Prohibited acts: Operation of food establishment without valid permit issued by health authority; sale, offer or display for consideration of food prepared in private home without valid permit issued by health authority; exemptions.
1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful for any person to operate a food establishment unless he possesses a valid permit issued to him by the health authority.
2. The health authority may exempt a food establishment from the provisions of this chapter if the health authority determines that the food which is sold, offered or displayed for sale, or served at the establishment does not constitute a potential or actual hazard to the public health.
3. Food that is prepared in a private home and given away free of charge or consideration of any kind is exempt from the provisions of this chapter, unless it is given to a food establishment.
4. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, food that is prepared in a private home must not be sold, or offered or displayed for sale or for compensation or contractual consideration of any kind, unless the person preparing the food possesses a valid permit issued to him by the health authority for that purpose.
5. A religious, charitable or other nonprofit organization may, without possessing a permit from the health authority, sell food occasionally to raise money, whether or not the food was prepared in a private home, if the sale occurs on the premises of the organization. If the sale is to occur off the premises of the organization, a permit from the health authority is required unless an exemption is granted pursuant to subsection 2.
Last modified: February 26, 2006