Arizona Grease Trap Regulations (2026)
Everything a Arizona restaurant or commercial kitchen needs to know about grease trap compliance: who regulates it, how often you must clean, what records to keep, and what violations actually cost. Citations link to the official source so you can verify every claim — and show your inspector you did.
Arizona Requirements at a Glance
| Cleaning frequency | No statewide FOG interval — cities set the rules. Phoenix: gravity interceptors fully pumped at least every 3 months (or at 25% of capacity); hydromechanical units at least every 30 days. Pima County (Tucson): hydromechanical at least monthly; gravity interceptors at least every 6 months or at the 25% threshold. |
| State regulator | Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Water Quality Division — FOG programs run by local pretreatment authorities |
| Governing regulation | Arizona Revised Statutes Title 49 (AZPDES program); local grease interceptor requirements set by municipal industrial wastewater ordinances |
| Manifest required | Yes — work orders/manifests per local program — Pima County's Preferred Pumper Program requires pumpers to file monthly work-order reports with Industrial Wastewater Control (source) |
| Licensed hauler required | Yes — ADEQ Septage Hauler License for vehicles of 750+ gallon capacity; Pima County additionally runs a Preferred Pumper Program with local standards (source) |
| Record retention | 3 years minimum in Phoenix — all cleaning dates, volume removed, device capacity, disposal details, and repairs, kept at the facility and produced on request (Phoenix City Code §28-15) (source) |
| Penalties | Enforcement is municipal: Phoenix issues written correction requirements under City Code Chapter 28 and may take enforcement action for sewer blockages; Pima County escalates from a no-fine 30-day correction notice to formal enforcement, sewer surcharges, or permit review. (source) |
Who Regulates Grease Traps in Arizona
At the state level, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Water Quality Division — FOG programs run by local pretreatment authorities (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is Arizona Revised Statutes Title 49 (AZPDES program); local grease interceptor requirements set by municipal industrial wastewater ordinances. Day-to-day enforcement — inspections, cleaning intervals, fines — usually happens through your city or county sewer utility's pretreatment program, which can set stricter rules than the state.
Hauler Licensing & Verification
Arizona requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under ADEQ Septage Hauler License for vehicles of 750+ gallon capacity; Pima County additionally runs a Preferred Pumper Program with local standards. (source) Before signing a contract, verify the hauler's registration on the official lookup — it takes two minutes and it's the single best protection against illegal-dumping liability landing on you.
Manifests & Record Keeping
- Collect a signed manifest (work orders/manifests per local program — Pima County's Preferred Pumper Program requires pumpers to file monthly work-order reports with Industrial Wastewater Control) at every service — date, volume removed, hauler license, disposal facility. (source)
- Keep records 3 years minimum in Phoenix — all cleaning dates, volume removed, device capacity, disposal details, and repairs, kept at the facility and produced on request (Phoenix City Code §28-15). (source)
- Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.
City Programs in Arizona
Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:
Phoenix
- Program: City of Phoenix Water Services — Commercial Inspection / FOG Program
- Ordinance: Phoenix City Code §28-15
- Cleaning frequency: Gravity interceptors: at least every 3 months or at 25% of capacity. Hydromechanical interceptors: at least every 30 days.
- Permit: Approved grease interceptors required at food service establishments; inspected by Environmental Services Division. Note: chemicals, enzymes, or bacteria in lieu of physical cleaning are prohibited.
Tucson (Pima County)
- Program: Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation — Industrial Wastewater Control Grease Management + Preferred Pumper Program
- Ordinance: Pima County Industrial Wastewater Ordinance 2013-32, §13.36.400–.450
- Cleaning frequency: Hydromechanical: at least monthly. Gravity: at least every 6 months or at 25% of depth.
- Permit: Industrial wastewater discharge permit; minimum sizing of 300-gallon gravity or 25 GPM hydromechanical
- Fines: First written notice carries a 30-day correction window with no fine; unresolved violations escalate to formal enforcement and sewer surcharges
Worth Knowing in Arizona
Arizona has no state-level FOG statute — everything runs through municipal industrial wastewater ordinances. Phoenix explicitly bans the enzyme/chemical shortcut: under City Code §28-15, additives may not substitute for physical cleaning. Pima County's Preferred Pumper Program effectively pre-vets haulers and requires them to report your pump-outs monthly, so Tucson kitchens get compliance reporting almost for free by using a PPP hauler.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must grease traps be cleaned in Arizona?
No statewide FOG interval — cities set the rules. Phoenix: gravity interceptors fully pumped at least every 3 months (or at 25% of capacity); hydromechanical units at least every 30 days. Pima County (Tucson): hydromechanical at least monthly; gravity interceptors at least every 6 months or at the 25% threshold. Your city's FOG program may require more frequent service — and regardless of the legal interval, clean before fats, oils, and grease reach 25% of trap capacity.
Do I need a manifest for grease trap cleaning in Arizona?
Yes. Get a signed manifest (work orders/manifests per local program — Pima County's Preferred Pumper Program requires pumpers to file monthly work-order reports with Industrial Wastewater Control) from the hauler at every service and keep it 3 years minimum in Phoenix — all cleaning dates, volume removed, device capacity, disposal details, and repairs, kept at the facility and produced on request (Phoenix City Code §28-15). It's the document inspectors ask for first.
What are the penalties for grease trap violations in Arizona?
Enforcement is municipal: Phoenix issues written correction requirements under City Code Chapter 28 and may take enforcement action for sewer blockages; Pima County escalates from a no-fine 30-day correction notice to formal enforcement, sewer surcharges, or permit review. Enforcement is usually municipal, so your city's fine schedule controls — the fastest way to stay off it is a maintained cleaning schedule and complete records.
Can anyone pump my grease trap in Arizona?
No — use a licensed/registered hauler (ADEQ Septage Hauler License for vehicles of 750+ gallon capacity; Pima County additionally runs a Preferred Pumper Program with local standards). If your hauler dumps illegally, the paper trail you kept is your protection. Verify registration on the official lookup linked above.
Next Steps
- Find grease trap cleaning companies in Arizona
- Run the Arizona-adapted compliance checklist
- Put manifests and pricing in writing (free template)
Official Sources
- https://azdeq.gov/septage-haulers
- https://azdeq.gov/permits-needed-septage-hauler
- https://phoenix.municipal.codes/CC/28-15
- https://www.phoenix.gov/waterservices/envservices/comminsp
- https://www.pima.gov/1805/Industrial-Wastewater-Control-IWC
- https://www.pima.gov/1810/Preferred-Pumper-Program-PPP
This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Water Quality Division — FOG programs run by local pretreatment authorities and your local FOG program.
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