Grease Trap Requirements
Tewksbury, MA

FOG Compliance in Tewksbury, MA

Food service establishments in Tewksbury 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 Tewksbury, the rule is: At least every 3 months or when 25% rule is triggered, 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 Tewksbury 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: 1,000 gallons minimum capacity; minimum depth of 4 feet (Massachusetts state standard).

Tewksbury requires a dedicated FOG permit for any food service establishment generating fats, oils, and grease. The annual permit fee is $100/year (low volume); $200/year (medium volume); $300/year (high volume) - annual recordkeeping and inspection fee. The permit is separate from, and in addition to, the plumbing permit required at installation. Violations carry maximum penalties of $50 per day starting 10 days after receipt of written notice from Board of Health , in line with typical US municipal penalties. 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.

Tewksbury 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. Monthly inspections by establishment required; Board of Health inspections as part of annual fee program. 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 Town of Tewksbury Board of Health, 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.