New York City FOG & grease trap rules
Concrete New York City DEP requirements for commercial grease-generating establishments under the City sewer-use program and Title 15, Chapter §19-11.
Grease interceptor installation and operation
Requirement: Commercial grease-generating establishments must correctly install, operate, and maintain properly sized and designed grease interceptors.
Official text: "When businesses discharge animal fats and vegetabe oils into the Sewer System, it can cause sewer backups and interfere with the City’s sewage treatment operations. To ensure the proper disposal of grease, and to prevent sewer backups, the City requires commercial grease-generating establishments to correctly install, operate and maintain properly sized and designed grease interceptors."
Licensed-plumber installation and proper sizing
Requirement: Only licensed plumbers may install grease interceptors, and the interceptor must be properly sized.
Official text: "For your own assurance, DEP requires that only licensed plumbers install grease interceptors. These interceptors must be the proper size to work correctly."
Cleaning frequency
Requirement: Each interceptor must be cleaned as frequently as necessary to avoid exceeding its rated capacity.
Official text: "Every interceptor should be cleaned as frequently as necessary to avoid exceeding its rated capacity."
Inspection and penalty
Requirement: DEP inspectors check interceptor sizing, installation, maintenance, and operation; the stated maximum penalty is $10,000 per day per violation.
Official text: "We routinely send inspectors to businesses to check interceptors and make sure they are correctly sized, properly installed, maintained, and operating effectively. The maximum penalty for not complying with the rules is currently $10,000 per day, per violation."