Grease Trap vs. Grease Interceptor — Which Do You Need?
Florida requires grease control devices on all food service establishments. The choice between an indoor grease trap and an outdoor grease interceptor depends on flow rate, facility type, available space, and your local utility's FOG (Fats, Oils & Grease) ordinance.
| Feature | Grease Trap (Indoor) | Grease Interceptor (Outdoor) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Installed inside kitchen, under sink or floor-mounted | Outside building, buried underground |
| Typical size | 5–100 GPM capacity | 500–5,000+ gallon tank |
| Best for | Small kitchens, food trucks, cafes, snack bars | Full-service restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, hospitals |
| Cost installed | $500–$3,500 | $5,000–$25,000+ |
| Pumping schedule | Every 1–4 weeks (varies by use) | Every 1–3 months (varies) |
| Access | Easy — indoor access | Vault access at grade — truck pumping |
| FL code ref | FPC §1003.1 | FPC §1003.3 |
FL FOG Regulations — Code Requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| FL Plumbing Code section governing grease traps | FPC 2023 §1003 |
| Who regulates FOG in FL? | Local utility / county + FL DEP |
| FL DEP Chapter governing FOG discharge | FAC §62-302 & §62-600 |
| Establishments exempted | Residential; vending machines; premises with no cooking |
| FL pretreatment standard — FOG discharge limit to sewer | 100 mg/L max (most FL utilities) |
| Effluent FOG limit — Palm Beach County Utilities | 100 mg/L |
| Manifest / record-keeping requirement for pumping | Must retain manifests 3 years |
| FOG permit required before opening? | Yes — most FL counties require FOG permit |
| Bypass (grease device out of service) — allowed? | No — immediate violation in all FL counties |
FL FOG Violation Penalties: Discharging excess FOG to the sewer system is a serious violation in Florida. Penalties range from $500 to $10,000+ per day depending on county. A sewer blockage caused by your FOG discharge can result in your business being held liable for the cost of sewer main jetting, cleanup, and any resulting SSO (Sanitary Sewer Overflow) — which can reach $50,000 or more. Proper sizing, maintenance, and documentation are essential.
Grease Interceptor Sizing Standards — FL
| Standard | Detail |
|---|---|
| ASPE Standard for sizing (most FL utilities use) | PDI G101 or ASPE method |
| Minimum grease interceptor size — typical FL counties | 1,000 gallons |
| Two-chamber required for interceptors? | Yes — FL DEP and most county FOG programs |
| Pumping frequency rule — "25% Rule" | Pump when 25% full of grease + solids |
| NAUE method (meals/day) — FL alternative sizing | Widely used by FL FOG programs |
| Grease trap (indoor) — max capacity before interceptor required | 100 GPM per FPC (most FL utilities require interceptor at 50+ GPM) |
| Access manhole required — grease interceptor | Yes — at grade; both chambers |
Grease Device Sizing Calculator
Calculate required grease trap (GPM) or grease interceptor (gallons) capacity using the fixture unit method (FPC §1003) and the NAUE meals-per-day method used by most FL county FOG programs. Methods: Fixture Unit Method (FPC §1003, DFUs per FPC Table 709.1), NAUE Method — Meals/Day (used by PBC Utilities, Broward County, Miami-Dade Water & Sewer), and Flow Rate Method (actual GPM). Retention time per FPC Table 1003.1 ranges 15 min (under 50% vegetable, no pork/fowl) to 30 min (heavy fryer oil, lard, or tallow). NAUE waste flow factor ranges 5 gal/meal (fast food) to 12 gal/meal (cafeteria/institutional/hotel); standard retention time is 24 hours for most FL county FOG programs.
FL Grease Trap Standard Sizes (Indoor)
Standard GPM-rated indoor grease traps per PDI G101. Select the next standard size at or above your calculated requirement.
| Size | Application / Cost |
|---|---|
| 5 GPM / 10 gallon | food truck, concession, small cafe — under-counter; ~$400–$700 |
| 10 GPM / 20 gallon | small café, bakery, snack bar — under-counter; ~$700–$1,200 |
| 15 GPM / 30 gallon | small restaurant, deli — under-counter/floor; ~$1,000–$2,000 |
| 20 GPM / 40 gallon | medium café or limited kitchen — floor-mounted; ~$1,500–$3,000 |
| 25 GPM / 50 gallon | floor-mounted; ~$2,000–$3,500 |
| 35 GPM / 70 gallon | floor-mounted; ~$3,000–$5,000 |
| 50 GPM / 100 gallon | larger quick service — floor-mounted; ~$4,000–$7,000 |
| 100 GPM | maximum indoor grease trap (FPC §1003) — requires outdoor interceptor above this |
FL Rule: When your calculated grease trap size exceeds the capacity of an indoor unit, or when your local FOG program requires it, you must install an outdoor underground grease interceptor instead. Most FL county FOG programs require interceptors for full-service restaurants regardless of fixture count.
Grease Interceptor Tank Sizes — FL Standard
Precast concrete or fiberglass underground interceptors. Select next standard size at or above calculated requirement.
| Tank Size | Notes |
|---|---|
| 500 gallon | not accepted by most FL FOG programs (below minimum) |
| 750 gallon | accepted by some FL counties for very small operations; verify with county |
| 1,000 gallon | minimum for most FL county FOG programs; ~$5,000–$8,000 installed |
| 1,500 gallon | ~$7,000–$12,000 installed |
| 2,000 gallon | typical for casual dining (50–100 seats); ~$9,000–$15,000 installed |
| 2,500 gallon | ~$11,000–$18,000 installed |
| 3,000 gallon | larger restaurants, hotel kitchens; ~$13,000–$20,000 installed |
| 4,000–5,000 gallon | cafeteria, hospital, large hotel; ~$18,000–$30,000 installed |
| Custom / larger | multi-unit food courts — engineer-designed |
FL County FOG Program Requirements
Each FL county has its own FOG control program administered by the local water/wastewater utility. Requirements vary — always verify with your specific county utility before installing.
Palm Beach County (PBC) — Palm Beach County Utilities
- FOG program: Palm Beach County FOG Control Ordinance (Ordinance 2016-011)
- Required for: All food service establishments (FSEs) connecting to county sewer
- Minimum interceptor size: 1,000 gallons (precast concrete, two-chamber)
- Flow rate limit: 100 mg/L FOG in effluent
- Pumping minimum frequency: When 25% full; minimum quarterly pump-out in most cases
- Manifest requirements: Keep on-site for 3 years; submit copies to PBC Utilities annually or on request
- Permit required: Yes — FOG Control Device Permit before installation; separate from building permit
Broward County — BSO / Broward County Environmental Licensing
- FOG program: Broward County Unified Land Development Code + Municipal FOG ordinances (varies by city)
- Required for: All FSEs
- Minimum interceptor size: 1,000 gallons per most Broward cities; Ft. Lauderdale minimum 1,500 gal in some zones
- Sizing method: NAUE method used by most Broward utilities
- City-level FOG programs: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Miramar, Pembroke Pines each have city-specific programs
- Pumping frequency: When 25% full; minimum every 90 days for restaurants
- High-temperature dishwasher: Some Broward utilities exempt high-temp sanitizing dishwashers (180°F)
Miami-Dade County — Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD)
- FOG program: WASD Industrial Pretreatment Program; Chapter 32 Miami-Dade Code
- Required for: All FSEs; must obtain Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit (IWDP)
- Minimum interceptor size: 1,500 gallons (stricter than most FL counties)
- Effluent limit: 100 mg/L FOG; violation can trigger IWDP revocation
- Reporting: Quarterly self-monitoring reports for larger FSEs
- Grease hauler registration: Only WASD-registered haulers may pump interceptors
- Inspection: WASD inspects most FSEs annually; non-compliance fines up to $10,000/day
Hillsborough County — Tampa Bay Water / Hillsborough County ENV
- FOG program: Hillsborough County FOG Control Ordinance; City of Tampa has separate ordinance
- Minimum interceptor size: 1,000 gallons (Hillsborough); City of Tampa may require larger
- BMPs: All FSEs must implement and document BMPs including dry wipe pans and employee training
- Documentation: Manifests kept 3 years; City of Tampa FSEs must register with Tampa Water Department
Orange County / City of Orlando — Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC)
- FOG program: City of Orlando FOG Control Program; Orange County Utilities parallel program
- Required for: All FSEs; commissary and ghost kitchens specifically included (2022 update)
- Minimum interceptor size: 1,000 gallons; most restaurants required at 1,500 gal based on NAUE
- Pumping frequency: Every 90 days minimum
- Automated grease removal: OC Utilities accepts AGRDs as alternative in some cases (pre-approval required)
Grease Device Maintenance Schedule — FL
Proper maintenance is legally required and prevents the most common cause of FOG violations. Keep all manifests for 3 years.
| Device | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Indoor grease trap (5–25 GPM) — small café or food truck | Every 1–2 weeks |
| Indoor grease trap (25–50 GPM) — fast food or small restaurant | Weekly to bi-weekly |
| Indoor grease trap (50–100 GPM) — medium restaurant | Weekly |
| Outdoor interceptor (1,000 gal) — casual dining, 50–75 seats | Every 30–60 days |
| Outdoor interceptor (1,500–2,000 gal) — full service restaurant | Every 60–90 days |
| Outdoor interceptor (2,500+ gal) — large restaurant / hotel | Every 90 days |
| 25% Rule trigger (all FL counties) | When 25% full of FOG + solids |
| Solids trap depth (interceptor) — action threshold | When solids within 12" of outlet |
| Record keeping — pumping manifests | Keep 3 years on-site |
| Annual FOG compliance report submission | Most FL counties: annually |
BMP Tip — The #1 Prevention Measure: Train kitchen staff to dry wipe all pans, plates, and cooking surfaces into the trash before washing. This single BMP can reduce grease trap loading by 30–50%, extending pumping intervals and reducing annual grease hauling costs by $500–$2,000.
Emergency — Blocked Grease Drain
Blocked kitchen drain causing backup to floor or sinks? This is a health department and FOG compliance emergency.