Authority
Charlotte food service establishments need a grease trap or interceptor for grease-laden wastewater.
Local utility office
Rule holder: Charlotte Water Flow Free Program
Charlotte operators often search by city name, but Charlotte Water Flow Free Program is the office that sets the local grease, hauling, and paperwork rules on this page.
Charlotte FOG rules
Charlotte grease trap and interceptor rules
Charlotte, NC grease trap rules for restaurants: interceptor approval, pump-out timing, manifests to keep on site, and hauler checks.
Proof on site
Keep service records and hauling receipts with the business file so maintenance can be verified.
Likely fail trigger
Missing maintenance records or blocked sewer lines can trigger follow-up from Charlotte Water.
Next action
Verify the installed interceptor type against the city approval letter.
Do this next
Verify the installed interceptor type against the city approval letter.
Use the rest of the page to confirm the local rule and proof burden, but start with the next move below.
First move
Verify the installed interceptor type against the city approval letter.
Stage this proof
Keep service records and hauling receipts with the business file so maintenance can be verified.
Authority Summary
Charlotte food service establishments need a grease trap or interceptor for grease-laden wastewater.
Keep on site
Keep service records and hauling receipts with the business file so maintenance can be verified.
Official requirement
Local Interceptor Requirements
Official requirement
Charlotte food service establishments need a grease trap or interceptor for grease-laden wastewater.
Official requirement
Charlotte Water Flow Free Program approves the interceptor setup through plan review.
Official requirement
Charlotte Water says the device must be properly maintained, cleaned by a grease hauler, and kept from causing sewer blockages or overflows.
Keep on site
Inspection-Ready Proof
fact_check
Keep service records and hauling receipts with the business file so maintenance can be verified.
Store this where staff can reach it quickly during an inspection.
fact_check
The interceptor approval letter or equivalent plan-review record.
Store this where staff can reach it quickly during an inspection.
fact_check
A service history that explains why the current cadence is safe.
Store this where staff can reach it quickly during an inspection.
Inspection and enforcement risk
Common Inspection Failures
Missing maintenance records or blocked sewer lines can trigger follow-up from Charlotte Water.
Inspectors commonly flag this when records are missing, overdue, or incomplete.
High risk
A missing manifest trail weakens every pump-out claim.
Inspectors commonly flag this when records are missing, overdue, or incomplete.
High risk
Overdue service or an unclear interceptor setup can push the issue back to the operator.
Inspectors commonly flag this when records are missing, overdue, or incomplete.
High risk
Need a hauler check before the next pump-out?
Start with the city's official list and then confirm the service company still covers grease waste and manifest handling.
Charlotte publishes an official hauler or preferred-pumper list, but it does not recommend or endorse any provider on that list.
Source stack
Official sources for this page
Last verified: 2026-04-07
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Charlotte Water says grease traps or interceptors are required for food service establishments and defines hauler and maintenance expectations in its policy.
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Charlotte Water's FlowFree page links the current grease trap policy and the permitted grease hauler list for commercial kitchens.