Resources
Houston Grease Trap Regulations: A Compliance Guide for Food Service
If you operate a food service establishment in Houston, your grease trap is regulated equipment. The City of Houston runs a FOG (fats, oils, and grease) program designed to prevent sewer overflows — and enforcement is real: inspections, notices of violation, and fines that escalate quickly for repeat problems.
What Houston generally expects
- A properly sized, functioning trap or interceptor for any establishment that generates FOG
- Regular professional cleaning — frequently enough that the trap keeps working (the 25% rule is the common standard)
- Records and manifests on site — proof of who pumped your trap, when, how much was removed, and where it was disposed
- Licensed transporters — waste must be hauled by registered companies and disposed of at approved facilities
What an inspection looks like
Inspectors typically check the trap's condition, measure grease accumulation, and ask for your service records. Missing manifests are one of the most common violations — even kitchens with clean traps get cited when the paperwork isn't there.
How Sewer Squad keeps you covered
Every service we perform is fully manifested, transported under proper registration, and disposed of at licensed facilities. We keep copies of your records, so if an inspector shows up and your file is missing, one phone call restores it. Maintenance plan customers get service intervals tracked automatically — compliance without the mental load.
Disclaimer: Requirements vary by jurisdiction and change over time; always confirm current rules with your local authority. This guide is informational, not legal advice.
