Not legal advice. This is general information. Local (city or county) health departments can have stricter rules than the state. Check with your local health department.
What Washington's food code requires
The restaurant's person in charge must keep people its operation doesn't need out of its food prep, storage and dishwashing areas. Delivery and maintenance people who do go in have to follow the food code.
Persons unnecessary to the food establishment operation are not allowed in the food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas, except that brief visits and tours may be authorized by the person in charge if steps are taken to ensure that exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles are protected from contaminationWAC 246-215-02115
employees and other persons such as delivery and maintenance persons and pesticide applicators entering the food preparation, food storage, and warewashing areas comply with this chapterWAC 246-215-02115
- What it means
- Washington's code puts this duty on the restaurant's person in charge, not on the driver. It has no rule aimed at delivery drivers themselves. The DOH food worker card page does not mention delivery drivers.
- Food code
- FDA 2017 with Supplement, restated (eff. Mar 1, 2022) (ch. 246-215 WAC)
- Food handler card
- Food worker card within 14 days of employment (RCW 69.06); permit holder ensures compliance (WAC 246-215-02120)
- Sources
- Last verified
- October 26, 2026
Spot an error, or a newer rule? Tell us with the link to the source, and we'll fix it. See every state.
Also: Why it matters to the customer · Isn't the lobby fountain self-serve? · What to do if a restaurant asks you to make the drink · What DoorDash's own terms say · What the restaurant promised DoorDash · Who's liable if something goes wrong?
Not legal advice. This is general information. Local (city or county) health departments can have stricter rules than the state. Check with your local health department. Last verified October 26, 2026.
Put together by a Dasher who builds Minuku, an offer checker for DoorDash on Android. Get it on Google Play