the meeting archive. Additional public Board records may be requested through the Borough’s OPRA page. Certified vital records must be requested through NWBRHC and are not requested under OPRA.
Board and staff
Board members
- Dr. Constantine Rossakis President
- Dr. Robert G. Lahita Vice President and Medical Director
- George Tashji Member and Secretary of the Board
- Dr. Rakesh Sharma Member
- Dr. Joseph Bellapianta Member
- Dr. Habeeb Rahman Member
- Dr. Jeffrey Liva Member and Council Liaison
Public-health professionals and Board support
- Namitha Reddy, MD, HO, MPH Health Officer, Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission
- Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission Environmental health, public-health nursing and public-health services
- Martin Spence Septic-system administrative authority and engineering review
- Linda Canavan Recording Secretary
Authority and responsibilities
About the Board of Health
The Board is Saddle River’s local board of health. It establishes local public-health policy, adopts lawful rules consistent with State law and the State Sanitary Code, and carries out licensing, inspection and enforcement responsibilities assigned to local boards of health. The Board coordinates service delivery with Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission.
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Chapter 29
Board organization, officers, meetings, licensing procedures, hearings, fees and enforcement authority.
Board of Health organization and authority -
Chapter 215
Local public-health regulations, including nuisances, public recreational bathing and personal-grooming establishments.
Borough health regulations -
Chapter 219
Animal-health provisions, rabies control and local licensing rules for certain animals and facilities.
Animal-health regulations -
New Jersey public-health standards
State law, the State Sanitary Code and practice standards govern local health services and professional responsibilities.
New Jersey Local Public Health
License actions and hearings
Chapter 29 provides notice and hearing procedures for suspension or revocation of a Board license, permit or certificate. Follow the written notice and contact the Health Office promptly. Contacting staff does not extend a stated response or appeal deadline.
Interested in serving?
Residents interested in serving on the Board of Health may contact the Mayor’s Office or call the Borough at 201-327-2609.
Current information
Health resources and updates
- NWBRHC events and clinics Current screenings, vaccination clinics, classes and community programs.
- Local public-health news Current regional health notices and prevention information.
- New Jersey Department of Health State health alerts, disease information and official guidance.
- Communicable-disease reporting Official reporting instructions for health professionals and other required reporters.