Outside Grounds Program

An outside grounds program sets out how a food facility keeps its yard, roads, parking areas, drainage and waste areas from attracting pests or sending dirt and contamination into the building.

  • Food safety
  • Food safety programs

The outside grounds program covers the area around the building, out to the property line. Typical tasks include cutting weeds and grass near the building, removing litter and waste, storing equipment and pallets properly, keeping roads, yards and parking lots from becoming contamination sources, draining areas that could hold water, running waste disposal so it does not contaminate food, and maintaining exterior pest controls. FDA's cGMP rule, 21 CFR 117.20(a), lists these duties, and USDA's 9 CFR 416.2(a) sets a similar requirement for meat and poultry plants. If neighboring land is poorly kept, the facility must compensate through inspection, extermination or other means.

The grounds are the first barrier between a food plant and the pests, dust and mud around it. Tall weeds, standing water, debris piles and poorly managed trash give rodents and insects shelter and breeding sites right next to doors and docks, and dirt from untreated surfaces can be tracked or carried inside. FDA requires grounds to be kept in a condition that protects food, and it requires rubbish to be stored and removed in ways that limit odors, pest attraction and contamination.

Key facts

U.S. rule (FDA)
21 CFR 117.20(a)(1)–(5)
U.S. rule (USDA FSIS)
9 CFR 416.2(a)
Outdoor walking and driving areas (Food Code, cited by FSIS)
Concrete, asphalt or gravel, graded to drain
Rodent bait (Food Code, cited by FSIS)
Covered, tamper-resistant bait stations

In a bakery or commercial kitchen

  • Cut weeds and grass near the building and remove brush, scrap and debris piles that could shelter rodents
  • Keep dumpsters lidded on a cleanable surface, empty them often and clean up spilled waste right away
  • Fill potholes and grade lots so rain drains away from the building instead of pooling
  • Service covered, tamper-resistant exterior bait stations on a schedule and record what you find
  • Inspect the perimeter after storms for standing water, damaged screens and new signs of pest activity

For home and cottage bakers

  • Keep outdoor trash cans lidded and away from the kitchen door, especially when you bake for sale
  • Clear leaf litter, wood piles and standing water near the house to discourage rodents and insects

Related entries

Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 17, 2026.

  1. 21 CFR Part 117, Subpart B: Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), National Archives
  2. 9 CFR Part 416: Sanitation, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), National Archives
  3. Sanitation Performance Standards Compliance Guide, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service