Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Common house designation for legal purposes

[Dick Margulis (dick]

On 2/8/2017 9:44 AM, Maggi wrote:
> Obviously common meal is a private event, but what if a
> common meal is used as a fundraiser?

This varies by jurisdiction.

Our local health department made it clear from the earliest design stage 
that our common house is a food service establishment subject to 
licensing, inspection, training requirements, prohibition of pets in the 
building, etc., on the basis that a resident might ooccasionally invite 
a guest to a common meal. Would a college kid who comes home for a 
holiday count? Yes. Basically, anyone who isn't a permanent resident of 
the community counts as a guest and triggers the designation as a food 
service establishment.

This health department has told churches they can no longer host 
potlucks. So, yeah, they're pretty extreme. But they're who we have to 
deal with.