Grease Trap Maintenance Regulations in the New Orleans Area

New Orleans abides by the 25% grease trap regulation requirement.The 25% rule requires that the depth of oil and grease (floating and settled) in a trap be less than 25 percent of the total operating depth of the trap. The operating depth of a trap is determined by measuring the internal depth from the outlet water elevation to the bottom of the trap.

All food service establishments in New Orleans must receive a permit from the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans FOG Program. Depending on whether the building or restaurant is new, and where it is located, the program lists specific grease trap permit requirements.
 
All grease trap manifests must be kept onsite for 3 years.

Unlike many grease trap regulations in Louisiana, Bossier city doesn’t explicitly state how often your grease trap needs to be cleaned. It does however say that the time interval will be specified for each facility by its permits and other control mechanisms. Of course, the grease trap must be in effective operating condition at all times.
 
Each permit costs $140 per year and lasts three years, and you must apply for renewal at least 60 days before its renewal date.
 
Your permit will also specify when you’ll need to submit your grease trap manifest. You will also need to have records on hand in the case that your restaurant is inspected. That manifest must include:
1.     Name and address of person or company pumping and transporting grease trap waste.
2.     Number of gallons pumped from the grease trap.
3.     Name and address of person or company receiving grease trap waste.
4.     Date(s) showing when grease trap was pumped and delivered to final disposal site.
5.     Waste manifest and/or transporter number.
6.     Signatures food service establishments, pumper/haulers, and the person receiving the waste.
Not properly maintaining your grease trap or records will result in fines of $500 or more. Read more here.

Covington municipal code governing grease traps requires adherence to the 25% rule. This is a common rule in grease trap regulations in Louisiana.

The 25% rule requires that the depth of oil and grease (floating and settled) in a trap be less than 25 percent of the total operating depth of the trap. The operating depth of a trap is determined by measuring the internal depth from the outlet water elevation to the bottom of the trap.

On grease trap records the code states, “manifests from cleaning, inspection records, correspondence and permits must be maintained by the restaurant owner for a period of three years. Records must be kept on-site and are subject to inspection without prior notification. Only a hauler, licensed by the state, can clean your grease traps and properly dispose of the contents.”
The City of Covington Sanitary Sewer department conducts the inspections and determines compliance.

Compliance with the grease control program is evaluated based on the following criteria:
     Implementation of best management practices
     Grease control devices kept in compliance with 25% rule
     Regularly scheduled maintenance of grease control devices
     Documentation of maintenance and required records
     Employee education and training