Grease Trap Requirements
Huntsville, AL

FOG Compliance in Huntsville, AL

Food service establishments in Huntsville operate under a combination of federal EPA pretreatment standards, Alabama state plumbing code, and city-level FOG ordinances. Together these rules determine how grease traps must be sized, how often they must be pumped, and what happens when a restaurant falls out of compliance. The city has approximately 846 food service establishments — every one of them subject to the rules summarized below.

The city follows the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) for trap sizing and installation. Under Section 1014, which applies a fixture drainage load formula with a retention time factor, grease interceptors installed in Huntsville must meet minimum capacity thresholds based on the fixtures connected to them — 3-compartment sinks, dishwashers, pre-rinse stations, wok stoves, and floor drains on the cook line. The local minimum trap size is: Sizes referenced in local code: 500 gallons.

Huntsville requires a dedicated FOG permit for any food service establishment generating fats, oils, and grease. The permit is separate from, and in addition to, the plumbing permit required at installation.

Specific pumping schedules and compliance thresholds for Huntsville are not published in the municipal code at the level of detail tracked on this site. Restaurant operators in Huntsville should contact the local wastewater utility directly to obtain the current rule set before installation or during inspection preparation.

For a deeper explanation of the rules this city enforces, read our guides on how grease traps work and the 25/50 pumping rule.