Title 19 — Health
55 chapters · 745 sections in this title.
19 V.I.C. § 1352 Penalties
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Failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine to be levied by the Virgin Islands Department of Health in the amount of $100 per day for each day of non-compliance after notice of violation is given.
19 V.I.C. § 1353 Regulatory authority
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The Virgin Islands Department of Health shall have regulatory authority under this chapter and shall promulgate rules and regulations consistent with the requirements of this chapter.
19 V.I.C. § 1401 Water containers, privies, and sewage systems
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All wells, cisterns, tanks, barrels, drums, and other water containers shall be made mosquito proof in such manner as directed by the Commissioner of Health. All pit and surface privies shall be made fly-proof in such manner as directed by the Commissioner of Health. Nightsoil ca…
19 V.I.C. § 1402 Prohibitions
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No person shall allow water or any liquid to run from a building or premises across a sidewalk or street except by a passage constructed under the sidewalk or street and leading to the sanitary sewer or public gutter, which passage shall be kept adequate and in repair at all time…
19 V.I.C. § 1403 Sale of ice; inspection of water
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No person shall sell or distribute in the Virgin Islands ice made from impure, contaminated or polluted water. The Commissioner of Health shall inspect periodically the ice manufacturing plants and the water supply of all public places and take for analysis samples of the water f…
19 V.I.C. § 1404 Rules and regulations
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The Commissioner of Health shall make rules and regulations, subject to the approval of the Governor, for the purpose of implementing and enforcing any or all of the provisions of subchapters I and II of this chapter. Such rules and regulations, when approved by the Governor, sha…
19 V.I.C. § 1431 Definitions
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As used in this subchapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise—“Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Health or any of his duly authorized representatives;“frozen dessert” means any clean frozen or partially frozen combination of two or more of the following: Milk pr…
19 V.I.C. § 1432 Right of entrance and inspection
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No person shall interfere with or obstruct the entrance, during ordinary business hours, of the Commissioner to any house, building, or other premises being used as a place of business which is subject to the provisions of this chapter, while in the discharge of his duties. No pe…
19 V.I.C. § 1433 Health permit
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In addition to a license to do business, all persons who operate restaurants or itinerant restaurants, who serve or manufacture frozen desserts, soft drinks or ice, who introduce for sale, offer for sale, sell or have in storage meat or meat products, or who operate meat or poult…
19 V.I.C. § 1434 Suspension or revocation of health permit
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(1) (1) A health permit may be suspended by the Commissioner of Health upon violation by the permit holder of any provisions of this chapter or of rules promulgated under this chapter.(a) A notice letter will be issued to the permit holder from the Environmental Health Division o…
19 V.I.C. § 1435 Appeals from suspension or revocation of permit
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(a) A permit holder has the right to appeal the decision of the hearing to the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands by an appeal made within 30 days from the issuance of the decision. (b) The permit holder must file a notice of appeal in writing within ten business days of receiv…
19 V.I.C. § 1436 Examination of food or drink
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Samples of food or drink, and other substances, including frozen desserts and soft drinks, may be taken from any restaurant or itinerant restaurant and examined by the health officer as often as may be necessary for the detection of unwholesomeness or adulteration. The Commission…
19 V.I.C. § 1437 Health and cleanliness of employees
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No person suffering from a communicable disease transmissible through food or drink, or who resides in a household with a case of such disease, or who is known to be a carrier of the organisms causing such disease, and no person suffering from a local infection transmissible thro…
19 V.I.C. § 1438 Use of poisonous materials in restaurants
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No article, polish or other substance containing any cyanide preparation shall be used for the cleansing or polishing of eating or cooking utensils in any restaurant or itinerant restaurant. The storage, keeping or use of any insecticide, exterminator or other substances containi…
19 V.I.C. § 1439 Toilet facilities
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Every restaurant shall provide for its employees adequate toilet and lavatory facilities conveniently located and properly constructed and maintained.
19 V.I.C. § 1440 Bread
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The manufacture and sale of bread shall be controlled by the Commissioner who shall set the required sanitary standards in accordance with the rules and regulations provided for in subchapter I of this chapter.
19 V.I.C. § 1461 Repealed. Jan. 23, 2004, No. 6638, § 5(c)–(d), Sess. L. 2003, p. 247
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19 V.I.C. § 1461 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
19 V.I.C. § 1462 Repealed. Jan. 23, 2004, No. 6638, § 5(c)–(d), Sess. L. 2003, p. 247
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19 V.I.C. § 1462 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
19 V.I.C. § 1463 Repealed. Aug. 12, 2004, No. 6679, § 3(a), Sess. L. 2004, p. 154
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19 V.I.C. § 1463 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
19 V.I.C. § 1481 Civil Penalties; Risk-Based Enforcement Framework
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(a) Definitions(1) Risk-based inspection means a regulatory framework that transitions from reactive enforcement to proactive risk management grounded in national best practices and public health priorities and designed to optimize resources while strengthening food safety outcom…
19 V.I.C. § 1481a Short title
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This Act may be cited as “The Virgin Islands Smoke-free Act” or “The Smoke-free Act”.
19 V.I.C. § 1482 Definitions
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(1) When used in this chapter, the term(1) “Bar” means an indoor establishment devoted to serving alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption and where the serving of food is only incidental to the consumption of those beverages. Bar includes taverns, nightclubs, lounges or c…
19 V.I.C. § 1483 Prohibition
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(a) Except as provided in section 1484, smoking is prohibited in the Virgin Islands in:(1) enclosed areas of public places;(2) enclosed areas of places of employment;(3) any outdoor service or waiting line and in, and within twenty feet from any point of any service or waiting li…
19 V.I.C. § 1484 Exceptions
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(a) The prohibition in section 1483 is subject to the following exceptions:(1) Smoking is not prohibited in any private club as defined under section 1482, paragraph (6), or in any cigar factory, as defined in section 1482, paragraph (4) if no member is under 18 years old is pres…
19 V.I.C. § 1485 Prohibited condition of employment: smoking by employees outside the course of employment
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(a) (1) This chapter may not be construed as allowing an employer or agent of an employer to require, as a condition of employment, that an employee or prospective employee refrain from smoking or using tobacco products outside the course the employee's employment, or to otherwis…
19 V.I.C. § 1486 Posting of signs
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(a) No “smoking” signs or the international “no smoking” symbol consisting of a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a red circle with a red bar across it must be clearly and conspicuously posted at every entrance of and inside every public place and place …
19 V.I.C. § 1487 Responsibilities of proprietors
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(1) The proprietor shall take the following measures to prevent smoking in public places or places of employment. The proprietor shall:(1) Post signs in accordance with section 1486;(2) Remove matches, cigarette lighters and ashtrays from areas where smoking is prohibited;(3) Req…
19 V.I.C. § 1488 Nonretaliation
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No employer may retaliate against an employee, applicant or customer for exercising any right provided by this chapter.
19 V.I.C. § 1489 Intent
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(a) (1) In any area or establishment where smoking is not prohibited, nothing in this chapter prohibits a proprietor of an establishment from voluntarily establishing nonsmoking portions or designating the entire establishment as smoke-free.(2) Nothing in this chapter prohibits p…
19 V.I.C. § 1490 [Reserved.]
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19 V.I.C. § 1490 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 Office of the Code Revisor, Legislature of the Virgin Islands All rights reserved.
19 V.I.C. § 1491 Administration; enforcement
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(a) (1) The Commissioner of Health is the designated person and the Department of Health is designated lead department responsible for administration and enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. However, every peace officer may enforce this chapter pursuant to 5 V.I.C. § 35…
19 V.I.C. § 1492 Reserved
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19 V.I.C. § 1492 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
19 V.I.C. § 1493 Private action
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(a) (1) Any person may maintain an action for declaratory and equitable relief against a proprietor to restrain any violation of this chapter. On a prima facie showing of a violation of this chapter, the court shall grant preliminary equitable relief to restrain any further viola…
19 V.I.C. § 1494 Government buildings, places of employment
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(a) The Department of Health shall investigate complaints of violations of this chapter at government buildings or places of employment and all other noncommercial public places.(a) The Department of Health may cite any department, agency, or instrumentality of the Government of …
19 V.I.C. § 1495 Inspection of places
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(a) (1) The Department of Health, Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs or Fire Services on its own initiative, or by the request of the Commissioner of Health, shall inspect any public place or place of employment, subject to the provisions of this chapter for compliance.…
19 V.I.C. § 1496 Penalties
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(a) (1) A person who smokes in an area where smoking is prohibited under section 1483 and where a no-smoking sign has been posted in conformity with this chapter commits an infraction that is a civil offense punishable by a fine in an amount not less than $100 and not more than $…
19 V.I.C. § 1497 Education
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(a) (1) The Department of Health, in conjunction with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, shall conduct seminars to educate business proprietors, employers and employees about the health and economic effects of smoking, tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. …
19 V.I.C. § 1498 Severability
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The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any provision of this chapter or the application the provision is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, the declaration does not affect the validity of the chapter as a whole or any provis…
19 V.I.C. § 1499 Other applicable laws
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This chapter may not be interpreted or construed to permit smoking where it is otherwise restricted by other applicable laws.
19 V.I.C. § 1501 Construction of comfort stations
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The Commissioner of Public Works is authorized to construct public comfort stations in Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Coral Bay and Frederiksted.
19 V.I.C. § 1502 Selection of locations
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The Commissioner of Health may in his discretion establish the comfort stations at such locations within the five towns as in his judgment will best serve the public.
19 V.I.C. § 1503 Coin-operated and free comfort stations
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The Commissioner is authorized to install a sufficient number of coin-operated comfort stations but at least one facility at every location shall be capable of being used without charge to the public.
19 V.I.C. § 1504 Disposition of proceeds
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The proceeds of any funds collected from the operation of the comfort stations shall be covered into the Treasury of the Virgin Islands authorized by Act No. 982.
19 V.I.C. § 1505 Mobile comfort stations
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The Department of Public Works is authorized and directed to purchase, install and maintain mobile public comfort stations at appropriate places on the islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, to be determined by the Commissioner of Health; Provided, That at least three co…
19 V.I.C. § 1506 Coin-operated and free facilities
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The Commissioner of Health is authorized to have installed coin-operated facilities in the comfort stations, but at least one facility in each comfort station shall be available to the public without charge. Any funds collected from the operation of the comfort stations shall be …
19 V.I.C. § 1507 Restroom facilities
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(a) All owners of shopping centers, plazas and other multi-business developments shall make adequate restroom facilities available to their patrons during their regular business hours. There shall be separate restrooms for male and female and they shall be conveniently located an…
19 V.I.C. § 1508 Penalties for violation
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Whoever violates the provisions of section 1507 of this chapter shall be assessed a fine of $25 for each and every business day of noncompliance.
19 V.I.C. § 1521 Definitions
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As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise—“plumbing system” means the water supply and distribution pipes; plumbing fixtures and traps; soil, waste, and vent pipes; building drains and building sewers, including their respective connections, devices a…
19 V.I.C. § 1522 Powers and duties of Waste Management Authority
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(1) The Waste Management Authority shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter, and shall—(1) approve the design of installations and quality of materials used in installations under this chapter, in accordance with approved sanitary engineering standards;(2) dete…
19 V.I.C. § 1523 Connection to public sewer
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(a) No owner of a dwelling or building shall maintain any pit, privy, privy vault, cesspool or nightsoil can for the purpose of receiving organic wastes wherever connection can be made to the public sewer system in accordance with the provisions of this chapter or rules and regul…