APR 0 2 2002

Dear Mr. Roat:

Your letter requesting references to laws or regulations that requires shoes or other footwear for the general public (i.e., patrons) in places open to the public such as restaurants, has been forwarded to the Ohio Department of Health's (ODH), Bureau of Environmental Health, Food Safety Program for reply.

In Ohio there are 139 local health department (lhd) jurisdictions that are responsible to enforce the Ohio Food Service Laws and Rules. Duties include but are not limited to the licensing, inspection and follow up of complaints regarding food service operations within their jurisdiction. The ODH Food Safety Program provides technical oversight to the local health departments.

Currently, there are no references in the Ohio Food Service Laws and Rules that requires a patron to wear shoes. However, local health departments do have the authority to adopt local ordinances if they choose. You would have to contact each local health department to obtain information as to if they have adopted such an ordinance.

The Ohio Department of Health provides a listing of Ohio local health departments at the following web site address: http://www.odh.state.oh.us/Directory/directory1.html.

Additionally, if a food service operation chooses to have a dress code policy they may.

If you have any questions, please contact the Food Safety Team at 614-466-1390.

Sincerely,

(signed)

J. Nick Baird, M.D.
Director of Health

JNB/tjf

Cc:	Deborah Arms, Chief, Division of Prevention Steven A Wagner, Chief, Bureau of Environmental Health Scott Golden, Section Chief, Bureau of Environmental Health Ted Strouth, Administrator, Food Safety Program, Bureau of Environmental Health