Grease Trap Requirements
Columbus, OH
FOG compliance regulations for food service establishments in Columbus, Ohio. Serving 3,059 food service establishments.
FOG Compliance in Columbus, OH
Food service establishments in Columbus operate under a combination of federal EPA pretreatment standards, Ohio 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 3,059 food service establishments — every one of them subject to the rules summarized below.
Pumping frequency is the compliance rule restaurant owners interact with most often. In Columbus, the rule is: At minimum every 90 days, or when FOG and solids reach 25% of the interceptor capacity. This aligns with the 90-day US median enforced by most major cities.
Columbus requires a dedicated FOG permit for any food service establishment generating fats, oils, and grease. The annual permit fee is No separate FOG permit fee published; covered under sewer use provisions. The permit is separate from, and in addition to, the plumbing permit required at installation. Violations carry maximum penalties of $10,000 per day per violation under Columbus City Code , 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.
Columbus 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. Inspections conducted annually or as needed; new facilities inspected within first 6 months. 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 Columbus Division of Sewerage and Drainage (DOSD), 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.
Pumping Requirements
Permits & Enforcement
Complete FOG Regulations
| Minimum Trap Size | 750 gallons minimum for gravity grease interceptors (GGIs); smaller point-of-use traps per plumbing code sizing |
|---|---|
| Pumping Frequency | At minimum every 90 days, or when FOG and solids reach 25% of the interceptor capacity |
| 25% Rule | Yes — trap must be pumped when grease and solids reach 25% of capacity |
| Permit Required | Yes |
| Permit Fee | No separate FOG permit fee published; covered under sewer use provisions |
| Maximum Fine | $10,000 per day per violation under Columbus City Code |
| Inspections | Inspections conducted annually or as needed; new facilities inspected within first 6 months |
| Record Keeping | Required — maintain pumping logs and manifests on-site |
| Plumbing Code | IPC (Ohio adopted IPC as base plumbing code) |
| Ordinance Ref. | Columbus City Code Chapter 1145 - Sewers and Drains; Columbus Public Health and Division of Sewerage and Drainage FOG regulations |
| Authority | City of Columbus Division of Sewerage and Drainage (DOSD), Industrial Pretreatment Program |
Additional Notes
Columbus requires FSEs to have approved grease interceptors. Kitchen wastewater must be routed through the interceptor. Dishwashers may or may not be required to discharge through the interceptor depending on the facility. The city requires waste hauler manifests and maintenance logs retained for 3 years.
Last verified: — Regulations change frequently. Always verify current requirements with your local wastewater authority or plumbing inspector before making compliance decisions.
Contact Information
Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment Group: (614) 645-5876, FOG@columbus.gov
Official Sources
Size Your Grease Trap for Columbus
Our free calculator uses IPC (Ohio adopted IPC as base plumbing code) code requirements to recommend the right size.
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