Use this page to locate official Columbus, Ohio information about fats, oils and grease (FOG). Requirements depend on the premises and wastewater jurisdiction. This independent website is not the City of Columbus and does not approve compliance.
Columbus FOG Requirements for Commercial Kitchens
A practical guide for facility owners and kitchen managers.
General planning guidance. Equipment decisions and facility requirements need the appropriate professional or authority.
Official requirements and where to verify them
Use the points below to organize the discussion and identify what is known, what needs checking and who is responsible.
Written facility plan
The City-published City Code 1145.20 document calls for a written FOG Best Management Plan covering grease sources, handling and operating practices.
Operation and maintenance
That document says the plan must address inspection, cleaning frequency and records, using manufacturer instructions or professional judgment where those instructions are unavailable.
Follow the plan
The same provision calls for a responsible official to sign and date the plan, for the facility to follow it, and for supporting documents to be available to the relevant inspectors.
Record retention
The City-published code specifies three years for inspection records and interceptor cleaning logs. Consult the City cleaning-log form for its equipment-specific layout.
Hauler cleaning practices
The April 2026 City bulletin, Rule 26-02 describes full contents removal, cleaning material on baffles and sidewalls, unobstructed flow and service information for the facility.
Installation questions
The Building and Zoning grease-interceptor communication addresses a determination form for new food facilities, menu changes and alterations. Confirm how it applies before changing equipment.
Verify the rule that applies to your facility
Start with the official Columbus FOG program page. Its program applies in Columbus and contracted wastewater communities. A postal address alone is not enough to resolve a boundary or facility-specific question. Contact the authority responsible for the premises.
Sources checked September 27, 2026. The City overview labels its cleaning-rule link “26-01,” while the linked file is named 26-02 and the April 2026 bulletin identifies Rule 26-02. This inconsistency is why the original links are provided. Confirm the operative version with the City before relying on the rule number.
General preparation advice, separate from legal requirements
Keep a single equipment list, identify who files service records and arrange access before each visit. These are organizational suggestions from this site, not additional Columbus rules. Ask the provider to explain the work and any reported deficiencies; retain follow-up notes with the facility records.
Do not treat a quote as compliance approval
A provider estimate is a commercial scope. It does not establish the correct equipment size, approve an installation or replace an authority’s direction. This guide does not state a universal cleaning interval, predict penalties or certify a facility. For program questions, use the City contact details shown on the official FOG page.
Put the guidance into practice
Keep the facility location, equipment record and responsible contact together. These resources help turn a general question into a useful service request.
Related resources
Questions about columbus fog requirements for commercial kitchens
The City-published provision cited above describes a facility plan that specifies frequency. This page does not establish one universal 30-day interval. Confirm the schedule applicable to your premises.
Not necessarily. Compare the record fields with the City materials and your facility plan. A generic invoice may omit equipment condition or removal information.
The bulletin describes the cleaning date, grease and solids removed excluding water, and whether equipment condition is satisfactory, with corrective actions for an unsatisfactory condition. Consult the full rule for its scope.
No. Grease Trap Service Hub is independent. Official questions should go to the City or other authority responsible for the premises; a request here is not a regulatory filing.
Use the City FOG program contact to obtain the current document and guidance for your facility. Do not rely on an old summary to resolve conflicting requirements.
Need help planning the next step?
Describe the facility, equipment and the question you need answered. Review any proposed service scope and confirm the arrangements directly with the provider.
Compare provider responsibilities before approving work.
Grease Trap Service Hub is an independent information and request-referral resource. Provider participation, coverage and scheduling must be confirmed. Submitting a request does not book a visit.