Denver Restaurant Grease Trap Requirements & Compliance Guide

Denver Local Grease Trap Regulations

The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment requires all food service establishments to install and maintain grease traps or interceptors proportional to their daily cooking volume. Denver Building Code (DBC) Section 1003.2 mandates grease trap installation for facilities with sinks, drains, or equipment that discharge grease-laden wastewater. Traps must be sized according to fixture unit calculations and installed in accessible locations for cleaning and inspection. Denver health inspectors evaluate grease trap compliance during routine and complaint-based inspections, with violations documented in inspection reports. Failure to maintain working grease traps can result in fines up to $300 per violation and temporary closure orders.

Colorado State Requirements & Maintenance Standards

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) establishes baseline plumbing and wastewater standards that Denver builds upon. Colorado Plumbing Code requires grease interceptors to be pumped and cleaned whenever they reach 25% capacity by volume—not on a fixed calendar schedule as many restaurants assume. Records of maintenance, pumping dates, and waste disposal must be retained on-site for DDPHE audits. Restaurants must contract with Colorado-certified waste disposal companies that document proper disposal of FOG waste and provide proof to the establishment. State regulations prohibit dumping grease or interceptor waste into storm drains or public sewers without treatment.

Denver vs. Federal Standards & Key Differences

While the FDA's Food Code provides baseline guidance, Denver's regulations are significantly stricter than federal minimums. The FDA recommends grease trap cleaning "as needed," but Denver requires the 25%-capacity standard regardless of visible accumulation. Federal standards focus on food worker hygiene and foodborne pathogen prevention, whereas Denver emphasizes FOG management to protect municipal infrastructure and the South Platte River watershed. Denver's local codes supersede federal guidelines; restaurants must follow whichever standard is more stringent. The EPA's pretreatment standards (40 CFR Part 403) apply to large industrial facilities, but Denver's stricter local ordinances apply to all food service businesses.

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