Grease Trap Requirements
Shreveport, LA

FOG Compliance in Shreveport, LA

Food service establishments in Shreveport operate under a combination of federal EPA pretreatment standards, Louisiana 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.

Pumping frequency is the compliance rule restaurant owners interact with most often. In Shreveport, the rule is: Inside traps: weekly cleaning. Outside traps: monthly inspection. Frequency depends on nature and volume of wastewater. This places it among the strictest tier of US jurisdictions, alongside most of Houston-area and high-volume Los Angeles County restaurants. The city follows the International Plumbing Code (IPC) for trap sizing and installation. Under Section 1003.3.4, which sizes traps by drainage fixture unit counts, grease interceptors installed in Shreveport 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: Per Shreveport Ordinance Section 94-213 formulas and Louisiana State Plumbing Code (IPC-based); sized by flow and establishment type.

Shreveport requires a dedicated FOG permit for any food service establishment generating fats, oils, and grease. The annual permit fee is $1,000 for 5-year significant permit; $500 for 5-year non-significant permit; $200 for temporary permit. The permit is separate from, and in addition to, the plumbing permit required at installation. Violations carry maximum penalties of Per Ordinance Section 94-142 (violations and enforcement); specific amounts in city code . Fines typically escalate with repeat violations, and severe discharges that cause sanitary sewer overflows can trigger federal Clean Water Act penalties layered on top of local fines.

Shreveport enforces the 25 percent rule: grease traps must be pumped before the combined FOG and settled solids reach 25 percent of the trap's total liquid depth. Inspectors measure the depth with a sludge judge or dipstick, typically at surprise visits. Exceeding the threshold at inspection triggers a notice of violation and mandatory emergency pump-out, regardless of the scheduled pumping cycle. Set intervals outlined in permit; ongoing wastewater testing required. Establishments must maintain pumping logs, hauler manifests, and inspection reports on-site — missing records is itself a violation in most enforcement actions. Enforcement authority rests with the City of Shreveport Environmental Services Office / Industrial Pretreatment Program, which handles permit issuance, inspections, and hauler licensing.

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