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FL Grease Trap vs Interceptor Sizing Guide

Commercial kitchen FOG compliance · Fixture unit method · Flow rate sizing · FL DEP rules · PBC / Broward / Miami-Dade / Hillsborough FOG ordinances · Maintenance schedule

FL DEP FOG Rules · FPC 2023 §1003 · All Major FL Counties · Commercial Kitchen
⚖️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.
🪣 Grease Trap (Indoor)
LocationInstalled inside kitchen, under sink or floor-mounted
Typical size5–100 GPM capacity
Best forSmall kitchens, food trucks, cafes, snack bars
Cost installed$500–$3,500
Pumping scheduleEvery 1–4 weeks (varies by use)
AccessEasy — indoor access
FL code refFPC §1003.1
🏗️ Grease Interceptor (Outdoor)
LocationOutside building, buried underground
Typical size500–5,000+ gallon tank
Best forFull-service restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, hospitals
Cost installed$5,000–$25,000+
Pumping scheduleEvery 1–3 months (varies)
AccessVault access at grade — truck pumping
FL code refFPC §1003.3
🔍Decision Guide — Which Do You Need?
Select your establishment details above to get a recommendation.
📋FL FOG Regulations — Code Requirements
FL Plumbing Code section governing grease trapsFPC 2023 §1003
Who regulates FOG in FL? (permits & inspections)Local utility / county + FL DEP
FL DEP Chapter governing FOG dischargeFAC §62-302 & §62-600
Establishments exempted from grease device requirementResidential; vending machines; premises with no cooking
FL pretreatment standard — FOG discharge limit to sewer100 mg/L max (most FL utilities)
Effluent FOG limit — Palm Beach County Utilities100 mg/L
Manifest / record-keeping requirement for pumpingMust 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
ASPE Standard for sizing (most FL utilities use)PDI G101 or ASPE method
Minimum grease interceptor size — typical FL counties1,000 gallons
Two-chamber required for interceptors?Yes — FL DEP and most county FOG programs
Pumping frequency rule — "25% Rule" (most FL counties)Pump when 25% full of grease + solids
NAUE method (meals/day) — FL alternative sizingWidely used by FL FOG programs
Grease trap (indoor) — max capacity before interceptor required100 GPM per FPC (most FL utilities require interceptor at 50+ GPM)
Access manhole required — grease interceptorYes — 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.
Enter the number of each fixture type connected to the grease trap/interceptor. DFUs per FPC Table 709.1.
3-compartment sink (per compartment)3 DFU ea
Pot wash / pre-rinse sink4 DFU ea
Floor drain (kitchen)2 DFU ea
Floor sink (under equipment)3 DFU ea
Commercial dishwasher6 DFU ea
Mop sink / utility sink3 DFU ea
Dump sink / bar sink2 DFU ea
Kettle condensate drain1 DFU ea
Wok station drain2 DFU ea
Ice machine drain1 DFU ea
📊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.
5 GPM / 10 gallon — food truck, concession, small cafeUnder-counter; ~$400–$700
10 GPM / 20 gallon — small café, bakery, snack barUnder-counter; ~$700–$1,200
15 GPM / 30 gallon — small restaurant, deliUnder-counter/floor; ~$1,000–$2,000
20 GPM / 40 gallon — medium café or limited kitchenFloor-mounted; ~$1,500–$3,000
25 GPM / 50 gallonFloor-mounted; ~$2,000–$3,500
35 GPM / 70 gallonFloor-mounted; ~$3,000–$5,000
50 GPM / 100 gallon — larger quick serviceFloor-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.
500 gallon — not accepted by most FL FOG programs (below minimum)Below most FL minimums
750 gallon — accepted by some FL counties for very small operationsSmall only; 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 courtsEngineer-designed
🏛️FL County FOG Program Requirements
Each FL county has its own FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease) 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 system
Minimum interceptor size: 1,000 gallons (precast concrete, two-chamber)
Flow rate limit: 100 mg/L FOG in effluent to sewer
Pumping minimum frequency: When 25% full of grease + solids; minimum quarterly pump-out required in most cases
Manifest requirements: Keep pumping manifests on-site for 3 years; submit copies to PBC Utilities annually or upon request
Permit required: Yes — FOG Control Device Permit from PBC Utilities before installation; separate from building permit
Inspection: PBC Utilities inspects interceptors at installation and periodically during operation
Key contact: PBC Utilities — Engineering Division, Pretreatment Program
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 — restaurants, food courts, caterers, hospitals, schools, hotels with food service
Minimum interceptor size: 1,000 gallons per most Broward cities; Ft. Lauderdale minimum 1,500 gal in some zones
Sizing method: NAUE method (meals/day × 8 gal × retention time ÷ operating hours) used by most Broward utilities
City-level FOG programs: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Miramar, Pembroke Pines each have city-specific FOG programs — check with the city utility
Pumping frequency: When 25% full; minimum every 90 days for restaurants; some cities require monthly reporting
High-temperature dishwasher: Some Broward utilities exempt high-temp sanitizing dishwashers (180°F) from grease device connection — verify with your city utility
Miami-Dade County — Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD)
FOG program: Miami-Dade WASD Industrial Pretreatment Program; Chapter 32 Miami-Dade Code
Required for: All FSEs connecting to WASD system; must obtain Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit (IWDP)
Minimum interceptor size: 1,500 gallons (Miami-Dade has stricter minimums than most FL counties)
Effluent limit: 100 mg/L FOG; WASD may sample and test effluent — violation can trigger IWDP revocation
Reporting requirements: Quarterly self-monitoring reports required for larger FSEs; manifests submitted to WASD pretreatment division
Grease hauler registration: Only WASD-registered grease haulers may pump interceptors in Miami-Dade — must use registered contractor
Inspection frequency: WASD inspects most FSEs annually; non-compliance can result in 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
Required for: All FSEs — City of Tampa enforces separately from unincorporated Hillsborough
Minimum interceptor size: 1,000 gallons (Hillsborough County); City of Tampa may require larger
Best management practices (BMPs): All FSEs must implement and document BMPs including dry wipe pans, grease disposal procedures, and employee training
Grease disposal documentation: Waste manifests kept 3 years on-site; submitted to HCENV upon request or annually
City of Tampa: City of Tampa has separate FOG program — FSEs in city limits must register with Tampa Water Department; interceptor plan approval required before permit
Orange County / City of Orlando — Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC)
FOG program: City of Orlando FOG Control Program; Orange County Utilities has parallel program
Required for: All FSEs; commissary kitchens and ghost kitchens now specifically included (2022 update)
Minimum interceptor size: 1,000 gallons minimum; most restaurants required at 1,500 gal based on NAUE calculation
Pumping frequency: Every 90 days minimum; more often if 25% threshold reached sooner
Automated grease removal: Orange County Utilities accepts Automatic Grease Removal Devices (AGRDs) as alternative to large interceptors 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.
Indoor grease trap (5–25 GPM) — small café or food truckEvery 1–2 weeks
Indoor grease trap (25–50 GPM) — fast food or small restaurantWeekly to bi-weekly
Indoor grease trap (50–100 GPM) — medium restaurantWeekly
Outdoor interceptor (1,000 gal) — casual dining, 50–75 seatsEvery 30–60 days
Outdoor interceptor (1,500–2,000 gal) — full service restaurantEvery 60–90 days
Outdoor interceptor (2,500+ gal) — large restaurant / hotelEvery 90 days (most FL FOG programs)
25% Rule trigger (all FL counties) — pump regardless of scheduleWhen 25% full of FOG + solids
Solids trap depth (interceptor) — action thresholdWhen solids within 12" of outlet
Record keeping — pumping manifestsKeep 3 years on-site
Annual FOG compliance report submissionMost FL counties: annually (verify with county)
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 your annual grease hauling costs by $500–$2,000.
🍽️Get a Commercial Plumbing Quote
We handle all FL commercial kitchen plumbing — grease trap and interceptor sizing, permitting, installation, and county FOG program compliance. Licensed commercial plumbers serving all major FL counties.
✅ Our Commercial Grease Services:
• Grease trap and interceptor sizing consultation
• FOG permit application and county coordination
• Indoor grease trap installation (all brands/sizes)
• Underground grease interceptor installation
• Grease trap replacement and upgrade
• FOG compliance review and BMP development
• Emergency grease trap repair and bypass prevention
• Grease interceptor access riser installation
⚡Emergency — Blocked Grease Drain
Blocked kitchen drain causing backup to floor or sinks? This is a health department and FOG compliance emergency. We respond within 2 hours.
(561) 316-7450
24/7 Emergency · Licensed Commercial Plumber · All FL Counties