Food Service Customers
Restaurants and food service establishments generate cooking fats, oils, and grease (known as FOG) that can create clogs or blockages in sewer pipes and lead to damaged pipes, sewer overflows, and sewer backups.
MSD's Development Services and Commercial Waste groups work together to help regulate food service customers in the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio.
Food service operations are subject to the MSD requirements listed below, per Article XV of MSD Rules and Regulations. These are in addition to any Building or Health Department requirements from a municipality or township.
REQUEST FOR AVAILABILITY OF SEWER SERVICE
A Request for Availability of Sewer Service application is required for construction of a new restaurant or food service establishment or for modification of an existing property for an increased or new use. This application is necessary to ensure sewers are accessible and have capacity to serve the property.
Request for Availability of Sewer Service Form (online form)
KITCHEN GREASE TRAP/INTERCEPTOR REVIEW
When local plumbing code requires food service operations to install a grease control device (trap or interceptor), MSD must perform a grease trap review.
Food service operations that generate small amounts of FOG typically need a grease trap and should follow local plumbing code to size the trap. Significant FOG generators typically need a gravity grease interceptor and should follow MSD's sizing chart.
Kitchen Grease Trap/Interceptor Information (including the sizing chart)
The grease trap review requires submittal of the following documents:
- Grease Trap Sewer Use Customer Application and
Food Services Operations Form - Kitchen plumbing plan and isometric showing fixtures draining to the grease trap
- Typical menu
REGISTRATION AND RENEWAL OF FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS
Food service operations are required to register with MSD and then renew or update their applications periodically. Initial registration is covered as part of the grease trap review. Renewals are required every five years. Updates are required whenever there is a change to ownership or operations.
Registration renewal or updates require submittal of the following documents:
- Sewer Use Customer Application and
Application Instructions - Food Service Operation Form and Instructions for filling out the form
RESOURCES FOR FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS
Below is additional information for restaurants and food service establishments:
- New Restaurant Requirements This explains MSD's grease policy.
- List of Permitted Waste Haulers: View our list of waste haulers that are registered with MSD and permitted to discharge restaurant grease at an MSD facility. Refer to the haulers with an "X" in the Commercial column only. For more information, please visit the Waste Haulers page.
- Kitchen Best Management Practices Kitchen practices or requirements considered proper management of fats, oils, and grease (FOG).
- FOG Posters - Display FOG posters near food prep sinks or any prominent location of a commercial kitchen as guidance to kitchen staff on proper fats, oils, and grease (FOG) management.