Grease Trap Requirements
Rochester, NY

FOG Compliance in Rochester, NY

Food service establishments in Rochester operate under a combination of federal EPA pretreatment standards, New York 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 Rochester, the rule is: Every 3 months or when 25% capacity is reached, whichever comes first. This aligns with the 90-day US median enforced by most major cities. 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 Rochester 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 NY State Plumbing Code 2020 (Chapter 10); interceptors or automatic grease removal devices required for FSEs.

Rochester requires a dedicated FOG permit for any food service establishment generating fats, oils, and grease. The annual permit fee is $50 routine inspection fee (Monroe County); permit fees per city schedule. The permit is separate from, and in addition to, the plumbing permit required at installation. Violations carry maximum penalties of $100-$200 per violation; plus civil penalties, clean-up costs, and compliance plan requirements , 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.

Rochester 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. Routine inspections; grease traps may require daily to weekly cleaning checks. 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 Monroe County Department of Environmental Services / City of Rochester, 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.