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Grease trap guides

Plain-English answers to the questions restaurant owners and kitchen managers ask most, built from 130 official city and utility programs. Every rule links to its source. Rules change; verify with your city.

How often to pump a grease trapThe 25% rule and the 30, 60 and 90-day schedules cities actually setGrease trap vs. grease interceptorHydromechanical vs. gravity: definitions, sizes and why the pumping rules differGrease interceptor sizing basicsUPC, IPC, PDI and city formulas, plus the minimum sizes cities requireDoes my business need a grease trap?Coffee shops, bakeries, food trucks and drinks-only businesses, by city ruleFOG inspection checklistWhat grease inspectors check, item by item, with the rule behind each oneGrease trap maintenance log (printable)Free printable log plus how long each city makes you keep recordsWhat affects grease trap cleaning costThe cost drivers your city controls, and the official fees and fines we can sourceGrease interceptor sizing calculatorUPC, IPC and PDI G-101 methodsCompare 130 citiesSort by pumping interval, minimum size and permit

Look up your city

Rules are local. Find your city on the states page, then see its pumpers on the same page.

Grease rule changes, once a week

A short email when a city changes its FOG ordinance, pumping schedule, permit fees or reporting portal. Free.