Grease Trap Regulations in Virginia

Overview

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) sets state and federal rules for air, water, water supply, and land. Food service operators must follow FOG pretreatment rules. Local utilities and cities handle most of the day-to-day enforcement.

Virginia sits inside the Chesapeake Bay watershed. That makes FOG compliance even more important here. Sewer overflows add nutrient pollution and harm sensitive aquatic life in the region.

Governing Authorities

The Virginia DEQ oversees water quality rules and supports local FOG programs. Day-to-day enforcement happens at the city or utility level.

Sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) are banned under the federal Clean Water Act. They are regulated by the EPA, the Virginia DEQ, and HRSD.

Major city and regional FOG enforcement bodies include:

• Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) — covers food service establishments (FSEs) tied directly to HRSD-owned or operated sewer infrastructure.
• Fairfax Water and Fairfax County Sewer — requires cleaning records to be kept and made available for inspection for three years under Article 67.1-3 of the County Code.
• Richmond Department of Public Utilities.
• Virginia Beach Public Utilities, which adopted the Fats, Oils, Grease Ordinance in 2009.

Fredericksburg adopted its VPDES FOG Program in March 2022. The program follows Virginia state law. It requires both new and existing food service establishments to install grease traps.

Key Requirements

Virginia food service establishments must meet state plumbing code and local utility rules:

• Interceptor Installation: A grease interceptor or automatic grease removal device is required to receive drainage from fixtures and equipment with grease-laden waste. This applies to food prep areas in restaurants, hotel kitchens, hospitals, school kitchens, bars, factory cafeterias, and clubs.
• Cleaning Frequency: Most food service establishments must clean grease traps at least every 90 days (quarterly) under city FOG Management Programs. Cleaning is also required any time grease and solids reach 25% of the trap's capacity, even if 90 days have not passed.
• Certified Hauler Requirements: Larger grease control devices (GCDs), or grease interceptors, must be cleaned at least every 90 days. A maintenance log must stay on-site for at least 3 years before the inspection date. A hauler manifest counts as a log entry.
• Record Retention: Virginia Beach rules require businesses to keep all grease trap maintenance records for at least three years. These records must be ready for inspection by city officials on request.
• Employee Certification: The FOG Ordinance requires each FSE to have at least one FOG Certified employee. The training teaches food service workers and grease haulers how to prevent sewer backups caused by poor handling and disposal of fats, oils, and grease.
• Sizing Standards: Hydromechanical grease interceptors and automatic grease removal devices must be sized to match ASME A112.14.3 Appendix A, ASME 112.14.4, CSA B481.3, or PDI G101.

Fines and Enforcement

Penalties differ by jurisdiction across Virginia:

• Failure to keep up with required cleaning schedules can bring fines starting at $100. Repeat violations can push fines up to $1,000.
• Violations of city FOG Management Programs can lead to escalating fines starting at $100 and rising to $1,000 for repeat offenders. Cities may also issue compliance orders demanding immediate corrective action. They may suspend business operations for serious violations.
• Failing to follow any condition of an FSE permit can bring fines up to $1,000 or termination of water and sewer service.
• If the State of Virginia or the United States fines a town over a sewer overflow tied to excess grease, and the grease is traced back to a specific food service operation, the responsible business pays the fine.

Fairfax County inspectors check grease traps and cleaning records on a regular cycle. They can require corrective action when problems show up. Establishments responsible for sewer overflows may also have to pay for the city's cleanup costs and any state penalties placed on the locality.

Major City FOG Programs

Virginia Beach

Public Utilities adopted the Fats, Oils, Grease Ordinance in 2009. That marked the start of the city's FOG program. The program gives food service businesses the tools and training they need to prevent sewer pipe blockages, backups, and sanitary sewer overflows.

Most food service establishments must clean grease traps at least every 90 days (quarterly). They must also keep all maintenance records for at least three years.

Free training and certification is offered through the Hampton Roads Planning District at https://hrfog-hrpdc.talentlms.com.

Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD)

This Best Management Practice (BMP) applies to food service establishments connected directly to HRSD-owned or operated sewer infrastructure. The goal is to keep fats, oils, and grease out of the sewer system.

HRSD serves 18 cities and counties in southeast Virginia. It runs nine major treatment plants in Hampton Roads and four smaller plants on the Middle Peninsula. The district enforces regional design standards for grease control devices. It also requires HR FOG certification for grease haulers.

Fairfax County

Most grease traps must be cleaned before they reach 25% full of floating grease and settled solids. Restaurants can clean their own traps or hire a permitted sewage disposal contractor. Either way, Article 67.1-3 of the County Code requires cleaning records to be kept. Those records must be available for inspection for three years.

Fairfax County runs periodic inspections. Inspectors can require corrective actions based on what they find.

Richmond

The Richmond Department of Public Utilities runs a pretreatment program that controls FOG discharge from food service businesses.

Within the Richmond region, different localities set different rules for grease trap and grease interceptor maintenance. Contact the locality you operate in for the exact rules. Richmond businesses should confirm pumping schedules and paperwork rules with the Department of Public Utilities pretreatment program.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I need to pump my grease trap in Virginia?

Pumping frequency depends on trap size and how much grease the kitchen produces. Most jurisdictions require cleaning at least every 90 days. Cleaning is also triggered any time grease and solids reach 25% of the trap's liquid capacity, whichever comes first. High-volume kitchens with smaller traps may need monthly service. Low-volume kitchens with properly sized interceptors may be allowed less frequent service, with utility approval.

What records must I keep for FOG compliance?

Virginia localities usually require three years of maintenance records. That includes cleaning dates, volume pumped, hauler manifests, and employee certification. Records must show the name of the certified hauler or employee who did the cleaning. They also need depth readings for floating grease and settled solids, and the approximate volume removed. Keep logs on-site so utility staff can review them during inspections.

Can I clean my own grease trap or must I hire a hauler?

The answer depends on trap size and your local rules. Small grease traps (often under 50 gallons per minute) can be cleaned by trained FSE staff in some areas, but records must still be kept. Larger grease interceptors and outdoor devices must be serviced by certified grease haulers using approved disposal sites. Check with your local utility to confirm which rules apply to your business.

Find Grease Trap Service in Virginia

We list 29 certified grease trap service providers serving communities across Virginia. These pros know state DEQ rules and local FOG programs, from Hampton Roads to Northern Virginia. Whether you operate in an area served by HRSD, Fairfax County Sewer, Richmond DPU, or Virginia Beach Public Utilities, our directory connects you with haulers who can keep your business in line with pumping schedules, manifest rules, and record-keeping. View all grease trap service providers in Virginia.