Colorado Grease Trap Regulations (2026)
Everything a Colorado restaurant or commercial kitchen needs to know about grease trap compliance: who regulates it, how often you must clean, what records to keep, and what violations actually cost. Citations link to the official source so you can verify every claim — and show your inspector you did.
Colorado Requirements at a Glance
| Cleaning frequency | No statewide interval — set by local sewer authorities. Colorado Springs Utilities requires cleaning when FOG and solids reach 25% of liquid capacity, with a recommended minimum of every 90 days. |
| State regulator | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Water Quality Control Division |
| Governing regulation | 3 CCR 720-1 (Basic Standards for Surface Water); FOG pretreatment required under the federal Clean Water Act and delegated to local POTWs — no single statewide FOG-specific cleaning rule |
| Manifest required | Yes — hauler manifest at the local level — amount removed, date, disposal location; copy kept by the establishment (e.g., Colorado Springs Utilities) (source) |
| Record retention | 3 years per Colorado Springs Utilities FOG Policies (no statewide retention period is codified) (source) |
Who Regulates Grease Traps in Colorado
At the state level, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Water Quality Control Division (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is 3 CCR 720-1 (Basic Standards for Surface Water); FOG pretreatment required under the federal Clean Water Act and delegated to local POTWs — no single statewide FOG-specific cleaning rule. Day-to-day enforcement — inspections, cleaning intervals, fines — usually happens through your city or county sewer utility's pretreatment program, which can set stricter rules than the state.
Manifests & Record Keeping
- Collect a signed manifest (hauler manifest at the local level — amount removed, date, disposal location; copy kept by the establishment (e.g., Colorado Springs Utilities)) at every service — date, volume removed, hauler license, disposal facility. (source)
- Keep records 3 years per Colorado Springs Utilities FOG Policies (no statewide retention period is codified). (source)
- Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.
City Programs in Colorado
Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:
Denver
- Program: Denver Dept. of Transportation and Infrastructure — Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP) program, with DDPHE and Metro Wastewater Reclamation District
- Ordinance: Denver Revised Municipal Code, Title 11; SUDP Procedure P-400-501
- Cleaning frequency: Clean at 25% of liquid capacity, or at minimum every 90 days, whichever is first
- Permit: Sewer Use and Drainage Permit required for new/modified/reconstructed interceptors; interior installs need DDPHE approval
Colorado Springs
- Program: Colorado Springs Utilities Industrial Pretreatment / FOG Program
- Ordinance: CSU FOG Policies and Procedures Manual (February 2018)
- Cleaning frequency: Clean at 25% of total liquid capacity; recommended minimum every 90 days
- Permit: Grease interceptor installation permit through CSU; FOG variance available for low-grease-output facilities
Worth Knowing in Colorado
Colorado has no statewide grease trap cleaning law or unified hauler license — every requirement comes from the local POTW under a CDPHE-approved pretreatment program. Denver's SUDP program prohibits single-fixture at-source interceptors and sizes gravity interceptors more conservatively than the International Plumbing Code, so a design that passes elsewhere may not pass in Denver.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must grease traps be cleaned in Colorado?
No statewide interval — set by local sewer authorities. Colorado Springs Utilities requires cleaning when FOG and solids reach 25% of liquid capacity, with a recommended minimum of every 90 days. Your city's FOG program may require more frequent service — and regardless of the legal interval, clean before fats, oils, and grease reach 25% of trap capacity.
Do I need a manifest for grease trap cleaning in Colorado?
Yes. Get a signed manifest (hauler manifest at the local level — amount removed, date, disposal location; copy kept by the establishment (e.g., Colorado Springs Utilities)) from the hauler at every service and keep it 3 years per Colorado Springs Utilities FOG Policies (no statewide retention period is codified). It's the document inspectors ask for first.
Next Steps
- Find grease trap cleaning companies in Colorado
- Run the Colorado-adapted compliance checklist
- Put manifests and pricing in writing (free template)
Official Sources
- https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=2141&fileName=3+CCR+720-1
- https://cdphe.colorado.gov/clean-water-permitting-sectors
- https://www.csu.org/Pages/fog-bmps.aspx
- https://www.csu.org/Documents/FOGPoliciesProcedures.pdf
- https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Department-of-Transportation-and-Infrastructure/Documents/Wastewater-Permits/Sewer-Use-and-Drainage-Permits
This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Water Quality Control Division and your local FOG program.
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