NYC Department of Environmental Protection — FOG / 15 RCNY §19-11
Not legal advice. Last verified 2026-09-22 · confidence high. Confirm with the city before you set a contract.
Minimum interval: No fixed calendar interval in the sources we cited.
Accumulation rule: No fixed calendar interval. DEP: clean as frequently as necessary to avoid exceeding rated capacity. 15 RCNY §19-11(q): maintain in good working order with routine FOG and solids removal; the minimum cleaning frequency is such that accumulated fat, oil, grease, and solids do not exceed 25% of the total liquid depth the unit was designed to hold. Emulsifiers, enzymes, chemicals, and microbial additives are prohibited (§19-11(u)).
Records: keep required records about 1 year on site.
Hauler: Scoop accumulated grease for recycling by a fat renderer / BIC Trade Waste Approved Company. Yellow grease (waste cooking oil) must be collected by a BIC-licensed carter; written proof of each pickup must be kept on site at least one year (§19-11(v)).
Permit: Interceptors / automatic grease removal devices must be installed by an NYC Licensed Master Plumber. Commercial food waste disposers are not allowed in NYC. Units must stay accessible for DEP inspection.
Enforcement: DEP states the maximum penalty for not complying is currently $10,000 per day, per violation. Confirm current amounts with DEP.
NFPA 96 frequencies (widely republished by fire departments): solid fuel monthly; high-volume quarterly; moderate semiannual; low-volume annual. Insurers and local fire inspectors can be stricter.