[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Ridgefield 5-10-1988 (§ 7-14 of the 1974 Code), as last amended 2-5-2003. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Alcoholic beverages — See Ch. 116.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT
Any fixed or mobile operation in which food or beverage is sold, processed, prepared, served, provided or dispensed in any manner to the public. This term shall include but not be limited to restaurants, temporary food establishments, retail food stores, caterers and itinerant vendors. The term does not include private homes where food is prepared for individual family consumption and not offered for sale or owner-occupied bed-and-breakfasts serving only breakfasts, with no provision for cooking or reheating in the guest rooms. This chapter shall specifically exempt non-potentially-hazardous foods sold during nonprofit fund-raising drives and church bake sales.
GREASE INTERCEPTOR
A watertight, two-compartment septic tank used to intercept and prevent the passage of grease waste into the sanitary sewer system and is used to denote a receptacle sited outside of the grease-generating establishment. Its size is 1,000 gallons or greater.
GREASE TRAP
A device primarily used in the food service industry for removal of oils, greases and food solids from a process waste stream and placed in the waste drain line within the food service establishment, immediately following a sink or wash basin.
TEMPORARY FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT
A food service establishment that operates at a fixed location for a temporary period of time, not to exceed two weeks, in connection with a carnival, circus, public exhibition, festival, celebration or similar transitory gathering.
No person shall open or operate any food service establishment within the Town of Ridgefield who does not possess a valid license issued to him/her annually by the Director of Health. Only a person who complies with the requirements of these regulations and the Public Health Code of the State of Connecticut shall be entitled to receive or retain such a license.
A. 
Any person desiring to operate or maintain a food service establishment shall make written application to the Department of Health, Town of Ridgefield, for a license on forms provided by the Director of Health.
B. 
Prior to approval for issuance of a license, the Director of Health or his authorized agent, who shall be certified for food service establishment inspection by the Commissioner of Public Health, shall inspect the establishment to ensure that compliance with the provisions of these regulations and the Public Health Code of the State of Connecticut has been achieved.
C. 
The fee for a license to operate or maintain a food service establishment shall be as provided in Chapter 170, Fees, § 170-2. The fee to operate a temporary food service establishment shall be as provided in Chapter 170, Fees, § 170-2. A fee as provided in Chapter 170, Fees, § 170-2, shall be charged for any reinspections required during the year and shall be paid to the Department of Health within 48 hours. The Department of Health, Town of Ridgefield, is hereby authorized to waive any fees for nonprofit organizations of the Town. The Board of Selectmen is empowered to increase and/or adjust any fees.
D. 
Each food service establishment possessing a valid license signed by the Director of Health or his authorized agent shall display such license in a prominent place readily visible to the public.
All licenses to operate or maintain a food service establishment shall expire on the last day of December of each year. Failure to submit a completed application for renewal by this date shall result in the immediate closure of the food service establishment and a late fee as provided in Chapter 170, Fees, § 170-2 being charged. Food service establishment licenses are not transferable from one owner to another. Temporary food service licenses shall not be valid for more than a fourteen-day period.
All relevant sections of the Public Health Code of the State of Connecticut in their entirety, and as may be amended from time to time, are hereby made a part of this chapter.
Whenever a food service establishment is to be constructed or remodeled, or whenever an existing structure is to be altered for use as a restaurant, properly prepared plans and specifications for such construction, remodeling or alteration shall be submitted to the Director of Health or his authorized agent for review and approval before such construction, remodeling or alteration is begun. All food service equipment shall be NSF approved or equal. No food service establishment shall be constructed, remodeled, or altered except in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the Director of Health or his authorized agent; and no license shall be issued without said approval. The fee for a plan review shall be as provided in Chapter 170, Fees, § 170-2. Plans for a temporary food service event shall be submitted a minimum of two weeks prior to the event. No fee will be charged for review of temporary food service plans.
A. 
All food service establishments having dishwashers or which, in the opinion of the Health Department, will produce significant amounts of grease shall be required to install an external two-compartment grease interceptor to be sized by the Health Department. The grease interceptor shall be H-20 loaded and have steel manhole covers extended to grade. In no case shall an external grease interceptor be less than 1,000 gallons in capacity. These interceptors shall be pumped and cleaned no fewer than four times a year, unless the Health Department determines a more frequent scheduling is needed. A maintenance contract shall be signed with a grease-pumping contractor prior to obtaining or renewing a food service license from the Health Department. Copies of all receipts for cleaning and pumping of these grease interceptors must be submitted to the Health Department within 48 hours. A sample vault shall be provided on the discharge side of the grease interceptor with access to grade.
B. 
All other new food service establishments must install a standard interior grease trap or self-cleaning grease trap. The size and type shall be determined in accordance with the Health Department's design guidelines. Those establishments having self-cleaning grease traps shall provide copies of a service agreement prior to obtaining or renewing a food service license. Tools necessary for opening and cleaning the interior grease traps shall be kept on the premises at all times.
C. 
No chemical, enzyme, or bacterial agent shall be added to a grease trap or interceptor which will cause the release of grease into a septic system or sewer line. No garbage grinders or food pulpers shall discharge to a grease trap or interceptor.
D. 
Any existing food service establishment not having grease pretreatment found to be discharging grease to the sanitary sewer or causing a nuisance condition shall be ordered by the Health Department to install pretreatment.
E. 
Any existing food service establishment with pretreatment found to be causing clogged lines down gradient, discharging more than 100 milligrams per liter of grease to the sanitary sewer, or exceeding more than 25% of the operating capacity of the trap or interceptor with floating grease or settled solids shall be in violation of this section.
F. 
The Health Department shall have right of entry to the establishment for the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of this section.
G. 
For food service establishments requiring outdoor grease-rendering receptacles, said receptacles shall be located in an area approved by the Health Department. These receptacles shall be properly designed and covered, shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner, and shall be emptied at appropriate frequencies. Grease shall not be allowed to discharge to the parking lot surface.
H. 
The Health Department is hereby authorized to enforce this section and may close any food service establishment not in compliance, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Health Code. Costs may be imposed on the food service establishment to reimburse the municipality for cleaning adversely affected sewer lines. Fines in the amount of $100 shall be imposed by the Health Department for violation of any provision of this section. Each day that the violation continues shall be considered a new and separate offense. In addition, the Director of Health or his authorized agent may initiate a civil court proceeding for injunctive relief or otherwise pursuant to the Connecticut General Statutes.
The Director of Health may, after providing opportunity for appeal, revoke a license to operate or maintain a food service establishment if it is found not being operated, maintained or equipped in accordance with the provisions with these regulations and/or the Public Health Code of the State of Connecticut, so as to jeopardize the public health and welfare.