Utah Grease Trap Regulations (2026)
Everything a Utah restaurant or commercial kitchen needs to know about grease trap requirements: who regulates it, how often you must clean, what permits and registration you need, 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.
Utah Requirements at a Glance
| Cleaning frequency | No statewide interval — each utility's FOG Control Plan sets the schedule. Salt Lake City requires hydromechanical traps cleaned at least every 30 days and gravity interceptors at least every 90 days, or when FOG and solids exceed 25% of capacity, whichever is sooner. |
| State regulator | Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Quality |
| Governing regulation | Utah Admin. Code R317-801 (Utah Sewer Management Program) — utilities with 2,000+ connections must maintain a FOG Control Plan; R317-8 (UPDES pretreatment, incl. a 100 mg/L grease limit) |
| Record retention | 5 years in Salt Lake City — maintenance, cleaning, and repair records kept on site (no statewide retention period is codified) (source) |
| Penalties | Under R317-8, frequent violators of the 100 mg/L grease limit can be issued an individual pretreatment permit; a Technical Review Criteria violation is triggered when 33%+ of six-month measurements hit 1.4× the standard. Specific dollar fines are set by each utility's sewer-use ordinance under Utah Code Title 19. (source) |
Who Regulates Grease Traps in Utah
At the state level, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Quality (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is Utah Admin. Code R317-801 (Utah Sewer Management Program) — utilities with 2,000+ connections must maintain a FOG Control Plan; R317-8 (UPDES pretreatment, incl. a 100 mg/L grease limit). 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.
Manifests & Record Keeping
- Keep records 5 years in Salt Lake City — maintenance, cleaning, and repair records kept on site (no statewide retention period is codified). (source)
- Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.
City Programs in Utah
Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:
Salt Lake City
- Program: Salt Lake City Public Utilities Wastewater Pretreatment FOG Program
- Ordinance: Salt Lake City Code §§17.36.060, 17.36.140
- Cleaning frequency: Hydromechanical traps: at least every 30 days or at 25% capacity; gravity interceptors: at least every 90 days or when inlet-side solids reach 25%
- Permit: Non-compliance can trigger a wastewater discharge permit plus fees per the Consolidated Fee Schedule
- Fines: Not publicly listed; non-compliance triggers increased inspections and fees
Worth Knowing in Utah
Utah pushes FOG control down to individual utilities under R317-801 — so cleaning frequency, record-keeping, and enforcement all vary by city. Salt Lake City runs the most detailed program, with distinct 30-day (hydromechanical) and 90-day (gravity) minimums. No statewide grease-hauler license or manifest program was found; any such rules are set at the utility level.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must grease traps be cleaned in Utah?
No statewide interval — each utility's FOG Control Plan sets the schedule. Salt Lake City requires hydromechanical traps cleaned at least every 30 days and gravity interceptors at least every 90 days, or when FOG and solids exceed 25% of capacity, whichever is sooner. 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 Utah?
Under R317-8, frequent violators of the 100 mg/L grease limit can be issued an individual pretreatment permit; a Technical Review Criteria violation is triggered when 33%+ of six-month measurements hit 1.4× the standard. Specific dollar fines are set by each utility's sewer-use ordinance under Utah Code Title 19. 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.
Do I need a permit for a grease trap in Utah?
In most Utah cities, yes — food service establishments must register with, or get a permit from, the local FOG / pretreatment program before discharging grease trap waste to the sewer. The exact permit and registration requirements vary by city; the major-city programs are listed above, and your local sewer authority has the specifics for your address.
Next Steps
- Find grease trap cleaning companies in Utah
- Run the Utah-adapted compliance checklist
- Put manifests and pricing in writing (free template)
Official Sources
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/utah/Utah-Admin-Code-R317-801-5
- https://www.slc.gov/utilities/pretreatment-fats-oils-grease-fog/
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/utah/environmental-quality/title-R317/rule-R317-8
This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Quality and your local FOG program.
Utah Grease Trap Costs & Rules by City
City-level pricing, cleaning frequency and permit requirements:
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