Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG) Discharge Operating Permit (GDO): Miami restaurant guide

Miami-Dade County — DERM

What it is

County operating permit for food service establishments that discharge kitchen wastewater to public sewer, covering your grease interceptor/trap and its maintenance.

When a restaurant needs it

Food service establishments connected to public sewer. New or unknown grease devices first need P.E.-sealed plans reviewed by the Building Department and DERM.

How to apply

Submit P.E.-sealed grease device plans (or a FOG Control Device Condition Assessment for an existing device) to DERM, and pass the DERM FOG construction inspection (schedule at iFOG2@miamidade.gov). After you apply for your City Certificate of Use, apply for the operating permit online in the County's EPS portal (Certificate of Use option).

Documents you’ll need

P.E.-sealed plumbing plans with interceptor sizing calculations
Existing FOG device condition assessment (valid 12 months), if reusing a device
Business and owner information

Fee

Annual operating permit fee by facility area: 4,000 sq ft or less $173.14; 4,001–20,000 sq ft $346.28; over 20,000 sq ft $769.50, plus the County's 7.5% surcharge on operating permits (Miami-Dade fee schedule IO 4-42, effective October 1, 2026). Plan review and inspection fees are separate.

Processing time

The permit document is usually mailed within 30 days of approval of a complete application; new or unknown grease devices first need plan approval.

Renewal

Annually. The permit runs January 1 through December 31, is non-transferable (a new owner needs its own permit), and DERM mails renewal notices at least 45 days before expiration.

Who files

The owner/operator holds the permit. The plans must be sealed by a Florida P.E.

Good to know

Miami-Dade is under a federal court order to reduce sewer grease, so expect strict enforcement. Keep pump-out manifests, and make sure the installed device matches the DERM-approved plans exactly.

Official source

Miami-Dade DERM — FOG Discharge Control Operating Permit · Miami-Dade — Fats, Oils & Grease program

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Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.