Pennsylvania Grease Trap Regulations (2026)

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

Everything a Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania Requirements at a Glance

Cleaning frequency	No uniform statewide schedule — Act 537 delegates FOG program design to municipalities, so your city's sewer-use rules control. Philadelphia requires quarterly minimum (monthly for high-volume kitchens); the Pittsburgh region works off ALCOSAN's 25%-of-depth standard, typically every 1–3 months.
State regulator	Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Governing regulation	Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537 of 1965), 35 P.S. §§750.1–750.20a; 25 Pa. Code Chapters 71–73
Licensed hauler required	Yes — PA DEP Waste Transporter Authorization (Act 90 of 2002) — required for waste transport vehicles over 17,000 lbs GVW; verify a hauler on DEP's public authorization report (source)
Penalties	Act 537 §13.1 authorizes civil penalties statewide; Philadelphia Water Department can levy fines up to $25,000 per day for PWD regulation violations, and ALCOSAN enforces a 200 mg/L oil-and-grease discharge limit with escalation up to sewer disconnection. (source)

Who Regulates Grease Traps in Pennsylvania

At the state level, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537 of 1965), 35 P.S. §§750.1–750.20a; 25 Pa. Code Chapters 71–73. 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

Pennsylvania requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under PA DEP Waste Transporter Authorization (Act 90 of 2002) — required for waste transport vehicles over 17,000 lbs GVW; verify a hauler on DEP's public authorization report. (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.

City Programs in Pennsylvania

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

Philadelphia

Program: Philadelphia Water Department Industrial Waste / FOG Program (jointly enforced with Licenses & Inspections)
Ordinance: PWD Regulations, Chapter 5; Philadelphia Plumbing Code
Cleaning frequency: Quarterly minimum for most food service establishments; monthly for high-volume kitchens
Permit: Plumbing permit through L&I; trap sizing per PWD pretreatment guidelines
Fines: Up to $25,000 per day for PWD regulation violations; sewer disconnection possible

Pittsburgh

Program: ALCOSAN (Allegheny County Sanitary Authority) Environmental Compliance Program
Ordinance: ALCOSAN Industrial Pretreatment Program (200 mg/L oil-and-grease discharge limit)
Cleaning frequency: Clean when the grease layer exceeds 25% of trap depth — most facilities every 1–3 months
Permit: ALCOSAN industrial pretreatment permit for applicable commercial dischargers
Fines: Escalating enforcement including surcharges and potential sewer disconnection

Worth Knowing in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a home-rule patchwork: Act 537 sets the framework but every municipality designs its own FOG program, so requirements genuinely differ between Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and smaller boroughs — always confirm with your local sewer authority. One statewide constant: haulers running vehicles over 17,000 lbs need a DEP Waste Transporter Authorization, which you can verify online.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often must grease traps be cleaned in Pennsylvania?

No uniform statewide schedule — Act 537 delegates FOG program design to municipalities, so your city's sewer-use rules control. Philadelphia requires quarterly minimum (monthly for high-volume kitchens); the Pittsburgh region works off ALCOSAN's 25%-of-depth standard, typically every 1–3 months. 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.

What are the penalties for grease trap violations in Pennsylvania?

Act 537 §13.1 authorizes civil penalties statewide; Philadelphia Water Department can levy fines up to $25,000 per day for PWD regulation violations, and ALCOSAN enforces a 200 mg/L oil-and-grease discharge limit with escalation up to sewer disconnection. 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 Pennsylvania?

No — use a licensed/registered hauler (PA DEP Waste Transporter Authorization (Act 90 of 2002) — required for waste transport vehicles over 17,000 lbs GVW; verify a hauler on DEP's public authorization report). If your hauler dumps illegally, the paper trail you kept is your protection. Verify registration on the official lookup linked above.

Next Steps

Official Sources

This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and your local FOG program.

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