Grease Trap Regulations in Pennsylvania

Overview

Pennsylvania restaurants must follow FOG (fats, oils, and grease) pretreatment rules. State and local agencies share enforcement. You must dispose of all grease and trap debris at a site approved by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and/or the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Act 537 (Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act) sets the state framework. Local towns and cities then write their own FOG rules. Requirements differ a lot by city. A Philadelphia restaurant follows different cleaning, sizing, and reporting rules than one in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, or Lancaster. The basics are the same: trap the grease, pump it on time, keep clean records, and use a licensed hauler. The exact numbers and forms come from your city or sewer authority.

Governing Authorities

Pennsylvania uses a tiered system. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sets state standards for wastewater and pretreatment. Local water and sewer authorities handle most day-to-day enforcement.

Key enforcement agencies include:

• Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) and the Department of Licenses and Inspections jointly run the city's FOG Program for all Philadelphia food businesses.
• Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) regulates restaurants that drain into the city sewer system.
• Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) oversees more than 1,200 industrial and commercial customers that send higher-strength waste to the plant. The Environmental Protection Agency authorizes ALCOSAN to regulate industrial discharges through an approved pretreatment program.
• Capital Region Water handles FOG rules in the Harrisburg area.
• City of Lancaster Bureau of Wastewater runs the Lancaster FOG Control Program.
• Municipal sewer authorities in townships and boroughs across Pennsylvania enforce their own local FOG ordinances.

Key Requirements

Most Pennsylvania FOG rules are set at the local level. Even so, common standards show up across most cities:

Interceptor Installation and Sizing

• Size a gravity grease interceptor by multiplying the peak drain flow in gallons per minute by 30 minutes of retention time.
• For flow rates of 35 gpm or less, an internal grease trap may work in some existing food prep spaces and restaurants. Above 35 gpm, you must install an external, underground interceptor.
• Many local codes set a minimum hydraulic retention time of 24 minutes at actual peak flow, or 12 minutes at calculated theoretical peak flow. They also require at least two compartments with grease-retention fittings and a minimum capacity of 1,000 gallons. Check the exact wording with your local township or borough sewer authority.

Cleaning Frequency

• Most Philadelphia restaurants must clean grease traps at least every quarter. High-volume kitchens clean monthly.
• In Harrisburg, the minimum cleaning cycle for commercial grease traps is usually every 90 days (quarterly).
• For any grease interceptor, pump the grease cap and sludge as needed. Local rules often cap the gap between pump-outs at 30 days.
• The 25% rule is the industry standard statewide. Clean the trap when FOG and solids reach 25% of capacity, no matter how recently it was pumped.

Record-Keeping and Manifests

• Keep detailed cleaning logs for at least three years. Logs must list dates, the service provider, and where the waste went.
• Every pump-out of an interceptor needs a manifest. Anyone who generates, collects, or transports grease waste must keep a manifest record for each pickup and drop-off.
• The manifest must show the hauler name and registration, the generator, the volume removed, the disposal site, and the receiving facility's acknowledgment.
• Records must be ready to show to local inspectors on request.

Waste Disposal

• Dispose of all grease waste at sites approved by PA DEP and/or the Allegheny County Health Department.
• Never discharge waste into storm sewers or sanitary sewers.
• Only licensed haulers may transport and dispose of interceptor waste.

Fines and Enforcement

Pennsylvania cities issue real penalties for FOG violations. Amounts vary by city:

• Capital Region Water and the City of Harrisburg may issue penalties for non-compliance. Fines escalate for repeat offenders. The local authority publishes the schedule.
• The Philadelphia Water Department enforces strict grease-trap rules. Fines can reach thousands of dollars.
• In smaller cities, first-time fines often run from $100 to $200. Bigger cases can add civil penalties and cleanup-cost recovery.
• ALCOSAN Rules & Regulations set a 200 mg/L (ppm) limit for oil and grease downstream of the interceptor or tap inside ALCOSAN service areas.
• If you fail to clean and maintain your interceptor, the city may disconnect your business from the public sewer or take other enforcement action.

Enforcement tools include routine inspections, compliance orders, fines, sewer disconnection, and cleanup-cost recovery for blockages traced to your kitchen. A clean log book is your best defense at inspection time. If a city sewer crew traces a backup to your line, the cleanup bill can dwarf any fine. Most penalty schedules also stack: a missed pump-out can roll into the next inspection cycle as a repeat offense.

Major City FOG Programs

Philadelphia

Philadelphia rules are tighter than most. The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) and the Department of Licenses and Inspections jointly enforce them through the city's FOG Program. Most kitchens clean every quarter. High-volume kitchens clean monthly. The city's General Pretreatment Guidelines list the minimum specs for grease traps, oil/water separators, and lint traps. The exact requirements come on a project-by-project basis when you pull a plumbing permit. Philadelphia keeps detailed inspection records and enforces the three-year log rule.

Pittsburgh (ALCOSAN Service Area)

Pittsburgh-area restaurants drain to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority system or directly to ALCOSAN's regional plant. ALCOSAN's Environmental Compliance team oversees more than 1,200 industrial and commercial customers that send higher-strength waste, including FOG from restaurants. ALCOSAN limits oil and grease in discharges to 200 ppm and requires properly sized interceptors with regular service. Local ordinances in the ALCOSAN area usually require weekly to monthly cleaning, depending on trap size, plus a yearly inspection at minimum.

Harrisburg

Capital Region Water and the City of Harrisburg enforce a 90-day minimum cleaning cycle for commercial grease traps. High-volume kitchens, or those with smaller traps, may need monthly service. Watch your grease level and pump as soon as combined FOG and food solids hit 25% of capacity. Harrisburg uses an escalating penalty schedule published by Capital Region Water. Inspectors expect to see clean records that prove ongoing compliance.

Lancaster

Under the City Plumbing Code, Lancaster requires grease interceptors to catch grease before it reaches the sewer. The interceptor sits under the sink or on the building's sewer lateral before it ties into the city main. Inspection frequency depends on the food-service or processing site's compliance history. The city inspects every site at least once a year. After the first inspection, future visits may drop to once every two years. Lancaster's FOG Control Program covers permits, education, and escalating enforcement, including fines and possible service termination.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often must I clean my grease trap in Pennsylvania?

It depends on your city, but the principles are the same. Most Pennsylvania cities require a quarterly (90-day) minimum for grease interceptors. Smaller traps under 50 gallons often need weekly or monthly service. No matter the schedule, clean the trap when FOG and solids hit 25% of rated capacity. High-volume kitchens that fry food usually clean monthly. Check with your local sewer authority for the exact rule. Some cities require weekly service; others require quarterly.

What records must I maintain for my grease interceptor?

Keep complete records for at least three years. You need the date and time of each cleaning, the licensed hauler's name and contact, the volume of waste removed, the disposal site and confirmation, the technician's signature, and any photos or notes on trap condition. Manifests that track the waste from pickup to final disposal are required. Have these records ready to show to local water staff, health officials, or DEP inspectors on the spot.

Who can pump out my grease trap in Pennsylvania?

Only licensed grease haulers approved by Pennsylvania DEP may pump and transport interceptor waste. They must hold the right permits, insurance, and equipment. Waste must go to a PA DEP-approved facility. Never dump it in storm drains, sewers, or on the ground. Some sites with small under-sink traps may handle their own cleaning, putting waste in solid-waste bins with absorbent. External underground interceptors must always be serviced by licensed pros. Ask your local sewer authority for a list of approved haulers.

Find Grease Trap Service in Pennsylvania

Our Pennsylvania directory lists 25 qualified grease trap service providers across the Commonwealth. These licensed pros handle pumping, cleaning, maintenance, and emergency service for both small traps and large commercial interceptors. All listed providers follow Pennsylvania DEP waste-handling rules and carry proper insurance and certifications. Find a local provider near you on our Pennsylvania grease trap service directory. When you call, ask for proof of DEP hauler registration and a sample manifest. A good hauler will leave you a signed copy of the manifest after every pump-out and confirm where the waste is going.