A migrant farmworker is an individual who is employed in farm activities of a seasonal or temporary nature. A migrant farmworker housing operation requires a permit to operate from the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) if housing is offered to one or more migrant farmworkers.
The operator and occupant both have responsibilities to maintain a safe housing environment. A summary of these responsibilities can be found at Health.NY.gov.
A poster outlining these responsibilities is required to be placed in all housing facilities. You can obtain a copy of this poster from your public health sanitarian of jurisdiction or by calling your closest district office.
The Environmental Health Division (EHS) of the DBCH inspects migrant farmworker housing for health and safety concerns.
These include:
If the migrant farmworker housing has a drinking water well, the facility must apply for a water supply permit.
As of January 1st, 2021, Section 225 of the New York State Public Health Law was amended to require all farm and food processing facilities housing one or more migrant workers to comply with Part 15 of the NYS Sanitary Code. These facilities are required to obtain a permit from Dutchess County Behavioral & Community Health to operate this housing.
