Law
Public Health Act 1875
United Kingdom · statute
Ask the law about thisMore laws of United KingdomFor machines: Markdown
In force since 2023-10-01, as the publisher states.
Copy read on 2026-11-09. The page it was read from
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.
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Contents: 149 provisions
- Title and introductory text
- 1 Short title.
- 2 Extent of Act.
- 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 4 Definitions.
- 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 68 Penalty for causing water to be corrupted by gas washings.
- 69 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 116 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 120 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 144 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 145 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 146 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 148 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 149 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 153 Power to require gas and water pipes to be moved.
- 154 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 156 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 157 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 159 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 160 Incorporation of certain provisions of 10 & 11 Vict. c. 34.
- 161 Powers of urban authority for lighting their district.
- 162 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 163 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 164 Local authority may provide places of public recreation.
- 165 Urban authority may provide public clocks.
- 166 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 171 Incorporation of certain provisions of 10 & 11 Vict. c. 89.
- 172 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 173 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 175 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 179 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 180 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 181 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 182 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 183 Power to impose penalties on breach of byelaws.
- 184 Confirmation of byelaws.
- 185 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 188 As to regulations of local authority.
- 189 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 201 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 202 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 204 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 205 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 206 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 207 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 211 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 212 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 213 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 216 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 218 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 224 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 225 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 227 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 228 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 229 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 230 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 232 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 233 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 234 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 235 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 236 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 240 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 242 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 244 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 245 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 248 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 249 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 251 Summary proceedings for offences, penalties, &c.
- 252 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 253 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 254 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 255 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 256 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 258 Justices may act though members of local authority or liable to contribute.
- 259 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 261 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 262 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 263 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 264 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 265 Protection of local authority and their officers from personal liability.
- 266 Notices, &c. may be printed or written.
- 267 Service of notices.
- 268 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 269 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 270 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 271 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 275 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 276 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 277 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 278 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 279 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 285 Power to execute works in adjoining districts, and to combine for execution of works.
- 286 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 287 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 291 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 292 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 293 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 295 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 296 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 297 As to provisional orders made by Local Government Board.
- 298 Costs of provisional orders.
- 299 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 303 Power to repeal and alter local Acts.
- 304 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 305 Entry on lands for purposes of Act.
- 306 Penalty on obstructing execution of Act.
- 307 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 308 Compensation in case of damage by local authority.
- 309 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 310 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 312 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 313 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 314 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 316 As to construction of incorporated Acts.
- 317 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 318 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 319 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 321 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 322 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 323 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 324 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 326 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 327 Saving for works and property of certain authorities, and for navigation and water rights, &c.
- 328 Reference to arbitration in case of works not within preceding section.
- 329 Effect of arbitration.
- 330 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 338 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 339 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 340 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 341 Powers of Act to be cumulative.
- 342 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 343 Repeal of Acts in schedule V.
- SCHEDULE I
- SCHEDULE II
- SCHEDULE III
- SCHEDULE IV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- SCHEDULE V
Proposed changes to this act
No one has proposed a change to this act yet.
149 provisions
253 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change254 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change255 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change256 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change258 Justices may act though members of local authority or liable to contribute.
No justice of the peace shall be deemed incapable of acting in cases arising under this Act . . . by reason of his being as one of several ratepayers, or as one of any other class of persons liable in common with the others to contribute to, or to be benefited by any rate or fund, out of which any expenses incurred by such authority are under this Act to be defrayed.
Propose a change259 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change261 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change262 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change263 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change264 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change265 Protection of local authority and their officers from personal liability.
No matter or thing done, and no contract entered into by any local authority or joint board or port sanitary authority, and no matter or thing done by any member of any such authority or by any officer of such authority or other person whomsoever acting under the direction of such authority, shall, if the matter or thing were done or the contract were entered into bona fide for the purpose of executing this Act, subject them or any of them personally to any action liability claim or demand whatsoever; and any expense incurred by any such authority member officer or other person acting as last aforesaid shall be borne and repaid out of the fund or rate applicable by such authority to the general purposes of this Act. ...
Propose a change266 Notices, &c. may be printed or written.
Notices orders and other such documents under this Act may be in writing or print, or partly in writing and partly in print; and if the same require authentication by the local authority, the signature thereof by the proper officer of the authority shall be sufficient authentication.
Propose a change267 Service of notices.
Notices orders and any other documents required or authorised to be served under this Act may be served by delivering the same to or at the residence of the person to whom they are respectively addressed, or where addressed to the owner or occupier of premises by delivering the same or a true copy thereof to some person on the premises, or if there is no person on the premises who can be so served by fixing the same on some conspicuous part of the premises; they may also be served by post by a prepaid letter, and if served by post shall be deemed to have been served at the time when the letter containing the same would be delivered in the ordinary course of post, and in proving such service it shall be sufficient to prove that the notice order or other document was properly addressed and put into the post. Any notice by this Act required to be given to the owner or occupier of any premises may be addressed by the description of the “owner or “occupier of the premises (naming them) in respect of which the notice is given, without further name or description.
Propose a change268 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change269 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change270 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change271 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change275 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change276 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change277 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change278 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change279 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change285 Power to execute works in adjoining districts, and to combine for execution of works.
Any local authority may, with the consent of the local authority of any adjoining district, execute and do in such adjoining district all or any of such works and things as they may execute and do within their own district, and on such terms as to payment or otherwise as may be agreed on between them and the local authority of the adjoining district; moreover two or more local authorities may combine together for the purpose of executing and maintaining any works that may be for the benefit of their respective districts or any part thereof. All moneys which any local authority may agree to contribute for defraying expenses incurred under this section shall be deemed to be expenses incurred by them in the execution of works within their district.
Propose a change286 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change287 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change291 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change292 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change293 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change295 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change296 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change297 As to provisional orders made by Local Government Board.
With respect to provisional orders authorised to be made by the Secretary of State under this Act, the following enactments shall be made:— (1) The Secretary of State shall not make any provisional order under this Act unless public notice of the purport of the proposed order has been previously given by advertisement in two successive weeks in some local newspaper circulating in the district to which such provisional order relates: (2) Before making any such provisional order, the Secretary of State shall consider any objections which may be made thereto by any person affected thereby, and in cases where the subject matter is one to which a local inquiry is applicable, shall cause to be made a local inquiry, of which public notice shall be given in manner aforesaid, and at which all persons interested shall be permitted to attend and make objections: (3) The Secretary of State may submit to Parliament for confirmation any provisional order made by it in pursuance of this Act, but any such order shall be of no force whatever unless and until it is confirmed by Parliament: (4) If while the Bill confirming any such order is pending in either House of Parliament, a petition is presented against any order comprised therein, the Bill, so far as it relates to such order, may be referred to a Select Committee, and the petitioner shall be allowed to appear and oppose as in the case of private Bills: (5) Any Act confirming any provisional order made in pursuance of any of the Sanitary Acts or of this Act, any Order in Council made in pursuance of any of the Sanitary Acts, and any order made under this Act and brought into operation in accordance with the provisions of the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945, may be repealed, altered or amended— (a) in the case of an Act confirming a provisional order made under section 279 of this Act or an order amending such an Act, by an order made by the Secretary of State which shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure; (b) in any other case, by a provisional order made by that Minister and confirmed by Parliament: (6) The Secretary of State may revoke, either wholly or partially, any provisional order made by them before the same is confirmed by Parliament, but such revocation shall not be made whilst the Bill confirming the order is pending in either House of Parliament: (7) The making of a provisional order shall be prima facie evidence that all the requirements of this Act in respect of proceedings required to be taken previously to the making of such provisional order have been complied with: (8) Every Act confirming any such provisional order shall be deemed to be a public general Act.
Propose a change298 Costs of provisional orders.
The reasonable costs of any local authority in respect of provisional orders made in pursuance of this Act, and of the inquiry preliminary thereto, as sanctioned by the Secretary of State, whether in promoting or opposing the same, shall be deemed to be expenses properly incurred for purposes of this Act by the local authority interested in or affected by such provisional orders, and such costs shall be paid accordingly; and if thought expedient by the Secretary of State, the local authority may contract a loan for the purpose of defraying such costs.
Propose a change299 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change303 Power to repeal and alter local Acts.
The Secretary of State may, on the application of the local authority of any district, by provisional order, wholly or partially repeal alter or amend any local Act, other than an Act for the conservancy of rivers, which is in force in any area comprising the whole or part of any such district, and not conferring powers or privileges on any persons or person for their or his own pecuniary benefit, which relates to the same subject matters as this Act. Any such provisional order may provide for the extension of the provisions of the local Act referred to therein beyond the district or districts within the limits of such Act, or for the exclusion of the whole or a portion of any such district from the application of such Act; and may provide what local authority shall have jurisdiction for the purposes of this Act in any area which is by such order included in or excluded from such district.
Propose a change304 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change305 Entry on lands for purposes of Act.
Whenever it becomes necessary for a local authority or any of their officers to enter examine or lay open any lands or premises for the purpose of making plans surveying measuring taking levels making keeping in repair or examining works, ascertaining the course of sewers or drains, or ascertaining or fixing boundaries, and the owner or occupier of such lands or premises refuses to permit the same to be entered upon examined or laid open for the purposes aforesaid or any of them, the local authority may, after written notice to such owner or occupier, apply to a court of summary jurisdiction for an order authorising the local authority to enter examine and lay open the said lands and premises for the purposes aforesaid or any of them. If no sufficient cause is shown against the application the court may make an order accordingly, and on such order being made the local authority or any of their officers may, at all reasonable times between the hours of nine in the forenoon and six in the afternoon, enter examine or lay open the lands or premises mentioned in such order, for such of the said purposes as are therein specified, without being subject to any action or molestation for so doing: Provided that, except in case of emergency, no entry shall be made or works commenced under this section unless at least twenty-four hours notice of the intended entry, and of the object thereof, be given to the occupier of the premises intended to be entered.
Propose a change306 Penalty on obstructing execution of Act.
Any person who wilfully obstructs any member of the local authority, or any person duly employed in the execution of this Act, . . . shall, . . . be liable for every such offence to a penalty not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale. Where the occupier of any premises prevents the owner thereof from obeying or carrying into effect any provisions of this Act, any justice to whom application is made in this behalf shall, by order in writing, require such occupier to permit the execution of any works required to be executed, provided that the same appear to such justice to be necessary for the purpose of obeying or carrying into effect the provisions of this Act; and if within twenty-four hours after the making of the order such occupier fails to comply therewith, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds for every day during the continuance of such non-compliance. If the occupier of any premises when requested by or on behalf of the local authority to state the name of the owner of the premises occupied by him, refuses or wilfully omits to disclose or wilfully mis-states the same, he shall (unless he shows cause to the satisfaction of the court for his refusal) be liable to a penalty not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.
Propose a change307 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change308 Compensation in case of damage by local authority.
Where any person sustains any damage by reason of the exercise of any of the powers of this Act, in relation to any matter as to which he is not himself in default, full compensation shall be made to such person by the local authority exercising such powers; and any dispute as to the fact of damage or amount of compensation shall be settled by arbitration . . ., or if the compensation claimed does not exceed the sum of twenty pounds, the same may at the option of either party be ascertained by and recovered before a court of summary jurisdiction.
Propose a change