Grease Trap Regulations in Alberta

Overview

Alberta FOG rules come from two sources: the provincial building code and local wastewater bylaws. The National Plumbing Code requires grease interceptors in public kitchens, restaurants, care facilities, and detention facilities (Alberta plumbing codes). Calgary and Edmonton enforce strict rules for food businesses. Both cover installation, cleaning schedules, and record-keeping. Rural municipalities may have their own bylaws. Always check with your local authority to confirm what applies to your site.

Governing Authorities

Federal layer. Alberta sits under two federal rules. The Fisheries Act, R.S.C. 1985 c. F-14 §36(3) bans dumping harmful substances into fish-bearing waters. The Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (SOR/2012-139) set national effluent standards. Equipment must meet CSA B481. That is the Canadian grease-interceptor design standard, harmonized with ASME A112.14.3:2022.

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA) protects the province's environment. Report any environmental spill to AEPA at 1-800-222-6514. Grease spills that reach a waterway can trigger federal Fisheries Act liability as well as provincial penalties. Report spills immediately — delays make the situation worse.

Calgary enforces Wastewater Bylaw 14M2012. Edmonton uses EPCOR Drainage Services and Drainage Bylaw 19627. EPCOR inspectors visit industrial, commercial, and institutional sites. They give reasonable notice before visits. They can also do unannounced checks if there is a complaint or a known violation history.

Key Requirements

Alberta FOG rules apply to all commercial food businesses. Here is what you must do:

• Install a grease interceptor. Any facility where food is cooked, processed, or prepared must install one. The same applies if any amount of FOG is released. A licensed plumber must do the work under a plumbing permit.
• Clean it regularly. Calgary requires service at least once every four weeks. Edmonton requires monthly cleaning or when FOG and solids reach 25% of capacity. Clean it more often if it routinely hits 25% before the next service date.
• Pump it completely. Each service must remove 100% of the contents. The cleaner must pump out everything and inspect all parts.
• Keep records. Log every cleaning: how often you clean and how full the trap was each time. Calgary requires two years of records on site. Edmonton operators must follow EPCOR's Code of Practice for Oil and Grease Interceptor Installation and Maintenance. It operates under Drainage Bylaw 19627. Check the EPCOR drainage page for the current text.
• No additives. Do not put enzymes, bacteria, emulsifiers, solvents, or hot water in your interceptor. No other additives either.
• Dispose properly. Calgary operators can use the Bonnybrook FOG disposal station. You need a FOG hauling permit to access it. Edmonton requires a licensed hauler. The hauler must dispose of grease at a licensed facility.

Fines and Enforcement

Alberta cities can fine you heavily for FOG violations.

Calgary fines — verify current amounts via Calgary 311 or the bylaw text, as schedules can change:

• Failing to install a grease interceptor: $500 to $2,000
• Failing to maintain or clean your interceptor: $500 to $1,500
• Failing to submit maintenance records: $100 to $500
• Using prohibited additives: $1,000

Fines can be issued per violation per day. A single inspection visit can result in multiple fines if you have more than one violation.

Calgary can also bill you for the full cost of clearing any grease blockage. This includes repairs to nearby properties caused by your violation. Cost recovery bills arrive separately from fines. Pay both or face further enforcement action.

Edmonton fines: Violators can be fined up to $10,000. EPCOR can also require payment for all repairs and cut off water service (EPCOR inspections terms). Provincial investigators may also get involved.

Calgary samples wastewater at the Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant. It is an ISO 17025 lab. It runs more than 400,000 tests a year and serves over 580,000 people. The plant is a 500-MLD facility. EPCOR inspects more than 2,000 commercial and industrial sites each year.

Major City FOG Programs

Calgary

Wastewater Bylaw 14M2012 covers all facilities where food is cooked, processed, or prepared. It also covers any site where FOG is released in any amount. There are no exemptions. If any FOG comes off food prep equipment, you need an interceptor.

Calgary follows CSA B481. Service is required at least every four weeks. The city runs a monitoring program and uses the Bonnybrook facility for disposal. Fines go up to $2,000 for failing to install. Calgary can also bill you for the cost of any system damage.

Edmonton

EPCOR runs Edmonton's FOG program. It covers restaurants, cafés, lunch counters, cafeterias, bars, hotels, hospitals, factories, bakeries, and school kitchens. Drainage Bylaw 19627 and EPCOR's Code of Practice set the rules. Check the EPCOR drainage page for the latest text.

Traps must be cleaned monthly or when FOG and solids hit 25% of capacity. Weekly cleaning is ideal. If your trap reaches 25% before each scheduled service, clean it more often. Edmonton enforces through inspections and sampling. Fines go up to $10,000 plus repair costs.

Red Deer

Red Deer runs a source control program under Utility Services. You must keep grease interceptor maintenance records. Call Source Control Inspectors at 403-342-8750 (Red Deer Source Control). Log every cleaning: date, service company, disposal location, and trap condition. Fine amounts vary by municipality. Contact Red Deer Utility Services directly to confirm your requirements before you start operating.

Lethbridge

Lethbridge requires food service businesses to install properly sized interceptors and maintain regular cleaning schedules. Keep records of every service. Confirm fine amounts and program details with the City of Lethbridge Utilities Department. Requirements can change, so check the current bylaw before you open.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often must grease traps be cleaned in Alberta?

Calgary requires service at least once every four weeks. Edmonton requires monthly cleaning or when FOG and solids hit 25% of capacity. Both cities require cleaning before FOG and solids exceed 25% of the liquid volume. If your trap routinely reaches 25% before the next scheduled service, you must clean it more often.

What records must be kept for grease trap maintenance?

Under Calgary's Wastewater Bylaw 14M2012, keep a log of every cleaning. Record how often you clean and how full the trap was. Have two years of records on site. Some Alberta municipalities — including Rocky View County — also require two years of written records. Check your local bylaw to confirm. Logs should show service dates, company names, disposal locations, and condition notes.

Can I use additives or enzymes in my grease trap?

No. Calgary's Wastewater Bylaw bans enzymes, bacteria, emulsifiers, solvents, hot water, and any other additive in a grease interceptor. A violation costs $1,000. These products don't remove grease. They push it down the sewer where it causes blockages. Only pumping out the full contents is acceptable. If you are unsure about a product, ask the AHJ before using it.

Find Grease Trap Service in Alberta

Our directory lists 22 certified grease trap service companies in Alberta. They serve Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, and surrounding areas. They handle installation, cleaning, emergency service, and proper disposal. A licensed hauler also provides documentation — service reports, manifests, and disposal receipts — that you need for inspection. Visit our Alberta grease trap service directory to find a provider near you.