DEP Compliance for Food Service
Grease Trap Installation & DEP Compliance in NYC
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection requires grease interceptors (grease traps) on food service establishments to prevent fats, oils, and grease from entering the sewer system and causing blockages. These devices must be installed by a Licensed Master Plumber, sized correctly for the establishment's discharge volume, and maintained on a regular pumping schedule. Non-compliance results in DEP violations, OATH penalties, and in serious cases, sewer connection restrictions.
Austin Plumbing & Heating installs, repairs, and sizes grease interceptors for NYC food service tenants, restaurant owners, and building landlords. All work is performed by a Licensed Master Plumber and filed with DEP as required.
Who Needs a Grease Interceptor?
DEP regulations require grease interceptors on all food service establishments that discharge grease-laden wastewater — including:
- Full-service restaurants and fast food operations
- Commercial bakeries
- Cafeterias and institutional kitchens
- Food processing facilities
- Any commercial tenant with kitchen cooking equipment
Building owners who lease to food service tenants are responsible for ensuring compliant grease interceptor installation. Tenants discovered to be operating without a properly sized and installed interceptor face DEP violations that can restrict their ability to operate.
What We Provide
New installation
We assess the kitchen's cooking equipment, calculate the required interceptor capacity per DEP sizing guidelines, source the correct device, pull required DOB/DEP permits, install the interceptor, and connect it to the kitchen drain system.
Replacement and right-sizing
Undersized interceptors are a common DEP violation finding. We replace units with correctly sized equipment and document the upgrade for DEP.
Inspection and maintenance coordination
We inspect grease interceptors and advise on pumping frequency. Regular pumping by a licensed hauler is required — we coordinate with pumping services and maintain the documentation chain DEP expects.
Permits, Filing, and DEP Documentation
New grease interceptor installation requires a DOB plumbing permit filed by a Licensed Master Plumber. Replacement or upsizing of an existing interceptor also requires a permit if the work involves changes to the drain connection or device location. We handle the complete permitting process:
- 1Site assessment and sizing calculation per DEP flow rate guidelines
- 2DOB plumbing permit application filed by LMP
- 3Installation — interceptor, cleanout connections, and drain tie-in
- 4DEP notification of installation
- 5Sign-off documentation provided to building owner and tenant
Penalties for Non-Compliance
DEP actively inspects food service establishments for grease interceptor compliance. Violations result in OATH hearings and civil penalties. In cases of repeat non-compliance or gross grease discharge, DEP can restrict or revoke sewer connection privileges — effectively shutting down a food service operation until compliance is achieved.
New Tenant Build-Outs and Change-of-Use
One of the most common grease interceptor compliance gaps in NYC happens during tenant change-of-use: a building landlord leases a retail space to a food service tenant, construction begins, and nobody pulls the required plumbing permit for the interceptor installation before the kitchen opens.
We work with landlords and general contractors during commercial build-outs to ensure grease interceptor installation is coordinated with the overall plumbing scope — not discovered as a violation after the tenant opens. If you're leasing to a food service tenant or converting a space to restaurant use, contact us before construction begins.
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Schedule a Grease Trap Assessment
We'll assess your kitchen, size the correct device, pull permits, and install a compliant interceptor.