Grease Trap Inspection & Compliance Services
Grease traps are critical to keeping your plumbing, sewer connection, and local collection system functioning — and every food service establishment in Florida is required to maintain them. Blue Trust provides grease trap inspections, documentation, and compliance support for restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food-service sites across multiple counties and municipalities.
Residential
Commercial
Municipal & Industrial
What is a Grease Trap?
A grease trap (or grease interceptor) is a device that captures fats, oils, and grease (FOG) before they enter the sewer system. As wastewater from sinks, dishwashers, and floor drains flows through the trap, grease separates and rises to the top while solids settle at the bottom. Only the relatively clear water in the middle is allowed to exit to the sewer.
Over time, the trap fills with grease and solids. If it isn’t cleaned and inspected regularly, it can:
- Back up into your kitchen
- Cause foul odors
- Send FOG into the public sewer system
- Trigger violations, surcharges, or shutdowns
Who Needs Grease Trap Inspections?
Grease trap requirements apply to most food-service and food-handling operations, including:
- Restaurants and fast-food locations
- Cafés, bakeries, and coffee shops with kitchens
- Hotel and resort kitchens
- School and hospital cafeterias
- Grocery stores with delis or hot food sections
- Food preparation or catering facilities
If your business prepares, cooks, or serves food using oils or fats, you almost certainly have a grease trap requirement in your local code or utility agreement.
Why Inspections and Pump-Outs Are Required
Florida counties and municipalities enforce FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease) ordinances to protect sewer systems and treatment plants.
When grease traps are not maintained:
- Sewer lines can clog and overflow
- Lift stations can fail due to excessive grease
- Treatment plants can be damaged or overloaded
- Properties can experience backups and health hazards
Because of this, local utilities and wastewater departments require:
- Routine inspections
- Regular pump-out and cleaning
- Proper disposal of grease and solids
- Documentation showing ongoing maintenance
Blue Trust helps you stay ahead of these requirements by combining inspection, reporting, and maintenance planning in one service.
What’s Included in a Grease Trap Inspection
A Blue Trust grease trap inspection includes:
- Locating and opening the grease trap or interceptor
- Measuring grease and solids depth
- Assessing overall capacity and remaining free volume
- Checking baffles, tees, and internal components
- Inspecting inlet and outlet conditions
- Looking for structural damage, corrosion, or cracks
- Identifying signs of improper maintenance or overloading
- Recommending pump-out frequency based on usage and measurements
After the inspection, you receive clear documentation outlining:
- Current trap condition
- Whether immediate pump-out is needed
- Recommended cleaning schedule
- Any repairs or upgrades that should be considered
Recommended Pump-Out and Maintenance
There is no single schedule that fits every kitchen. Pump-out frequency depends on:
- Type of food served
- Volume of business
- Size of the trap or interceptor
- Existing maintenance habits
However, many jurisdictions follow or reference a “25% rule,” meaning:
- When the combined grease and solids exceed 25% of the trap’s volume, it must be cleaned.
Blue Trust helps you:
- Determine an appropriate pump-out schedule
- Set reminders and recurring service visits
- Avoid emergency backups and enforcement actions
Regular maintenance protects your business, your plumbing, and your local sewer system.
Local Rules Vary by County and City
Grease trap requirements are set at the local level, and they can vary significantly:
- Some utilities require specific pump-out intervals
- Some require pump-out manifests or hauler receipts
- Some impose surcharges or penalties for noncompliance
- Some require registration of each grease trap or interceptor
Local Grease Trap Rules – By County
Grease trap standards differ across Florida. Select your county at the tab bar to the right to review basic local requirements and find links to official utility rules.
(Counties may include: Polk, Hillsborough, Osceola, Orange, Lake, Sumter, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Desoto, Charlotte, Lee, Seminole.)
Why Choose Blue Trust for Grease Trap Compliance
- Focus on environmental and utility compliance—not just pump-outs
- Inspection and documentation aligned with local FOG ordinances
- Ability to integrate grease trap service with stormwater, backflow, and lift station inspections
- Florida engineer oversight available for complex site or infrastructure issues
- Clear communication with owners, managers, and utilities
- Option to design long-term maintenance and compliance plans
Blue Trust is built to support property owners, managers, and operators who want more than a one-off pump-out—they want a partner who helps keep the entire site compliant.
PROPERTY VENDOR SPECIAL SERVICE:
WHITE GLOVE PARTNER PROGRAM
WANT TO CONSOLIDATE?
Residential
Commercial
THE ONE PARTNER YOUR ENTIRE PROPERTY HAS BEEN MISSING
Stop juggling vendors. Blue Trust handles it all.
Managing stormwater, ponds, backflows, fire systems, grease traps, lift stations, and water quality usually means hiring five to seven vendors — each doing one piece of the puzzle.
Blue Trust changes that.
We combine all environmental inspections and all preventative maintenance into one unified service built to keep your entire site compliant, functional, and protected. And the best part?
You get a Florida Civil Engineer on your team.
Someone who can solve complex site issues and communicate directly with cities, counties, SWFWMD, and FDEP when you need it.
No stress. No confusion. Just one partner for your whole property.
Mandatory Compliance Services:
- Back Flow Inspection
- Stormwater System Inspection
- Grease Trap Removal
- Fire Sprinkler Testing
- Join The program
Recommended Maintenance Services:
- Pond Spraying & Solids Removal
- Lift Station Pump-out
- Septic Pump-out
- Storm Drain Pump-out
- Learn More
Get Your Grease Trap Into Compliance
Avoid backups, fines, and unpleasant surprises.
Whether you need an inspection, a recurring maintenance plan, or help understanding your local requirements, Blue Trust can help you get—and stay—compliant.