California Grease Trap Regulations (2026)

By the GreaseTrapFinder Editorial Team · Updated June 11, 2026 · All citations link to official sources

Everything a California 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.

California Requirements at a Glance

Cleaning frequency	No single statewide interval. The Statewide Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order (Order 2022-0103-DWQ) requires sewer agencies to run FOG control programs, and city ordinances set the schedules — the 25% rule with a 90-day maximum interval is the dominant standard among major California cities.
State regulator	California State Water Resources Control Board (with nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards)
Governing regulation	California Water Code §13590–13590.10 (Interceptor and Trap Grease Transportation Act, SB 1107), Public Resources Code §16050–16053, Health & Safety Code §17922.12, Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) Chapter 10
Manifest required	Yes — state transportation tracking under Water Code §13590; locally, your hauler provides a pump/service manifest (source)
Licensed hauler required	Yes — State Water Board hauler registration under the Interceptor and Trap Grease Transportation Act (Water Code §13590); haulers must carry $2M insurance and deliver only to authorized facilities. (Inedible kitchen grease haulers register separately with CDFA.) (source)
Record retention	3 years (haulers must keep compliance documentation 3 years under Water Code §13590; San Francisco and most major cities require generators to keep maintenance records 3 years) (source)
Penalties	Hauler violations: up to $5,000 first violation, up to $10,000 for repeat violations (Public Resources Code §16052). Discharge violations: up to $10,000 per day, rising to $25,000 per day for willful violations (Water Code §13350). City fines apply on top — e.g., San Francisco starts at $500 per violation. (source)

Who Regulates Grease Traps in California

At the state level, California State Water Resources Control Board (with nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards) (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is California Water Code §13590–13590.10 (Interceptor and Trap Grease Transportation Act, SB 1107), Public Resources Code §16050–16053, Health & Safety Code §17922.12, Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) Chapter 10. 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

California requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under State Water Board hauler registration under the Interceptor and Trap Grease Transportation Act (Water Code §13590); haulers must carry $2M insurance and deliver only to authorized facilities. (Inedible kitchen grease haulers register separately with CDFA.). (source)

Manifests & Record Keeping

Collect a signed manifest (state transportation tracking under Water Code §13590; locally, your hauler provides a pump/service manifest) at every service — date, volume removed, hauler license, disposal facility. (source)
Keep records 3 years (haulers must keep compliance documentation 3 years under Water Code §13590; San Francisco and most major cities require generators to keep maintenance records 3 years). (source)
Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.

City Programs in California

Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:

Los Angeles

Program: FOG Control Program — LA Sanitation, Industrial Waste Management Division
Ordinance: Los Angeles Municipal Code §64.30
Cleaning frequency: 25% rule; intervals typically 30–90 days depending on cooking volume
Permit: Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit required; minimum 300-gallon gravity interceptor unless waived; city-approved haulers required

San Francisco

Program: SFPUC Fats, Oils & Grease Control Program
Ordinance: San Francisco Public Works Code §140 and §140.5
Cleaning frequency: 25% rule with 90-day maximum interval
Permit: FSE General Wastewater Discharge Permit; SFPUC assigns each kitchen a FOG Discharger Category (1–3); only SFPUC-approved haulers may service traps
Fines: Starting at $500 per violation

San Diego

Program: Food Establishment Wastewater Discharge (FEWD) Permit Program
Ordinance: San Diego Municipal Code Division 7; California Plumbing Code §1014.0
Permit: All food service establishments must obtain a FEWD permit and install grease-removal equipment

Sacramento

Program: FOG Program — Sacramento Area Sewer District (SacSewer)
Ordinance: Sacramento City Code §13.08.090; SacSewer Consolidated Ordinance
Cleaning frequency: 25% rule; 90-day maximum typical
Permit: FSEs must maintain a "F.O.G. Log" documenting every pump-out, volume removed, and disposal destination

Worth Knowing in California

California law prohibits partial cleaning: under Public Resources Code §16051, haulers must remove ALL grease, liquid, and solids at every service — "skim" service is illegal, not just bad practice. California also runs a two-track hauler system: grease trap/interceptor waste haulers register with the State Water Board, while inedible kitchen grease (fryer oil) haulers register separately with the Department of Food and Agriculture. Health & Safety Code §17922.12 mandates grease interceptors in most new or remodeled commercial kitchens statewide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often must grease traps be cleaned in California?

No single statewide interval. The Statewide Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order (Order 2022-0103-DWQ) requires sewer agencies to run FOG control programs, and city ordinances set the schedules — the 25% rule with a 90-day maximum interval is the dominant standard among major California cities. 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 California?

Yes. Get a signed manifest (state transportation tracking under Water Code §13590; locally, your hauler provides a pump/service manifest) from the hauler at every service and keep it 3 years (haulers must keep compliance documentation 3 years under Water Code §13590; San Francisco and most major cities require generators to keep maintenance records 3 years). It's the document inspectors ask for first.

What are the penalties for grease trap violations in California?

Hauler violations: up to $5,000 first violation, up to $10,000 for repeat violations (Public Resources Code §16052). Discharge violations: up to $10,000 per day, rising to $25,000 per day for willful violations (Water Code §13350). City fines apply on top — e.g., San Francisco starts at $500 per violation. 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 California?

No — use a licensed/registered hauler (State Water Board hauler registration under the Interceptor and Trap Grease Transportation Act (Water Code §13590); haulers must carry $2M insurance and deliver only to authorized facilities. (Inedible kitchen grease haulers register separately with CDFA.)). If your hauler dumps illegally, the paper trail you kept is your protection.

Next Steps

Official Sources

This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with California State Water Resources Control Board (with nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards) and your local FOG program.

Need a Licensed Grease Trap Company?

Find screened companies near you and compare free quotes.

Get My Free Quote