10G — Food operation in a room used as living/sleeping quarters
Mixing food operations with living or sleeping space brings in contaminants — dust, laundry, personal items, pests — and makes real cleaning impossible. The rule keeps the commercial food area separate from any living quarters. It's a General violation (2-5 points by number of rooms). It mostly turns up in very small or home-attached operations where back rooms get used for both.
What the inspector looks for
Confirm no food prep, cooking, or storage is happening in a room that's also used for living or sleeping. A cot in the dry-storage room, or prepping food in a space someone sleeps in, is the violation — the food operation must be a dedicated area, separate from any living quarters.
Points & grade impact
Cited at 2 points — 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 by number of rooms across condition I-IV. NYC adds every cited violation’s points into one inspection score: 0–13 = A, 14–27 = B, 28+ = C.
How to fix it
Separate the food operation from living/sleeping areas; cease food activity in those rooms.
How to prevent it
Keep food preparation, storage and service in dedicated commercial areas separated from any living or sleeping quarters.
- ✓Keep all food prep, cooking, and storage in dedicated commercial areas only.
- ✓Don't let staff sleep, live in, or store personal belongings in food prep or storage rooms.
- ✓If your space adjoins living quarters, put a real separation (a door/partition) between the two.
- ✓Store staff coats and bags in a designated spot away from food and packaging.
Reference: Health Code §81.17(a)(2)
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