Grease Trap Requirements
Charleston, SC

FOG Compliance in Charleston, SC

Food service establishments in Charleston operate under a combination of federal EPA pretreatment standards, South Carolina 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 1,423 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 Charleston, the rule is: Quarterly minimum (at least 4 times per year), or more per CWS Inspector determination. 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 Charleston 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 Charleston Water System sizing method (based on flow rate to meet 100 mg/L discharge limit).

Charleston requires a dedicated FOG permit for any food service establishment generating fats, oils, and grease. The annual permit fee is $30 Grease Trap Origination Fee (non-refundable, non-transferable). The permit is separate from, and in addition to, the plumbing permit required at installation. Violations carry maximum penalties of Unknown - costly enforcement actions for exceeding 100 mg/L discharge limit . 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.

Charleston 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. Periodic inspections by Charleston Water System; post-installation inspection required. 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 Charleston Water System (CWS) Wastewater Collection Department, 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.