Free the Squatch

Who to contact

For Meridian’s final decision: Send the supporter message to the Mayor, Community Development leadership, the Police Chief who oversees Code Enforcement, and all six City Council members.

Open an Email to Meridian Officials

If the button does not open your email program, copy these verified addresses:

• Mayor Robert Simison: rsimison@meridiancity.org
• Community Development Director Dave Miles: dmiles@meridiancity.org
• Community Development Deputy Director Caleb Hood: chood@meridiancity.org
• Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea: tbasterrechea@meridiancity.org
• Councilmember Brian Whitlock: bwhitlock@meridiancity.org
• Councilmember Liz Strader: lstrader@meridiancity.org
• Councilmember Doug Taylor: dtaylor@meridiancity.org
• Council President John Overton: joverton@meridiancity.org
• Council Vice President Anne Little Roberts: alittleroberts@meridiancity.org
• Councilmember Luke Cavener: lcavener@meridiancity.org

Official alternatives:

Send the message through Meridian’s City Council and Mayor contact form

Send a separate request for state-law clarification to the Idaho Governor’s Office

Please send one respectful message. State contacts can address the intent and statewide application of Idaho law; Meridian officials are the contacts who can provide the requested local written determination.

Request for a Final Written Resolution for Bigfoot’s Munchies

Dear City Official,

I am writing as a supporter of Bigfoot’s Munchies to respectfully request a prompt, coordinated, and final written resolution. This matter raises an important question about whether Meridian’s local permitting and zoning requirements are being applied in a way that overrides or defeats protections the Idaho Legislature expressly created for qualifying home-based food producers.

Senate Bill 1283 enacted the Idaho Direct-to-Consumer Commerce Act, now codified in Idaho Code Title 37, Chapter 2. Idaho Code § 37-202 states that the Act’s purpose is to facilitate the production and direct sale of homemade food to informed end consumers with “minimal regulatory burden” and to encourage sales at farm stands and producers’ homes by providing “unimpeded access” to food from Idaho producers.

Idaho Code § 37-203 defines “homemade” food as food grown, prepared, or processed at a private or leased farm, home kitchen, or other non-licensed facility. It defines a “farm stand” as a temporary or permanent structure operated by a producer or designated agent for the sale of homemade food. The statute specifically identifies popcorn and qualifying baked goods among covered shelf-stable foods.

Most importantly, Idaho Code § 37-204 states that uniform statewide laws are necessary, that the Legislature intended to “wholly occupy the field” of products made directly available to consumers under the Act, and that—unless expressly authorized by state statute—political subdivisions may not enforce more-stringent licensing or permitting requirements pertaining to covered products. Requirements that violate the chapter are declared unenforceable.

Despite those protections, Meridian directed Bigfoot’s Munchies to remove its self-service carts and signage and stop sales and customer pickups at the residence. The owner complied. She then proposed preparing qualifying foods in her home kitchen while conducting every delivery or customer transfer away from the property, with no customers visiting the home. Code Enforcement advised her that this arrangement would not require a home-occupation permit.

At the same time, the separate permit path presented by the City requires the property owner’s signature. Her landlord initially declined to sign, citing insurance concerns. The owner supplied proof that Bigfoot’s Munchies is fully insured, renewed her request, and is still awaiting a final response. Requiring—or effectively forcing—a home producer to use a licensed commercial kitchen is not an equivalent solution: doing so may cause the products to fall outside § 37-203’s definition of “homemade,” undermining the very home-production framework the Act appears intended to protect.

Bigfoot’s Munchies was also more than a small home-based food business and self-service stand. The business used its sales to give back to the community and support charitable causes. Its current “Popcorn with a Purpose” campaign benefits the Idaho Humane Society. Shutting down the cart interrupted that community fundraising effort as well as the owner’s small business.

I understand that the City may believe its rules regulate land use rather than the food products themselves. That is precisely why a final written determination is needed. Please explain how requiring a home-occupation permit and a landlord’s signature—as applied to a qualifying home producer—can be reconciled with §§ 37-202 through 37-204 and the Legislature’s express preemption language.

To bring this matter to a fair conclusion, I respectfully ask City leadership to provide a coordinated final written determination addressing:

1. Whether Meridian agrees that Bigfoot’s Munchies’ qualifying products and direct-to-consumer transactions fall within Idaho Code Title 37, Chapter 2.
2. Whether the owner may prepare qualifying foods at home, with no on-site sales or pickups, and deliver or transfer every order away from the property without a home-occupation permit.
3. If the City maintains that a permit or landlord signature may still be required, the specific state and local legal authority permitting that requirement despite § 37-204.
4. How renters can meaningfully exercise the Act’s protections when a landlord treats protected home production as prohibited commercial use and a commercial kitchen may remove the producer from the Act’s definition of “homemade.”
5. How Meridian will ensure that comparable carts and home-food activities are treated consistently rather than enforced only when a complaint is received.

The people supporting Bigfoot’s Munchies are asking for clarity, consistency, and a final resolution—not continued conflict. We respectfully ask the City to resolve the apparent conflict between its local requirements and the protections Idaho enacted for home-based direct-to-consumer producers.

Thank you for your time and for providing a written response.

What to include in your own submission

• Your name and preferred contact information.
• The location and type of cart, stand, or cottage-food activity.
• The date and method of the City’s contact.
• A copy or summary of the shutdown notice or instructions.
• Whether similar nearby activities remained in operation.
• The specific resolution or written clarification you are requesting.

Important: Submit only information you personally know to be accurate. Remove private information before sharing records publicly.

Subject: Request for Written Review of Meridian Cart or Cottage-Food Enforcement

Dear City Official,

I am writing on my own behalf regarding a cart, stand, or cottage-food activity in Meridian.

On [DATE], I was contacted by [DEPARTMENT OR EMPLOYEE] by [PHONE, EMAIL, LETTER, OR IN PERSON]. I was directed to [DESCRIBE EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE TOLD TO STOP OR REMOVE]. The location and activity were [BRIEF FACTUAL DESCRIPTION].

I was told that [STATE THE REASON, RULE, PERMIT REQUIREMENT, OR PROPERTY-OWNER REQUIREMENT YOU WERE GIVEN]. I received [A WRITTEN NOTICE / NO WRITTEN NOTICE].

I respectfully request a written determination identifying the ordinance, policy, or other legal authority being applied to my situation. I also ask the City to explain how it applies the same standard consistently to comparable carts, stands, and home-based food activities.

My requested resolution is: [STATE WHAT YOU WANT THE CITY TO REVIEW, CLARIFY, OR ALLOW].

Thank you for your time and written response.

Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION]