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FOG Compliance Guide · 2026

Grease Trap Regulations:
A National Overview

How federal pretreatment standards, municipal FOG ordinances, and state licensing requirements work together — and what they mean for your operation.

54 jurisdictions covered Verified against federal & state sources Updated March 2026
FOG ordinances vary significantly by municipality. This guide covers the national framework — always verify requirements with your local water authority or FOG program manager. Use the FOG Compliance Checklist →
Federal Framework

The Pretreatment Program Backbone

In the United States, FOG control sits inside the broader National Pretreatment Program codified at 40 CFR Part 403. The framework gives the EPA the authority to set baseline rules, but the day-to-day enforcement is delegated to local Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) — the municipal sewer authorities that physically receive the discharge.

The single most-cited federal hook for grease enforcement is 40 CFR §403.5(b)(3), which prohibits the discharge of "solid or viscous pollutants in amounts which will cause obstruction" to a POTW. Congealed FOG is the textbook example, and that single clause is what allows a city to cite a restaurant under federal authority even when no city-specific grease ordinance is on the books.

POTWs aren't optional implementers. Under 40 CFR §403.8, qualifying treatment works must develop and enforce a local pretreatment program — including FOG control, inspection authority, and penalty structures. See the EPA National Pretreatment Program for the complete program guidance.

47% of US sewer blockages caused by FOG, per the EPA 2004 Report to Congress on CSOs and SSOs
25% of trap capacity is the standard cleaning trigger, codified in CSA B481.4 and referenced in the EPA Pretreatment FOG fact sheet
$68,445/day federal Clean Water Act civil penalty cap per violation, under 33 USC §1319(d)
3 years minimum retention for monitoring records under 40 CFR §403.12(o)(2)
Universal Requirements

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Five Sourced Baselines That Apply Almost Everywhere

Federal Prohibition on Obstruction Discharge
Discharging "solid or viscous pollutants in amounts which will cause obstruction" to a POTW is prohibited under 40 CFR §403.5(b)(3). Congealed FOG is the canonical example.
40 CFR §403.5(b)(3)
POTW Pretreatment Authority
Qualifying treatment works must develop and enforce a local pretreatment program with inspection and penalty authority, per 40 CFR §403.8.
40 CFR §403.8
Manifest Retention
Pumping manifests and monitoring records must be retained for a minimum of 3 years under 40 CFR §403.12(o)(2). Many local programs require longer retention on top.
40 CFR §403.12(o)(2)
Standardized Interceptor Sizing
Sizing methodology is governed by IAPMO UPC §1014, ICC IPC §1003, the ASME A112.14.3 testing standard, and PDI G-101.
UPC / IPC / ASME / PDI
25% Capacity Rule
Cleaning is triggered when accumulated FOG plus solids reaches 25% of the interceptor's liquid capacity, codified in CSA B481.4 and referenced in the EPA Pretreatment FOG fact sheet.
CSA B481.4 + EPA
5 Federal & State Programs

Selected City Programs

Local programs vary widely on cleaning cadence, statute structure, and penalty ceilings. Below are five jurisdictions chosen to illustrate that variation. For the full set of state and provincial pages we cover, jump to the By State directory.

City Authority & Statute Cleaning Frequency Max Penalty
Chicago, IL Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) — serves Chicago plus 128 Cook County communities. Minimum every 90 days under MWRDGC pretreatment guidance. Up to $10,000 (escalating from written warnings, then $500+).
New York City, NY NYC DEP Bureau of Wastewater Treatment + NYC Business Integrity Commission for haulers; 15 RCNY. Set by NYC DEP per facility / discharge profile. Up to $10,000 per day per violation.
Cheyenne, WY Cheyenne BOPU Industrial Pretreatment Program; Cheyenne City Code 13.20.545. Set by BOPU FOG Program permit. Up to $10,000/day statewide cap under W.S. §35-11-901.
Toronto, ON City of Toronto / Toronto Water — Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 681 (Sewers By-law). Set by Toronto Water under Ch. 681. Up to CAD $100,000 per offence (corporate conviction max under Ch. 681; individual max $50,000).
Montréal, QC Ville de Montréal (Service de l'eau) + Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal — By-law 15-085. Set by Règlement 15-085 permit conditions. Per By-law 15-085 schedule of fines.

These are 5 of the 54 state and provincial jurisdictions we cover. See the full list in the By State directory.

Take Action

How to Find Your Local Requirements

1
Contact your local POTW or water authority
Search "[your city] FOG program" or "[your city] grease trap ordinance". Most water authorities publish their FOG program contact and requirements on their website. Ask specifically for the "FOG ordinance" or "pretreatment program" document.
2
Request your FOG permit application
If your jurisdiction requires a discharge or interceptor permit, get the application from the water authority's pretreatment coordinator. Many cities have moved these online — search "[city name] grease interceptor permit application".
3
Ask your licensed contractor
GTL-listed contractors operate in your jurisdiction daily. They know the local FOG program, what inspectors look for, and which disposal facilities are approved. A 10-minute conversation with your contractor often answers every compliance question.
4
Use the GTL FOG Compliance Checklist
GTL's free FOG Compliance Checklist covers the universal requirements that apply regardless of jurisdiction, so you can identify gaps in your current programme before an inspector does.
Non-Compliance Consequences

What Happens When Operators Don't Comply

Federal civil penalty cap: The federal Clean Water Act allows judicial civil penalties up to $68,445 per day per violation, a cap adjusted for inflation each year, under 33 USC §1319(d). State and municipal penalties may stack on top.
Permit revocation: Chronic violations can result in loss of your FOG discharge permit, effectively making operation illegal until remediation is complete.
Mandatory FOG programme enrollment: Repeat violators may be required to submit monthly maintenance reports and undergo quarterly municipal inspections at their cost.
Sewer infrastructure liability: FOG that causes downstream blockages or treatment plant upsets can make you directly liable for remediation and repair costs — which can reach tens of thousands of dollars.
Health department referral: FOG violations are sometimes referred to the local health department, which can trigger a separate inspection of your food service licence.
FAQ

Common Questions About FOG Regulation

Are FOG regulations federal, state, or local?
All three layers are involved, but enforcement is overwhelmingly local. The federal layer is the National Pretreatment Program codified at 40 CFR Part 403, which sets the framework. Under 40 CFR §403.8, qualifying Publicly Owned Treatment Works must develop and enforce their own local pretreatment programs. Day-to-day FOG inspections, permits, fines, and pumping cadence are therefore set by your municipal sewer authority — not by the EPA directly.
What is the 25% rule?
The 25% rule is the standard cleaning trigger: when the combined depth of floating FOG and settled solids reaches 25% of the interceptor's liquid capacity, the unit must be pumped. It is codified in CSA B481.4 and referenced in the EPA Pretreatment FOG fact sheet. Many local ordinances reference this threshold explicitly; others impose a fixed calendar cadence intended to keep the unit below 25% between visits.
How do I find my local FOG ordinance?
Start with your local Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) — the municipal or regional wastewater authority that physically receives your discharge. Most POTWs publish a pretreatment program page with the operative ordinance, permit application, and fact sheet. If your city is small, the program may be administered at the county or regional district level instead. Your plumbing inspector and local health department are also reliable starting points if the POTW does not publish online.
What records do I need to keep?
At a minimum, retain pumping manifests, hauler receipts, and any monitoring or sampling records. Federal law requires these records be kept for a minimum of 3 years under 40 CFR §403.12(o)(2). Many local programs require longer retention and may require records to be produced on demand during an inspection. When a sample is the subject of any enforcement action, the retention clock generally extends until the matter is fully resolved.
Browse by Jurisdiction

FOG Regulations by State and Province

Click any state or province below for detailed governing authorities, cleaning frequencies, fine structures, and links to local service providers. All 54 jurisdictions covered.

United States — Northeast
Maine New Hampshire Vermont Massachusetts Rhode Island Connecticut New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Delaware Maryland
United States — Southeast
Virginia West Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia Florida Alabama Arkansas Tennessee
United States — Midwest
Ohio Michigan Indiana Illinois Wisconsin Iowa Nebraska Kansas North Dakota
United States — Southwest
Texas Oklahoma New Mexico Arizona
United States — West
California Oregon Washington Nevada Utah Colorado Idaho Montana Wyoming Alaska Hawaii
Canada
Ontario British Columbia Alberta Quebec Saskatchewan Manitoba Nova Scotia New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island
Free Compliance Tools
GTL Tools Built for FOG Compliance

Free tools used by facility managers across all 50 states to stay ahead of local FOG requirements — no signup required.

FOG Compliance Checklist Cleaning Schedule Planner Sizing Calculator Cost Estimator Inspection Report Generator
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FOG Regulations by State

Find a Licensed FOG Compliance Contractor

Listings are compiled from state and provincial licensing databases and public business records. Find grease trap contractors in your area — direct contact, no referral fees.

1,910+ grease trap contractors · 44 US states + 10 Canadian provinces · No signup required

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