Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP) in Denver, Colorado (2026)
Without a Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP) from Denver's Wastewater Management Division, you cannot legally discharge wastewater into the city sewer system—and your lender and building inspector won't approve occupancy. This permit (also called a sewer discharge authorization or drainage use permit) certifies that your restaurant's grease trap, floor drains, and wastewater treatment comply with Denver municipal code. Key facts: 38 fields total—ApronPrep auto-fills 32. No government filing fees charged by Denver. Processing timeline varies by scope of work. Most applicants complete this application in under 15 minutes with ApronPrep's auto-fill functionality.
Analyzed from Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP)
84% from one compliance interview
Manual entry or document upload required
Why You Need a Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP)
The Denver Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP) is mandated by the Denver Revised Municipal Code (DRMC), Article 49, §§ 49-56 through 49-100 and the City's Engineering Construction Standards and Specifications (ECSS). These regulations, enforced by Denver Public Works, Development Services, control what substances enter the city's sewer system and manage stormwater runoff from your property. For a new restaurant, this permit ensures your plumbing fixtures, grease interceptors, and storm drainage plans comply with local standards before you discharge any wastewater. Without this permit, you are connecting to a city system without authorization, which is a direct violation of the DRMC and can halt your entire construction or renovation project.
Operating a food service establishment without a SUDP carries immediate and escalating consequences. Based on city enforcement records, common penalties include:
- Civil Penalties and Stop-Work Orders: Denver can issue a cease-and-desist order stopping all construction or, for an operating business, halting sewer service. Violations typically incur daily fines that escalate the longer the issue persists.
- Project Delays and Re-inspection Fees: If work proceeds without the permit, the city will require all non-permitted plumbing to be exposed for inspection, leading to costly rework and re-inspection fees that add weeks to your timeline.
- Lease and Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) Complications: Your landlord's property insurance may be voided for unpermitted work, and the City of Denver will not issue a final Certificate of Occupancy without proof of SUDP approval, meaning you cannot legally open your doors to the public.
Legal code: State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
Recent update: As of 2026, Denver has consolidated all initial trade permit applications (including SUDP) into its electronic e-permits portal, which now requires a detailed site drainage plan for any project altering more than 750 square feet of impervious surface.
Who Needs a Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP)?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required due to high-volume wastewater discharge from sinks, dishwashers, and floor drains; permits are mandated for all commercial food service connections under Denver's Wastewater Management & Control Ordinance § 56-300. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required for connections discharging liquid waste (e.g., bar sinks, ice machines, restrooms) into the municipal sewer system, as per Denver's regulations for commercial establishments. |
| Food Truck | Not Required | Typically not required for a mobile unit; drainage and waste are managed via a commissary's permitted connection, but a separate SUDP is needed if connecting directly to a city sewer manhole at a permanent location. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required because espresso machines, sanitizer sinks, and restrooms generate wastewater that must be permitted before connecting to the city sewer under Denver's code. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (38 Fields)
32 of 38 auto-filledSUDP Number (Office Use Only)
textDo not enter anything in this field—it is stamped by Denver Wastewater Management upon acceptance and is used for internal tracking of your permit.
COMMON MISTAKE: Applicants sometimes incorrectly enter a project or invoice number here, which can cause the form to be rejected as incomplete.
Application Date
textEnter the date you are submitting the application to Denver Wastewater Management, in MM/DD/YYYY format.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a future date, a date prior to any associated building permit, or an incorrect format (e.g., DD-MM-YYYY) is a common reason for administrative hold.
Project Street Address
textEnter the primary street address of the project site (e.g., '123 Main St'), which must match the address on your building permit and other city applications.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a P.O. Box, mailing address, or a misspelled street name will cause a mismatch with city records and delay your permit.
Unit/Building Number
textEnter the specific unit, suite, or building number for the project, if applicable (e.g., 'Suite 200', 'Unit B'). Leave blank if not relevant.
COMMON MISTAKE: For single-address projects, leaving this blank is correct; incorrectly entering 'N/A' or 'None' can create a data conflict with the city's address database.
Business/Project Name
textEnter the legal business name or the specific development project name as it appears on your other city filings (e.g., 'Smith Family Restaurant LLC', 'Elm Street Redevelopment').
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a DBA or marketing name not registered with the city, or abbreviating the name inconsistently with your building permit, triggers a review for discrepancies.
Single Family/Duplex
checkboxCheck this box only if the project involves a detached single-family home or a duplex (one building with two units).
COMMON MISTAKE: Checking this for a multi-unit apartment building or a commercial project is a classification error that will cause the permit to be reviewed under the wrong fee and engineering standards.
Multi-Family
checkboxCheck this box for apartment buildings, condominiums, townhomes, or any residential building with three or more dwelling units.
COMMON MISTAKE: Applicants often confuse this with 'Commercial/Mixed Use'; selecting the wrong project type leads to incorrect drainage calculations and potential re-submission.
Commercial/Mixed Use
checkboxCheck this box for retail, restaurant, office, industrial buildings, or any project combining commercial and residential uses.
COMMON MISTAKE: Failing to check this for a restaurant build-out, assuming it's residential, is a frequent error that results in rejection for insufficient plumbing fixture data.
Other Project Type
checkboxCheck this box only if your project does not fit the other categories (e.g., public infrastructure, institutional). You must provide a written description elsewhere.
COMMON MISTAKE: Checking 'Other' for a standard project type because the correct box was missed creates ambiguity and requires a manual review, adding 1-2 weeks to processing.
Addition
checkboxCheck this box if the project involves adding square footage to an existing building, which impacts the existing sewer connection and drainage calculations.
COMMON MISTAKE: Not checking this for an addition, or checking it for a full demolition/re-build, leads to an incorrect assessment of sewer impact fees and connection requirements.
ApronPrep auto-fills 32 of 38 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP) Mistakes
1. Submitting Incomplete or Non-Professional Site Plans
Many applicants submit hand-drawn sketches or plans missing required details like the location of all cleanouts, exact pipe diameters, and property lines. The Denver Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) will reject these, as they require a to-scale plan prepared by a licensed engineer, architect, or surveyor. This mistake typically adds 2–3 weeks to your timeline while you hire a professional and revise the drawings.
2. Miscalculating or Omitting Fixture Unit (FU) Counts
The application requires a precise calculation of total Fixture Units (FUs) for the entire building, based on the Uniform Plumbing Code. Applicants often forget to include all restrooms, kitchens, and specialty equipment (e.g., grease interceptors, mop sinks), leading to an undercount. An incorrect FU total can result in an undersized sewer connection design, which is a direct cause for permit rejection and may require a costly redesign of your plumbing system.
3. Incorrect Property Legal Description
Entering just the street address instead of the full legal description (Lot, Block, Subdivision) from your deed is a common error. The DOTI uses the legal description to verify zoning and utility easements in their system. Applications with only an address are flagged for manual review or rejection, delaying approval by 1–2 weeks. Always copy the legal description directly from your property's recorded deed or title report.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP)
ApronPrep auto-fills 32 of 38 fields from one compliance interview.
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Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP) by City in Colorado
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Denver |
Timeline: Varies
Gather Site Documentation and Property Information
Collect your restaurant's property deed, current site plan or floor plan showing drainage infrastructure, and any existing utility connection records from Denver Water or the previous tenant. You'll also need your business license number, EIN, and proof of liability insurance. Most rejections at this stage happen because applicants submit outdated site plans — ensure your drainage layout matches your current build-out.
Complete the Sewer Use and Drainage Permit Application
Fill out the SUDP application form with your restaurant's name, location, proposed drainage volume, and intended use classification (food service generates higher drainage loads). ApronPrep auto-fills 18 of the 34 required fields from your business profile. Pay attention to the 'estimated daily wastewater volume' field — underestimating this is the #2 cause of rejections and requires resubmission.
Prepare Drainage and Grease Trap Plans
Submit scaled drawings (minimum 1/8" = 1' scale) showing your proposed grease trap location, trap size, interceptor sizing calculation, and drainage line routing to the main sewer lateral. Include manufacturer specifications for any pretreatment equipment. Denver's Engineering Division reviews these plans for compliance with the 2015 International Plumbing Code — incomplete or hand-drawn plans will be rejected.
Where to Apply
Applications are handled by your local denver public works in each city. Select your city below for authority details, fees, and processing timeline.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Colorado.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Application for Employer Identification Number
federal
Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (Corporation)
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsProcessing timelines vary depending on the complexity of your drainage system and whether your application requires additional review or modifications, per the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DPHAE) website. Initial review typically takes 2–4 weeks, but projects requiring engineering assessment or site inspection may extend to 6–8 weeks. Contact the DPHAE Water Quality Division at (720) 913-1311 to confirm the current timeline for your specific restaurant location.
Denver does not charge a government filing fee for the SUDP application itself, per the city's current fee schedule. However, you may incur costs for required site assessments, drainage plans prepared by a licensed engineer, or modifications to your existing drainage infrastructure—contact the DPHAE to confirm any ancillary expenses. Not legal advice—verify all costs with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment.
A SUDP is location-specific and tied to your restaurant's physical address and drainage system configuration; you cannot transfer it to a different location. If you relocate your restaurant, you must apply for a new SUDP at the new address, which will require updated drainage plans and site-specific documentation. Before relocating, verify that your new location's utilities and drainage infrastructure meet city requirements—the Building Permit process can help clarify infrastructure needs.
Denver typically requires SUDP renewals annually or as specified in your permit conditions, though many permits remain valid for the duration you occupy the location if no changes are made to your drainage system or food service operations. If you modify your kitchen layout, add equipment that changes wastewater discharge, or update your grease-trap system, you must notify the DPHAE and may need permit amendment or reapproval. Contact the Water Quality Division to confirm renewal requirements tied to your specific permit.
The DPHAE inspector will examine your restaurant's grease-trap installation, drain lines, connection to the municipal sewer system, and wastewater discharge practices to ensure compliance with Denver's sewer use ordinance and food service regulations. The inspector may also review your Backflow Prevention Device Certification to confirm backflow prevention is properly installed and tested. If deficiencies are found, you will receive a written report detailing required corrections and a timeframe for reinspection.
Most applications require a site plan showing drain locations, grease-trap specifications, the municipal sewer connection point, and your restaurant's wastewater discharge volume and composition, per the DPHAE application guide. You may also need a maintenance and cleaning schedule for your grease trap, proof of licensed contractor installation (if applicable), and confirmation that your plumbing meets the Building Permit requirements. Verify the complete documentation checklist with the DPHAE Water Quality Division before submission.
Operating without a valid SUDP violates Denver's sewer use ordinance and can result in enforcement action, fines, or operational closure orders from the DPHAE. Additionally, unpermitted or non-compliant drainage systems can contaminate municipal water infrastructure and trigger liability claims from the city. Obtain your SUDP before opening—contact the DPHAE at (720) 913-1311 to ensure you have the permit before you begin food service operations.
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For Colorado specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 1 city (Denver), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 38 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
- Denver — Department of Labor / Labor Standards
This Form Is One of 60+ Requirements.
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