JCED Grease Management - Sewer and Environmental Regulations

Welcome to Johnson County, Kansas!

We're glad you are planning to open a food service facility in our county.

To help the process go smoothly for you, we have prepared this guide for you.

(Print this informational flyer in pdf format (2MB) -- prints to legal size paper. To print to letter size, set printer properties.)

All food service facilities in the County are subject to the Kansas Food Code Regulations. Only those food service facilities within the Johnson County Wastewater boundaries (indicated by the dark area on the map to the right) are subject to the County's grease management and sewer hookup permits.

If you are outside this wastewater service area, please contact the zoning and building code officials for your location to find out the appropriate grease management and sewer hookup requirements,

Please be sure to contact the city or county building codes department for any other permits, licenses or approvals needed for your facility. If your establishment is to be located in the City of Overland Park you are also required to obtain a city foodservice license. Contact Overland Park at 913-895-6270 for their requirements.

All county forms are available on the applicable departmental website or by calling the departments.

Please Note: There are three different permits/fees. Each one covers a different aspect of the facility: sewer connection, food licensing, and grease management permitting.

Johnson County
Wastewater boundaries

The boundaries often change. Visit JCW
for the most recent map.
Click here for a detailed map in pdf format

If your facility is new construction or change of use for the property:		If your facility is an existing food service facility:

A State of Kansas food service establishment license is required by law for all food facilities and is renewable annually. Application is made through the Johnson County Environmental Department. Submit a complete set of construction plans along with the plan review forms. The initial license fee is $400 and paid at the time of the pre-opening inspection (step 6). If located in Overland Park, a separate license is also required by the city. For more information, contact the city at 913-895-6270. Forms available here.		A State of Kansas food service establishment license is required by law for all food facilities and is renewable annually. Application is made through the Johnson County Environmental Department. Submit a complete set of construction plans along with the plan review forms. The initial license fee is $400 and paid at the time of the pre-opening inspection (step 6). Forms available here.

A sewer connection fee is required for new construction or with a change of use of the property (e.g., from retail space to a restaurant). To apply for a sanitary sewer permit, an application, building plans, and a site plan are to be submitted to Johnson County Wastewater Department for review and approval. The sewer connection fee can run between $5,000 and $25,000. All commercial users of the wastewater system are charged a sewer use and a sewer capital fee that appears on the property's annual real estate tax bill.		If there will be any changes to your interior or exterior plumbing submit building plans and a site plan to Johnson County Wastewater Department for review and approval. If the type of food service facility changes, sewer fees for change of use may also apply.

A grease interceptor is required for nearly all food service facilities. A plan review/permit fee of $288.75* must be submitted with the application to the Environmental Department and once issued, the permit must be renewed annually by March 1st for $288.75.* If you are a low flow, minimal grease producer, you may be eligible for alternative grease removal technology, pumping schedule or waive from installing any grease removal device. Request for variance or waiver is subject to an application fee of $346.50.* These are considered on an individual basis and are not transferable.

The grease interceptor must be located outside of the building below ground and of sufficient size to provide a 30-minute detention of the peak waste water flow. The minimum size is 1000 gallons and maximum size is 2000 gallons. The interceptor must be easily accessible for pumping and inspection. Indoor "under sink" grease traps are not permitted in new facilities.

Installation costs for an interceptor can vary widely from around $3,000 to $20,000+. It is advisable to request multiple bids.

SHARED INTERCEPTORS: Under certain conditions, more than one restaurant may share an interceptor. Special permitting applies including permitting of the property owner. Contact the Grease Program Manager directly for more information, 913-715-6900.

A typical grease interceptor design. For detailed
specifications, visit Johnson County Wastewater.



County Plan Review Process

Food License Review Upon review of food licensing plans, Environmental will fax an approval form to the building codes department, notifying them that the plans are approved. A review sheet will also be faxed to you.	Grease Interceptor Plan Review Upon review of grease interceptor plans, Environmental will mail a letter to you stating whether or not a grease interceptor is required. A copy of this letter will also be sent to the Wastewater Department.	Sewer Connection Review Upon review of acceptable wastewater plans and application including grease interceptor review letter, Wastewater will fax you notice of the cost of the permit which is then payable when you pick up the permit at their office.

Prior to starting any construction related to the grease interceptor or associated piping and plumbing, the food service facility must have (1) received approval for your food service plan from JCED; (2) received a letter approving your facility's grease interceptor plumbing plans from JCED; and (3) been issued a sewer connection or modified use permit from JCW.


Inspections

After the sewer connection permit is issued, the JCED must be called to inspect the interior plumbing fixtures that are attached to the interceptor before the plumbing piping is covered. JCW must be called to inspect the installed interceptor and exterior piping prior to backfilling.		The Pre-opening Food Service Establishment Inspection is performed once the facility is ready to open. Contact the JCED prior to opening to schedule a time for the inspection. The initial license is $400* ($200* application fee and $200* calendar year license) and is collected at the time of the pre-opening inspection. Make checks payable to KDHE.


Grease Interceptor Operating and Maintenance Requirements

Exterior grease interceptors must be pumped at least once every 90 days or more frequently if necessary. Requests for longer pumping schedules are considered through a variance request procedure. A County licensed sanitary disposal contractor must be used to provide pumping, cleaning and disposal service for grease interceptor waste. Grease interceptors must be adequately maintained and repaired as necessary. Facilities must maintain grease interceptor maintenance records in a Log Book (provided by JCED) for on-site inspection. A facility holding a low discharge waiver permit must comply with additional requirements. * All fees are as of April 2007. Check with the departments to obtain current fees. Contact Information
Johnson County Wastewater 11811 S Sunset Drive, Suite 2500 Olathe, KS 66061 (913) 715-8500 Fax: (913) 715-8501 Permit Department: (913) 715-8520	Johnson County Environmental 11811 S Sunset Drive, Suite 2700 Olathe, KS 66061 (913) 715-6900 Fax: (913) 715-6970

Sewer and Environmental Regulations for Food Service Facilities

Welcome to Johnson County, Kansas!

Please Follow these Steps for Permits and Licenses

Contact Information