Philadelphia Grease Trap Requirements for Restaurants (2026)

Philadelphia Local Grease Trap Requirements

Philadelphia restaurants must install and maintain grease traps (also called grease interceptors) in accordance with the Philadelphia Housing and Construction Standards (HCS). The city requires all food service establishments to have properly sized grease traps based on daily wastewater flow, with minimum 1,500-gallon capacity for most commercial kitchens. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health mandates cleaning at least once per week or when the grease accumulation reaches 25% capacity—whichever occurs first. Facilities must maintain records of all pumping and maintenance, which inspectors will review during routine health department visits. Unlike some jurisdictions, Philadelphia requires certificates of service from licensed waste haulers documenting removal dates and volumes.

Pennsylvania State Standards vs. Philadelphia Local Code

Pennsylvania's International Plumbing Code (IPC) adoption establishes baseline requirements for grease interceptors statewide, but Philadelphia's local code often exceeds these standards. The city adds extra documentation requirements and more frequent inspection intervals than the state minimum. Pennsylvania state law allows grease trap cleaning on an as-needed basis based on the 25% rule, but Philadelphia's weekly mandate is mandatory regardless of visual accumulation. Additionally, Philadelphia requires annual certification inspections by licensed plumbers, whereas Pennsylvania state regulations do not mandate this frequency. Food service establishments must comply with whichever standard is stricter—in Philadelphia's case, the local requirements typically supersede state minimums.

Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement

Philadelphia's Health Department conducts routine inspections of food service establishments and specifically checks grease trap maintenance records and physical condition. Violations can result in critical violations (immediate compliance required) or non-critical violations (timeframe for correction), depending on severity and risk to public health. The city tracks violations through its online restaurant inspection database, which is accessible to the public and impacts facility ratings. Repeated or willful non-compliance can lead to fines up to $1,000+ per violation and temporary facility closures. Real-time alerts from monitoring platforms can help restaurant managers stay ahead of inspection requirements and avoid costly violations by tracking maintenance deadlines and regulatory updates.

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