Grease Trap Requirements
Lakewood, CO

FOG Compliance in Lakewood, CO

Food service establishments in Lakewood operate under a combination of federal EPA pretreatment standards, Colorado state plumbing code, and city-level FOG ordinances. Together these rules determine how grease traps must be sized, how often they must be pumped, and what happens when a restaurant falls out of compliance.

Pumping frequency is the compliance rule restaurant owners interact with most often. In Lakewood, the rule is: annual. This is more lenient than the US median, typical of jurisdictions with lower-volume food service sectors. The city follows the International Plumbing Code (IPC) for trap sizing and installation. Under Section 1003.3.4, which sizes traps by drainage fixture unit counts, grease interceptors installed in Lakewood must meet minimum capacity thresholds based on the fixtures connected to them — 3-compartment sinks, dishwashers, pre-rinse stations, wok stoves, and floor drains on the cook line.

Lakewood enforces the 25 percent rule: grease traps must be pumped before the combined FOG and settled solids reach 25 percent of the trap's total liquid depth. Inspectors measure the depth with a sludge judge or dipstick, typically at surprise visits. Exceeding the threshold at inspection triggers a notice of violation and mandatory emergency pump-out, regardless of the scheduled pumping cycle.

For a deeper explanation of the rules this city enforces, read our guides on how grease traps work and the 25/50 pumping rule.