Most relaxed/stringent food biz laws/regs by state?

Any and all input will be greatly appreciated. I need to make a decision about location. I'm not ready to rule any possibilities out.
 
Here's the question:
 
In your experience, or to your knowledge, which U.S. states/cities have the most relaxed laws and regulations as they apply to the foodservice industry? Most stringent?
 
Cheers,
AAiyar from California

i always thought cali was the bench mark for stringent

Your question is impossible to answer. There are literally THOUSANDS if not HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of different rules and regs in this country and they vary by state, county, township, borough, city, town, hamlet, village and local health departments and then by the individual Health inspectors within each department who interpret the rules and regs. Want something really screwed up? Give it to Lawmakers and Bureaucrats!
 I don't think there's anyone on here who can speak with authority on all the different rules and regs in this country, state, county, township, borough, city, town, hamlet, village and local health departments and then by the individual Health inspectors within each department who interpret the rules and regs.

Every township, county, state have so many laws on the books regarding food that it is an impossible question to answer. And then the real nightmare begins when you hit the zoning office. In my estimation, there is no answer to your question. Research and talk to the bureaucrats in your local, and even then you will not get a straight answer. Good luck.

^^^^Good advice.
 
Requirements across the country are going to be similar in many ways, but like anything else, the devil is in the details and the only thing that matters to any of us, regardless of location, is what a given inspector that we are going to have to deal with will require.
 
I would say figure out where you want to be and find out what you will have to do to make your inspectors happy. Then do it.
 
Just as an example...my trailer came out of Florida and had a current HD inspection/certificate...was legal to operate in Florida. In Kentucky however, the HD won't even look at your trailer until the Plumbing inspector gives his approval. The plumbing inspector took one look at it...giggled, and said "rip it out". I had to have a Master Plumber draw up a plan, submit it to the inspector for approval and then do the work. About a thousand dollars later I have the Plumbing inspectors approval and sticker...which was the first thing the Health Dept. guy looked for when he came in. Piece of cake after that.
 
There were no surprises here. I knew before I bought the trailer that the plumbing would not pass KY code. Do your homework on what is required for the locality you will operate in & don't spend money without knowing what you are getting into.

This was more along the lines of what I was looking for, thank you.

The smartest answer and advise I've seen so far here on Roadfood.
Relentless(Don't spend money untill you know what your getting into!)