Grease Trap Requirements
Altoona, PA

FOG Compliance in Altoona, PA

Food service establishments in Altoona operate under a combination of federal EPA pretreatment standards, Pennsylvania 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 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 Altoona 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.

Altoona requires a dedicated FOG permit for any food service establishment generating fats, oils, and grease. The annual permit fee is $500 (covers review, approval and inspections for a 5-year cycle). The permit is separate from, and in addition to, the plumbing permit required at installation.

Included in 5-year permit cycle. 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 Altoona Water Authority, 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.