Sharing with your camp and neighbours is not regarded as "public".
There is both a Permit and rules specific for Burning Man (of course based on the Nevada requirements).
Public requires a permit (obtained in advance - NOT available on the playa) & safe handling rules must be met, depending on what it is you're preparing or serving.
- Sitting at the edge of the street and offering is public.
- Walking/driving around the playa offering is public.
- Also required when your camp reaches a certain size.
- Operating a bar is public, but Bars are exempt from a Permit, unless they're serving fruit or dairy with their drinks which triggers the Permit and the safe handling rules.
viewtopic.php?f=276&t=56525&start=30#p967713
- Ice must be from Nevada approved sources
- Individual Serving sizes Individually Packaged by a commercial facility that do not require refrigeration are exempt (i.e. individually packaged cookies)
(technically, a plate of unpackaged cookies on a plate being passed around on the street is a violation: how was it prepared, and the public is handing food on the plate - wash hands after porta-pottie?).
For example, you could serve the public coffee, but only if there was no dairy. Non-dairy creamer is o.k..
Add dairy and the whole nine yards of the permit & food handling rules would kick in.
Here's a whole thread regarding a camp wanting to serve cookies & coffee.
viewtopic.php?f=276&t=65598
Even if the permit/rules will not apply to your intended use, it's an interesting read on food safety on the playa.
The above is from
LAST YEAR's info (2013). It may change for this year.
Video games are giving kids unrealistic expectations on how many swords they can carry.
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... but don't harm the red dragon that frequents the area from time to time. He and I have an agreement.