Grease Trap Regulations in California

Overview

California food service businesses operate under three layers of rules. Federal law sets the floor. State code sets sizing. Local ordinances set cleaning schedules and enforcement. Federal law starts with the Clean Water Act and EPA's National Pretreatment Program at 40 CFR Part 403. 40 CFR §403.5(b)(3) bans solid or viscous waste that obstructs the sewer. That rule is the legal basis for California's grease interceptor rules. Each layer adds requirements. You must meet all three.

Plumbing rules sit in the California Plumbing Code — Title 24, Part 5. It is adopted from the Uniform Plumbing Code by the California Building Standards Commission (bsc.ca.gov). Maintenance and enforcement rules sit in your local sewer use ordinance. State code covers installation. Your local ordinance covers cleaning frequency and penalties. When those two sources conflict, the stricter rule applies.

California City-by-City Grease Trap Requirements at a Glance

Many compliance guides publish fine tables for California cities. In most cases those numbers are not in the actual ordinance. Real ordinances contain daily civil liability caps and a general citation schedule. The exact penalty depends on violation type, duration, and the hearing officer's call. Cost recovery for sewer cleanup is separate. This page states what each ordinance says. Contact the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for the binding answer.

Look up exact fine amounts by California municipality in our FOG Violation Fine Database.

Governing Authorities

The federal floor is set by the EPA. Section 307(b) of the Clean Water Act lets states with approved programs run pretreatment enforcement. California has an approved program. EPA Region 9 keeps oversight of it. The National Pretreatment Program is at epa.gov/npdes/national-pretreatment-program.

At the state level, the State Water Resources Control Board coordinates pretreatment oversight. It supports nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards. Each board runs the program in its region. The State Water Board also manages the Statewide Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order. That order requires sewer agencies to run FOG control programs as part of their Sewer System Management Plans. FOG programs are not optional for agencies covered by that order.

At the local level, the AHJ is the agency that holds your discharge permit. That is typically a city department or sanitation district. Common examples:

• San Francisco: San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, FOG Control Program (sfpuc.gov).
• Los Angeles: Bureau of Sanitation, Industrial Waste Management Division, under LAMC §64.30.
• San Diego: City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, under SD Municipal Code Ch. 6, Art. 4, Div. 3.
• Sacramento metro: Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District, Regional San Consolidated Ordinance (sacsewer.com).
• San Jose: Environmental Services Department, penalty authority at SJMC Chapter 1.14.
• Long Beach: Long Beach Utilities Department, citation schedule at LBMC Chapter 9.65.
• Fresno: City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities, FOG Control Program (fresno.gov/publicutilities). Note: the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District does not enforce FOG.
• Oakland and East Bay: East Bay Municipal Utility District, Wastewater Control Ordinance (ebmud.com).

40 CFR §403.8 requires sewer systems over five million gallons per day to run a local pretreatment program. Smaller plants that receive interfering pollutants must do the same. That is why every urban California sewer agency has a FOG ordinance.

Key Requirements

Every California food service business needs four things. First, a properly sized grease interceptor. Second, a cleaning schedule that keeps it working. Third, records the inspector can read. Fourth, a manifest trail proving pumped grease went to a legal disposal site.

Installation and Sizing Requirements

The California Plumbing Code has no blanket statewide rule that every commercial kitchen must install a grease interceptor. Instead, CPC §1014.1 gives that decision to the AHJ. An approved interceptor must be installed where the AHJ determines pretreatment is required. Whether your kitchen needs one is a local decision. Your sewer agency makes that call when it issues your permit.

Once the AHJ requires an interceptor, sizing follows the Uniform Plumbing Code. Hydromechanical grease interceptors (HGIs) are sized by flow rate. UPC §1014.2.1 caps approved units between 20 and 50 gpm, unless the AHJ approves otherwise (iapmo.org). Total fixture capacity into one HGI cannot exceed 2.5 times its certified gpm rating. If your kitchen grows and you add fixtures, you may need to upsize the unit. Check with the AHJ before adding new drains. UPC Table 1014.2.1(1) links pipe size to interceptor size. A 2-inch pipe (up to 20 gpm) needs a 20 gpm unit on a one-minute drain, or 10 gpm on two minutes. A 3-inch pipe (up to 60 gpm) needs a 75 gpm unit. A 4-inch pipe (up to 125 gpm) needs a 150 gpm unit.

Gravity grease interceptors (GGIs) are sized by drainage fixture units (DFUs). UPC §1014.3.6 sets the minimums. Eight DFUs need 500 gallons. Twenty-one need 750. Thirty-five need 1,000. Ninety need 1,250 gallons. Under UPC §1014.3.4, gravity units must be installed outside unless the AHJ approves an indoor location. That keeps sewer gases out of food prep areas.

A common error on compliance sites: claiming the grease interceptor water seal must be 6 inches. That rule applies to sand and heavy-solids interceptors, not grease units. It is a CPC provision most food service operators will never face. Standard fixture trap seal depths fall under a separate section of the plumbing code. Check the seal requirement for your specific unit with the AHJ or a licensed plumber before relying on any number you find online.

Cleaning and Maintenance Frequency

The standard across California is the "25% Rule." When the combined FOG layer at the top and the sludge layer at the bottom reach 25% of the total liquid depth, you must pump. At that point, incoming wastewater short-circuits the baffles and pushes grease into the lateral. That grease can build up in the sewer main and cause a blockage. The 25% threshold comes from CSA B481.4 and EPA FOG program directives (epa.gov). Some cities specify this threshold in the permit itself.

Most California ordinances combine the 25% trigger with a calendar backstop. Pump when 25% is reached or every 90 days — whichever comes first. High-volume kitchens often need monthly service. Some districts require service every 30 days regardless of the 25% level. The schedule is set by your local ordinance, not state law. Verify with your AHJ before assuming any minimum applies.

Record-Keeping and Documentation

FOG inspectors run site visits off paperwork. Records, manifests, and pump receipts prove maintenance happened and that waste went to a legal site. 40 CFR §403.12 sets the federal floor for user reporting. Most California ordinances require keeping pump logs, manifests, and disposal certificates for at least three years. Produce records on demand during inspection. Failure to produce them counts as a separate violation in most cities.

A typical inspection record includes the pump-out date, hauler name and license, volume removed, disposal site, and manifest copy. Missing records are a violation in most cities — even if the cleaning was done. Keep records organized by date. Store them for at least three years. If your AHJ requires longer retention, follow their rule.

Waste Manifest Requirements

California treats inedible kitchen grease as a separately tracked waste stream. Transporters must keep a manifest for each collection and delivery. The California Department of Food and Agriculture handles hauler registration — Meat, Poultry, and Egg Safety Branch (cdfa.ca.gov). That agency enforces against unregistered haulers. As the generator, your job is to keep a copy of every manifest alongside the pump receipt. That gives you a complete chain of custody from your trap to the disposal site. Inspectors check this trail. A gap in the chain is a violation.

Fines and Enforcement

California FOG enforcement has two layers. State criminal law applies everywhere. Municipal civil penalties vary by city.

State-Level Penalties

The most-cited state FOG enforcement statute is California Penal Code §374.5. It targets illegal reinsertion or dumping of materials removed from a grease trap. Under §374.5(e): misdemeanor, up to six months in county jail, up to $10,000 fine, or both. Under §374.5(g): two or more convictions can bar the hauler from the business for up to five years (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov). This statute targets haulers who dump recovered grease into a manhole or on the ground. It does not cover routine sewer-use violations — those go through the local ordinance. For food service operators, the more likely enforcement path is a civil citation from the AHJ, not a criminal charge.

Municipal Penalties

Each California city sets its own penalty caps. Verified caps for major cities:

• San Diego. San Diego Municipal Code §64.0301(f) allows a civil penalty up to $2,500 per day per violation. The city's general citation scale goes $100, $250, $500, $750, and $1,000 (sandiego.gov). The widely cited "$500 first / $1,000–$5,000 repeat" tier is not codified.
• Sacramento. Regional San Consolidated Ordinance (sacsewer.com): civil liability up to $5,000 per violation per day. Civil legal action can reach $25,000 per day. Actual penalty depends on severity and frequency.
• San Jose. SJMC Chapter 1.14: up to $2,500 per day per violation. Single-matter cap: $100,000.
• Long Beach. LBMC Chapter 9.65 sets a standard citation schedule. First violation: $100. Second violation of the same code section within a year: $200. Any subsequent violation within a year: $500.
• Fresno. The FOG Control Program is run by the City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities (fresno.gov). Under Fresno MC §1-404 and §1-405: $100 first violation, $200 second, $500 each additional within 12 months.

San Francisco's SFPUC, the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation, and EBMUD each enforce FOG rules under their own codes. The civil penalty schedules in those cities depend on violation type. Confirm current amounts with the AHJ or the published ordinance on each agency's website. Do not rely on third-party tables — they are often out of date.

Cost Recovery

Fines are not the only cost. When a blockage is traced to a non-compliant operator, the city bills that business for labor, equipment, video inspection, and any sewer overflow cleanup. Those bills often reach five or six figures. That cost is separate from any fine. It also arrives faster — the city sends the cost-recovery invoice before the administrative case closes.

Operational Consequences

Beyond fines, ongoing violations can trigger corrective action plans and permit suspension. A suspended discharge permit means the kitchen cannot legally operate. Repeat cases can go to the Regional Water Board under the Porter-Cologne Act (waterboards.ca.gov). State-level action can include cleanup orders and civil liability above the local caps. Routine inspections cover the interceptor, the pump log, and a discharge check. Inspectors may also verify that your hauler is licensed and that manifests match pump receipts.

Find Grease Trap Service in California

California FOG compliance starts with a sized interceptor and ends with a clean paper trail. The simplest path: work with a licensed hauler who handles the pump-out, the manifests, and the disposal in one job. A good hauler tracks the 25% level, schedules service before you hit the limit, and files the manifest so you have a record ready for inspection. That is one less thing to manage in a busy kitchen. Find verified providers at greasetraplocator.com/us/california.