Compliance Guide

The San Diego FOG Compliance Guide (Plain English)

What FOG programs require

If you prepare food commercially, your city classifies you as a Food Service Establishment and attaches FOG requirements to your permit: an appropriately sized grease trap or interceptor, service before contents reach 25% of capacity (typically every 30–90 days), a signed waste manifest for every service documenting hauler, volume, and disposal site, and retention of those records — commonly three years — for inspection. San Diego runs its program through the city's Food Establishment Wastewater Discharge (FEWD) requirements; every surrounding jurisdiction runs its own version.

The 25% rule

Traps and interceptors only separate grease while they have working capacity. At 25% full of fats, oils, grease, and solids, separation efficiency collapses and grease passes to the city sewer — which is exactly what inspectors dip your trap to check.

What violations cost

California Penal Code §374.5 makes illegal disposal of grease waste a misdemeanor carrying fines up to $10,000. Local FOG programs layer civil penalties on top — commonly hundreds to $1,000 per day for ongoing violations — and repeat problems can suspend a kitchen's discharge permit, which means the kitchen can't legally operate.

Your hauler matters legally

California requires registered transporters for inedible kitchen grease, with a manifest chain of custody from your trap to the disposal facility. If your cheap hauler dumps illegally, the enforcement trail runs through YOUR records. Verify registration — or use a company that hands you the full chain of custody every visit. (That's us.)

How OH makes this a non-issue

We map your city's exact cycle, service before you're due, complete and file the manifest, store everything in your vault, and remind you before any deadline — backflow certs and hood certifications included for members.

Two minutes to find out where you stand.

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