The role of a local health department is to protect and promote the public’s health. Although a daily factor in all our lives, public health is one of the least visible and least understood of all public functions. In a nutshell, public health provides all those services needed to protect and promote health that cannot be readily performed in the private sector or by healthcare providers. Public health is not health care.

During a normal workday, the Health Department conducts inspections of restaurants, pools, and other facilities to ensure proper sanitation, and investigates public health nuisance complaints such as trash or rodents. It also issues birth, death, and marriage/civil union certificates, marriage/civil union licenses, and retail food and pet licenses, and provides health clinics for children, and health promotion programs for all ages. We are program administrators, nurses, health educators, inspectors, registrars, support staff, students, volunteers, and other dedicated individuals with a common goal to deliver effective and innovative programs and services that ensure the health and well-being of the Bergenfield community. The Health Department includes an administrative division and program divisions in Environmental Health, Health Education, Public Health Nursing, and Vital Statistics and Licensing. We look forward to seeing you and working with you.

Registrar of Vital Statistics

Responsible for supervision of the registrar’s office appoints subordinate staff and are required to possess and maintain CMR certification. Under the Supervision of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics the Registrar of Vital Statistics shall keep all records of births, deaths and marriages as required by the division of vital statistics and administration of the New Jersey State Health Department and all other records required to be maintained by Statute. The Registrar of Vital Statistics Manages daily operations and finances of the Health Department reports to the Bergenfield Board of Health. It is the responsibility of the Registrar of Vital Statistics to record all births, deaths, and marriages occurring within the Borough of Bergenfield . In addition, the Registrar is also responsible for Issuing burial & Disinterment permits, Marriage licenses, Marriage, Birth and Death Certificates. The accumulation of information from vital records provides data about the events that occur throughout the entire State of New Jersey.

Only a State or local Registrar may issue a certified copy of a vital record to persons who establish themselves as the subject of the vital record, the subject’s parent, legal guardian or legal representative, spouse, child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age, to a State or federal agency for official purposes, pursuant to court order or under other emergent circumstances as determined by the Commissioner.

Marriage Licenses should be done no more than 30 days before and no less than 72 hours before the ceremony.

Confidentiality These vital records are confidential and not accessible to the public. As per State Law, the Registrar can issue a vital record only to certain individuals and they must establish their right to the record.

Marriage Licenses will not be provided without the following information:

The intended date of the wedding
The name and address or contact number of the person performing the wedding
The intended location of the wedding

Do not sign the civil union application form before going to the Local Registrar. You must sign the application, while under oath, in the presence of the issuing authority.

Are local copies of vital records acceptable for all my needs? Local copies are valid for all purposes except for the following instance:

If the copies are being presented to a foreign country that is part of the Hague Treaty, the copies need an Apostille Seal from the New Jersey Dept of Treasury.

To obtain The Apostille Seal you must purchase a copy of your vital record from the Registrars Office and indicate on your application that it is needed for Apostille Seal.

You will receive a certified copy which you must forward to the Department of Treasury requesting an Apostille Seal.

Can vital records be faxed or emailed .
No. Vital records require the raised seal of the local Registrar’s office to be considered valid. It is the administrative policy of the State Registrar that records are not faxed or emailed for any reason.

How do I order a vital record from a New Jersey local vital records office?
Contact the Local Registrar’s office in the municipality where the event occurred.

Registered Environmental Health Specialist

The Board shall employ one or more Sanitary Inspectors First Grade so licensed by the State of New Jersey. Said officials shall be responsible for making inspections, compiling proper records of such inspections, informing operators of businesses of violations hereunder, seeking methods of abating such violations, securing evidence for legal action and performing such other and further duties as may be required by the recognized Public Health Activities and Minimum Standards of Performance. The Sanitary Inspector(s) shall be empowered to enforce all applicable federal, state and local codes under the direction of the Health Officer.

Public Health Nurse:

The Board shall employ a Public Health Nurse. The Public Health Nurse perform such duties as are prescribed by the State Department of Health.

Medical Consultant and Advisor:

The Board of Health shall employ a physician currently licensed to practice medicine in the State of New Jersey as Medical Consultant and Advisor.

Only a State or local Registrar may issue a certified copy of a vital record to persons who establish themselves as the subject of the vital record, the subject’s parent, legal guardian or legal representative, spouse, child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age, to a State or federal agency for official purposes, pursuant to court order or under other emergent circumstances as determined by the Commissioner.

FAQs

How do I apply for a marriage license?

Marriage license applications are managed by the Borough Clerk’s Office. Both applicants must appear in person, with valid identification and proof of residency. You must call in advance to schedule an appointment—we also recommend checking the website for any special instructions. If you need a certified copy of a marriage license, please call the Clerk’s Office to make an appointment before your visit.

What are the requirements to obtain a marriage license in Bergenfield?

One of the applicants must be a Bergenfield resident (proof of residency required, such as a utility bill from the past 30 days or a valid driver’s license).
Proof of date of birth (valid driver’s license or passport).
A fee of $28.00.
A witness who is at least 18 years old.
If previously married, divorce papers must be presented.
A 72-hour waiting period applies after submitting the application.

How do I obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, or death record?

You must provide valid proof of identity (e.g., a driver’s license or passport).
For mail-in requests, two forms of valid ID are required.
The fee is $20.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy.

What are the rabies certificate requirements for dog/cat licensing?

A valid rabies certificate must cover the entire licensing period and cannot expire at any point during that year.

How do I know which vaccines I or my child can receive through the Health Department?

Adult and child vaccines depend on an evaluation by a doctor or nurse.
For children, exact vaccine dates are determined during a consultation with the healthcare professional.

What is required to obtain a food license?

Anyone handling food must have a valid Food Manager’s Certification.
Fees vary based on the type and size of the establishment.

What does a new business owner need to do to meet Health Department requirements?

All building and zoning requirements must be met first through the Building Department.
Both new and existing establishments require approval from the Health Department and an inspection by Health Inspectors.
Requirements can vary depending on the type of business.

How do I get a permit to serve food at a special event?

You must submit an application at least two weeks before the event.
The standard cost for the permit is $20.00.
Late fees will apply if the permit application and requirements are not submitted in a timely manner.

What types of health concerns can I report to the Health Department?

You may contact the Health Department regarding:

Animal bites or cruelty.
Debris on property.
Foodborne illnesses.
Dead birds or deer carcasses on property.
Hoarding situations.
Illegal pets or livestock.
Mosquitoes or stagnant water.
Mold in apartments (must be verified by the apartment complex).
Unlicensed restaurants or retail food complaints.
Rodent infestations.
Sewage overflow.
Tattoo and body art complaints.
Unsanitary conditions in homes or restaurants.
Unlicensed pets or unleashed pets (may also involve the police).

Events

Upcoming Events

15 Feb

Sat 09:00

Borough Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 198 N Washington Ave, Bergenfield NJ 07621

Health Department

Department Address & Hours