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King County Washington home

Labor compliance for food businesses rule

New signage for businesses with wage theft violations

Short URL: kingcounty.gov/foodsafety/wage-theft

Food businesses that have failed to pay the money owed to workers after receiving a final order requiring payment for labor standards violations (such as paid sick leave, minimum wage, or wage theft) are subject to additional requirements.

For these businesses, Public Health will:

  • Place a Labor Compliance Notice sign within five feet of the main entrance of the business, near the food safety rating sign. The sign is to remain in place until the financial obligations are resolved; and
  • Conduct an additional food safety inspection within thirty business days of receiving information about the business’s failure to pay the money owed after receiving a final order.

These conditions are required by King County Board of Health (BOH) Rule and Regulation 25-02 (rule), which was passed by the BOH on September 18, 2025 and is effective as of August 15, 2026.

Businesses with unresolved labor violations could also have unsafe food practices: this rule is intended to help prevent foodborne illnesses and increase compliance with the King County food code.

partial screenshot of the Labor Compliance Notice signage

Which businesses are included?

Food businesses subject to the requirements have not paid the money owed to their workers and have financial obligations as imposed through a final government agency-initiated order, determination, settlement, or court order enforcing state and local labor standards laws from which no appeal is pending. Businesses covered include general food service establishments, bakeries, mobile food businesses, meat and fish vendors, and catering businesses.

Public Health will receive information about which businesses fail to comply from the Seattle Office of Labor Standards, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, and the Washington State Attorney General's office.

Labor Compliance Notice signage

The Labor Compliance Notice sign says that the business has failed to pay money owed to its workers after receiving a final order requirement payment for labor standards violations.