3717-1-06.4(O) Physical facilities: maintenance and operation

Animals - limitations. Live animals are not to be allowed on the premises of a food service operation or retail food establishment. This paragraph does not apply in the following situations if the contamination of food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles cannot result:

(1)

Edible fish or decorative fish in aquariums, shellfish, or crustacea on ice or under refrigeration, and shellfish and crustacea in display tank systems;

(2)

Patrol dogs accompanying police or security officers in office, dining, sales, and storage areas, and sentry dogs running loose in outside fenced areas;

(3)

Service animals that are controlled by the disabled employee or person, or the trainer of the service animal, in areas that are not used for food preparation and that are usually open for customers, such as dining and sales areas, if a health or safety hazard will not result from the presence or activities of the service animal;

(4)

Pets in the common dining areas of institutional care facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, or residential care facilities at times other than during meals if:

(a)

Effective partitioning and self-closing doors separate the common dining areas from food storage or food preparation areas;

(b)

Condiments, equipment, and utensils are stored in enclosed cabinets or removed from the common dining areas when pets are present; and

(c)

Dining areas including tables, countertops, and similar surfaces are effectively cleaned before the next meal service.

(5)

Caged animals or animals that are similarly confined may be permitted in areas that are not used for food preparation, storage, sales, display, or dining, such as in a variety store that sells pets or a tourist park that displays animals; or

(6)

Storage of live or dead fish bait.