Colorado Hand Washing Sink Regulations

Handwashing sink regulations in Colorado are outlined in the Code of Colorado Regulations and are overseen by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE), with some notable exceptions. 

Colorado Hand Washing Sink Regulations for Retail Food Service

Colorado’s hand washing sink regulations are outlined in the Code under 6 CCR 1010-2, Colorado Retail Food Establishment Regulations, and went into effect in March 2024. They are based on the FDA 2022 Food Code and apply to retail establishments that store, prepare, or pack food for human consumption.

The food can be served directly to patrons (like in a restaurant) or indirectly, meaning the food is prepared on-site but shipped and eaten elsewhere. The Code and handwashing sink guidelines also apply to retail food establishments that don’t charge for the food.

All retail food establishments in Colorado must have handwashing sinks that:

• Are used only for handwashing
• Provide water through a mixing valve or combination faucet
• Has water that’s at least 85 degrees Fahrenheit
• Are conveniently located in the food prep, food dispensing, and dishwashing areas
• https://theportablesink.com/bar-soap-liquid-soap-handwashing/Has powder, liquid, or bar soap for washing hands
• Provides single-use paper towels, heated air dryer, continuous towel system, or air knife system for drying hands
• If single-use paper towels are provided, there must also be a wastebasket
• Common towels are not allowed
• Hand towels must be close to the sink and protected from contamination

Handwashing Sink Regulations for Mobile Food Establishments

Mobile food establishments, which include food trucks and pushcarts, are subject to the Code. In most cases, mobile food establishments must have a handwashing sink, but there are some exceptions, which include:

• When the vendor only serves commercially packaged food
• When food is prepared and packaged elsewhere
• Beverages are served from covered urns or other protected equipment
• The vendor is in a facility that has handwashing sinks that meet the regulations

Outside of the exceptions, handwashing sinks must:

• Provide hot and cold drinking water that’s pressurized
• Have a drain that allows the tank to empty completely
• Separate the clean water tank from the non-potable water tank
• Have at least three gallons of clean water for handwashing for every hour the establishment is open
• Push carts must have a clean water supply of at least five gallons
• Hot water is at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit
• The waste water tank is at least 15% larger than the water supply tank
• Has soap and individual paper towels in a dispenser

Colorado Handwashing Sink Regulations for Temporary Retail Food Establishments

Under the Code, temporary retail food establishments must also have a handwashing sink. However, the venue must provide handwashing sinks that are conveniently located for vendors to use. Vendors are not required to supply a handwashing sink.

All hand washing sinks must:

• Provide at least five gallons of drinking water for washing hands
• The water cannot be in a container with a push-button spigot
• More than five gallons may be required depending on what the establishment services and the hours of operation
• Have soap and dispensed paper towels
• Provide Warm water that flows
• Include a basin that captures the wastewater and brings it to a closed container

Hand Washing Sink Guidelines for Meat Processors

Meat processors are overseen by the Department of Agriculture and are subject to handwashing sink regulations. These include: 

• Having at least one hand washing facility in every room where meat is processed
• Is not hand-operated
• Provides disposable paper towels in a wall-mounted dispenser
• Having a waste basket for towels

If a meat processor custom processes large game animals, they may be able to provide a sink that’s hand-operated.

Mobile slaughtering units must also have a hand washing sink that:

• Provides hot and cold potable water
• Has liquid or powdered soap
• Has a wall- or sink-mounted paper towel dispenser
• A wastebasket for paper towels

Colorado Regulations for Handwashing Sinks in Child Care Centers

Child care facilities are overseen by CDPHE, Division of Health and Sustainability, and are subject to handwashing sink regulations which include: 

• A handwashing sink cannot have an attached drinking foundation
• Provide hot water of 90 degrees Fahrenheit but no hotter than 120 degrees Fahrenheit
• New or remodeled facilities must have a handwashing sink without barriers so the caregivers can visually supervise children while they wash their hands
• Handwashing sinks must be child-height
• Have soap and single-use towels in a dispenser or a heated air dryer
• Located in the diaper change area, bathrooms, and food prep area

Handwashing Sink Regulations for Colorado Schools

The Department of Public Health also oversees handwashing sink regulations in schools. Those regulations state that handwashing sinks:

• Must have hot and cold water through a mixing value of combination faucet
• The hot water must be at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit but no hotter than 120 degrees Fahrenheit
• Hand sanitizer cannot be used in place of proper handwashing unless there are no handwashing sinks available (like being outdoors)

Body Art Shop Handwashing Sink Regulation

Body art establishments are overseen by CDPHE and subject to handwashing sink regulations. Handwashing sinks must:

• Have hot and cold pressurized water
• Use a mixing faucet
• Must be located so artists don’t contaminate each other’s work area
• Have soap and disposable paper towels or heated air dryer
• Be used only for hands

Portable Sinks Make it Easy to Comply

Colorado handwashing sink regulations are extensive and detail a number of requirements that must be met, and it may not always be easy or inexpensive to comply. Fortunately, Ozark River Manufacturing’s portable sinks meet a number of the requirements, including built-in paper towel dispensers, hot and cold water, and separate waste water tanks. Our solutions are perfect for:

• Bars
• Beauty, Day Spas, & Wellness
• Commercial
• Construction & Job Sites
• Daycare
• Classrooms
• Events, Concerts, & Weddings
• Farms & Barns
• Restaurants & Food Service
• Garages & Workshops
• Healthcare & Clinics
• Patio & Home Use
• Retail Stores
• Science Labs
• Tattoo and Body Art Shops

Contact us today to see what Ozark River Manufacturing’s portable sinks can do for your business.