Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
FACILITY STANDARDS AND LICENSING
Chapter 246-360 - Transient accommodations
Section 246-360-010 - Definitions

(1) "Approved" means a written statement of acceptability issued by a governmental agency or meeting nationally recognized testing standards.

(2) "Bathroom" means a room containing a bathing fixture.

(3) "Bed and breakfast" means a private home or inn offering lodging on a temporary basis to travelers. This type of facility may include food service in accordance with chapter 246-215 WAC.

(4) "Board" means the Washington state board of health established under chapter 43.20 RCW.

(5) "Clean" means without visible or tangible soil or residue.

(6) "Cleanable" means the material and finish is fabricated to permit complete removal of residue through normal cleaning methods.

(7) "Construction" means:

(8) "Crisis shelter" means a transient accommodation, at a permanent physical location, providing emergency or planned lodging services to a specific population, for periods of less than thirty days. A crisis shelter may or may not be reimbursed for services in the form of rental fee or labor.

(9) "Department" means the Washington state department of health.

(10) "Dormitory" means a lodging unit containing beds, cots, pads, or other furnishings intended for sleeping by a number of guests.

(11) "Exemption" means a written authorization granted by the department under WAC 246-360-500.

(12) "Guest" means any individual occupying, or registered to occupy, a lodging unit.

(13) "Hostel" means a transient accommodation offering lodging and limited services, that may include the use of a common kitchen, to guests on a daily or weekly basis in exchange for a rental fee, labor, or a combination of rental fee and labor.

(14) "Laundry" means a central area or room with equipment intended to be used to clean and dry bedding, linen, towels, and other items, including such areas or rooms provided for guests' use.

(15) "Licensee" means the person to whom the department issues the transient accommodation license.

(16) "Local health jurisdiction" means the county or district that provides public health services within the area consistent with chapters 70.05 and 70.08 RCW.

(17) "Lodging unit" means an individual room or group of interconnected rooms, intended for sleeping, that are for rent or use by a guest, and is individually designated by number, letter, or other means of identification. A lodging unit may or may not include areas for cooking and eating.

(18) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, organization, or joint stock association, and the legal successor thereof.

(19) "Retreat" means a transient accommodation intended to provide seclusion, meditation, contemplation, religious activities, training, or similar activities.

(20) "Rustic resort" means a rural transient accommodation lacking many modern conveniences. A rustic resort may operate seasonally.

(21) "Sanitary" means hygienic conditions that are conducive to good health.

(22) "Sanitize" means to treat a surface or object with a chemical or physical process, such as heat, to control or limit the presence of germs. For purposes of these regulations, "sanitize" and "disinfect" are equivalent.

(23) "Self-inspect" means the licensee evaluates a transient accommodation for compliance with specific requirements in this chapter.

(24) "Sink" means a properly trapped plumbing fixture, capable of holding water, with approved potable running hot and cold water under pressure.

(25) "State building code" means chapter 19.27 RCW and any codes adopted and any rules and regulations promulgated under chapter 19.27 RCW.

(26) "Survey" means the examination or inspection of a transient accommodation, conducted by the department to determine if minimal health and safety standards in chapter 246-360 WAC are being met. A survey may require one or more site visits and may be announced or unannounced. For purposes of these regulations, a survey and inspection are equivalent.

(27) "Surveyor" means a department employee who conducts a health and safety survey of transient accommodations. For purposes of these regulations, the terms surveyor and inspector are equivalent.

(28) "Transient accommodation" means any facility such as a hotel, motel, condominium, resort, or any other facility or place offering three or more lodging units to guests for periods of less than thirty days and may include food service operations in accordance with chapter 246-215 WAC.

(29) "Utensil" means any food contact implement used in storing, preparing, transporting, dispensing, serving, or selling food or drink, excluding commercial vending and storage equipment.

(30) "Vector" means an animal that transmits a disease-producing organism from one host to another. For example, mosquitoes are vectors that transmit malaria.

(31) "Water closet" means a portable device or a fixture that has a hinged seat and flushing device used to dispose of body waste. This may include water filled, chemical or incineration toilets.