Philadelphia Grease Trap Maintenance & Compliance Checklist

Philadelphia-Specific Grease Trap Requirements

Philadelphia requires all food service facilities to install and maintain grease traps or interceptors sized appropriately for your establishment's volume and flow rates per Philadelphia Municipal Code. The Department of Public Health mandates that grease traps be located outside the building (when practical) or in accessible interior locations that allow for inspection and pumping. Your trap must have a minimum capacity of 50 gallons for most small restaurants, though larger operations require proportionally sized units. Pre-rinse stations, pot sinks, and hood drains must all connect to the grease trap system—never bypass it with direct drain lines to the sewer.

Critical Inspection Items & Maintenance Tasks

Health inspectors evaluate grease trap depth, liquid levels, and baffle integrity during routine visits. Your checklist should include: weekly visual inspections for standing water and odor (signs of blockage), monthly measurement of grease accumulation depth, quarterly professional pumping services by licensed waste haulers, and annual certification from a certified grease trap service provider. Maintain detailed logs documenting all pumping dates, waste removal contractor names, and quantities removed—inspectors request these records. Check that inlet and outlet pipes remain clear, baffles aren't cracked, and the lid seals properly. Most violations stem from exceeding the 25% grease fill threshold between pumping cycles.

Common Philadelphia Violations to Avoid

The most frequent citations include infrequent pumping schedules (less than quarterly for most establishments), improper sizing for your operation's actual waste volume, and direct drain connections that bypass the trap entirely. Grease discharge into Philadelphia's sewer system triggers stiff penalties and potential mandatory facility upgrades costing thousands of dollars. Never allow staff to pour cooking oil down drains or dispose of fryer grease through the trap without proper pre-treatment. Missing or illegible service records, accumulated grease exceeding 50% trap capacity, and corroded or damaged interceptor components also result in violations. Philadelphia increasingly partners with CDC and EPA data on sewer system blockages caused by grease buildup, strengthening enforcement.

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