Los Angeles Grease Trap Compliance Checklist for Food Service

LA Grease Trap Sizing & Installation Requirements

California Code of Regulations Title 16 (CalCode) and LA municipal ordinances require grease traps sized based on the establishment's peak flow rate and fixture count. The LA Bureau of Sanitation specifies that grease interceptors must be sized at minimum 1.5 times the peak hourly flow of wastewater from food preparation areas, with a minimum retention time of 24 minutes. All grease traps must be installed outside the building or in a pit/vault accessible for pumping, and must have properly sealed covers with ventilation to prevent odor. Installation requires a grease interceptor permit from the LA Department of Sanitation and inspection approval before operation begins.

Maintenance & Inspection Checklist Items

Establish a daily maintenance log documenting: removal of visible grease from trap access points, inspection for leaks or cracks in the interceptor structure, and checking that inlet and outlet baffles are intact and unobstructed. Schedule professional pumping every 25% to 75% capacity (typically every 2–4 weeks depending on volume) by a licensed waste hauler certified to service grease interceptors in LA County. During routine health inspections, LA Department of Public Health inspectors verify: trap accessibility, absence of backups or ponding, proper labeling with maintenance records, and compliance with discharge limits (grease content must not exceed 150 mg/L per POTW standards). Keep all pumping receipts, maintenance reports, and permits on site for inspector review.

Common LA Violations & Prevention Strategies

Frequent violations include: inadequate sizing (traps too small for actual flow), failure to pump on schedule (accumulation exceeding 75% capacity), blocked or damaged baffles allowing grease discharge into sewers, and lack of documentation (no maintenance logs or pumping records). The City of Los Angeles has increased enforcement against restaurants discharging grease into municipal wastewater systems, which causes sanitary sewer overflows and fines up to $1,000+ per violation. Prevent violations by conducting weekly visual inspections for grease level, maintaining a signed pumping contract with a certified hauler, training all kitchen staff on proper grease disposal (no grease down drains), and scheduling annual professional inspections of trap condition. Document everything: photographs, maintenance records, and staff training sign-in sheets.

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