State of Idaho
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE
Division of Health

BUREAU OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
DIRK KEMPTHORNE
Governor
KARL B. KURTZ
Director
RICHARD H. SCHULTZ
Administrator
450 W. State St., 4th Floor
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0036
(208)334-0606
Fax (208)334-6581

March 29, 2002





Dear Mr. Korsky:

I was forwarded your March 22, 2002 letter requesting information about State of Idaho laws and regulations requiring shoes or other footwear for the general public in places open to the public such as restaurants, retail establishments, libraries, schools, etc.

The State of Idaho does not have a specific requirement for footwear, but in Idaho Statute, Title 39, Chapter 18, Section 39-1805, the code allows hotels and food vending establishments to evict any guest who, "Refuses to abide by reasonable standards or policies established by the hotelkeeper for operation and management of the hotel."

The Idaho statute for Food Establishments, Title 39, Chapter 16, allows the department to adopt rules, which are contained in IDAPA 16, Title 2, Chapter 19. These rules require employees to wear clean outer clothing, hairnets and single-use gloves. These regulations can be accessed on the internet at: http://www2.state.id.us/adm/adminrules/rules/idapa16/0219.pdf.

There are no specific rules for footwear for patrons, but the policy of the establishment may well require that as a reasonable standard.

Sincerely,

(signed)

Elke Shaw-Tulloch
Acting Bureau Chief

C: Mary Valentine, Food Protection Program Manager