Virginia Law

A. Eating and drinking establishments, commissaries, mobile units, and vending machines operated in conjunction with a hotel shall be operated in compliance with the Food Regulations (12VAC5-421).

B. When reusable glassware is provided by the hotel, it must be properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized. An approved three-compartment sink or a commercial dishwashing machine shall be provided in a kitchen or separate room for the purpose of performing this function. Sanitized glassware shall be stored in a clean site that is removed from sources of contamination. A single-service cover is to be placed on the opening of the glassware prior to its removal from the cleaning site. If this cover is removed by the guest, then the glassware is presumed to be soiled and shall be washed and sanitized.

C. Single-service articles shall be properly stored and protected from contamination. The reuse of these items is prohibited.

D. Ice buckets shall be constructed and repaired with safe materials and shall be corrosive resistant, nonabsorbent, nontoxic, smooth, easily cleanable and durable under conditions of normal use. Single-service ice buckets may be used if intended for one use only and if made from clean, sanitary safe materials.

E. When ice buckets are provided by hotels, they must be properly washed, rinsed and sanitized. An approved three-compartment sink or commercial dishwashing machine shall be provided in the kitchen or a separate room for the purpose of performing this function. A food grade liner may be used in lieu of a three-compartment sink to protect ice from contamination as long as the liner and ice bucket itself are clean and of approved construction. When ice buckets are provided, they must have either an approved lid or a food grade liner available to protect ice from contamination.

F. Bottled or packaged water shall be obtained from an approved source and shall be packaged, handled, sorted and dispensed in a way that protects it from contamination.

G. Any hotel that makes ice available in public areas, including but not limited to lobbies, hallways, and outdoor areas, shall restrict access to such ice in accordance with the following provisions:

1. Newly constructed facilities. After March 1, 2002, any newly constructed hotel that installs ice-making equipment, and any existing hotel that installs or replaces ice-making equipment, shall install only automatic dispensing, sanitary ice-making and storage equipment in areas accessible to the public. Any such establishment may install open-type bin ice machines in areas not accessible to the public provided they meet the requirement of subdivision 2 of this subsection.

2. Existing facilities. After March 1, 2004, any existing hotel that has not converted to automatic dispensing, ice-making and storage shall no longer permit unrestricted public access to open-type ice bins and shall dispense ice to guests only by having employees give out prefilled, individual sanitary containers of ice or by making available prefilled, disposable, closed bags of ice.

H. EXEMPTION: Bed and breakfast facilities are exempt from subsection B of this section. Bed and breakfast facilities shall comply with all applicable sections of the Food Regulations of the Board of Health (12VAC5-421).