Section 72.03. Definitions.

  In this chapter:

(1)  "Agent" means the city or county designated by the department to issue permits to and make investigations or inspections of hotels, motels, or tourist rooming houses.

(2)  "Approved" means acceptable to the department, based on its determination of conformance with this chapter and good public health practices.

(3)  "Communicable disease" has the meaning prescribed in s. DHS 145.03 (4) .

(4)  "Department" means the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.

(5)  "Easily cleanable" means readily accessible and made of a kind of material and finish and so fabricated that residue may be completely removed by normal cleaning methods.

(6)  "Employee" means any person working in a hotel, motel, or tourist rooming house.

(7)  "Equipment" means, in connection with the operation of a hotel, motel, or tourist rooming house, stoves, ranges, hoods, counters, refrigerators, ice-making machines, sinks, and similar appliances and other items used to prepare or hold foods or to clean utensils.

(8)  "Existing," in reference to a hotel, motel or tourist rooming house, means operating with a permit from the department before the adoption of this chapter.

(9)  "Facility" means a hotel, motel, or tourist rooming house.

(10)  "Furnishings" means, in connection with the operation of a hotel, motel or tourist rooming house, linens, beds, bedding, chairs, tables, shelves, drapes, carpeting, curtains, decorations, fixtures, and similar items provided in the sleeping rooms and common areas of the facility.

(11)  "Hotel" means a place where sleeping accommodations are offered for pay to transients, in 5 or more rooms, and all related rooms, buildings and areas.

(12)  "Motel" means a hotel that furnishes on-premise parking for motor vehicles of guests as part of the room charge, without extra cost, and that is identified as a "motel" rather than a"hotel" at the request of the operator.

(13)  "New," in reference to a hotel, motel, or tourist rooming house, means operating with a permit from the department for the first time on or after the effective date of this chapter.

(14)  "Operator" means the person legally responsible for the operation of the hotel, motel, or tourist rooming house.

(15)  "Person" means an individual, partnership, association, firm, company, corporation, municipality, county, or town, whether tenant, owner, lessee, licensee, or the agent, heir, or assignee of any of these.

(16)  "Premises" means the tract of land on which a hotel, motel or tourist rooming house is located and all associated buildings on that land.

(17)  "Privy" means a structure not connected to a plumbing system, which is used by persons for the disposal of human body wastes.

(18)  "Sleeping accommodations offered for pay" means all sleeping rooms on the premises including quarters occupied by permanent guests but excluding sleeping rooms occupied by the operator or owner or his or her immediate family.

(19)  "Tourist or transient" means a person who travels to a location away from his or her permanent address for a short period of time for vacation, pleasure, recreation, culture, business, or employment.

(20)  "Tourist rooming house" means all lodging places and tourist cabins and cottages, other than hotels and motels, in which sleeping accommodations are offered for pay to tourists or transients. It does not include private boarding or rooming houses not accommodating tourists or transients, or bed and breakfast establishments regulated under ch. ATCP 73 .

(21)  "Utensil" means any kitchenware, tableware, glassware, cutlery, container, or similar item with which food or drink comes into contact during storage, preparation or serving.

Cr. Register, June, 1985, No. 354 , eff. 7-1-85; am. (19), Register, November, 1986, No. 371 , eff. 12-1-86; correction in (3) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register May 2002 No. 557 ; CR 08-073 : renum. from HFS 195.03 and am. (4) Register January 2009 No. 637 , eff. 2-1-09; corrections in (3) and (20) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2009 No. 637 ; renum. from DHS 195.03 Register June 2016 No. 726 ; correction in (4) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., correction in (20) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register June 2016 No. 726 .