Grease Trap Requirements
New Bedford, MA

FOG Compliance in New Bedford, MA

Food service establishments in New Bedford operate under a combination of federal EPA pretreatment standards, Massachusetts 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 New Bedford, the rule is: Monthly or when FOG/sludge reaches 25% of effective depth, whichever comes first. 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 New Bedford 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 MA DEP 310 CMR 15.230 standards; under-sink traps may be less than 75 gallons.

New Bedford requires a dedicated FOG permit for any food service establishment generating fats, oils, and grease. The annual permit fee is Annual fee added to water bill (amount not publicly listed). The permit is separate from, and in addition to, the plumbing permit required at installation.

New Bedford 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. Weekly self-inspection required; annual professional inspection for small under-sink traps. 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 New Bedford Department of Public Infrastructure, FOG Division; Department of Inspectional Services, 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.