# What Do Grease Trap Inspectors Look For? (Tampa Bay) > What grease trap inspectors look for in Tampa Bay: grease and solids depth, baffles and tees, flow control, connections, sampling and your logbook and manifests. URL: https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/guide/what-grease-inspectors-check/ Learn # What Do Grease Trap Inspectors Look For? The checklist city and county grease inspectors work through, and how to pass it before they arrive. Updated November 14, 2026 [Grease Trap Cleaning Tampa](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/) runs the same checks inspectors do. Grease trap inspectors in Tampa Bay open the trap or interceptor and measure grease and solids against the local limit, check baffles, tees, flow control and venting, confirm every fixture drains through the unit, and ask for your logbook and manifests. Some programs also sample wastewater. ## 1\. Depth against the limit The inspector opens the unit and checks how full it is against your program’s limit: - **25%** of capacity for grease and solids (City of Tampa, Temple Terrace, Hillsborough County) - **20%** (Pasco County) - **Grease under 6 inches and solids under 8 inches**, measured next to the outlet (Pinellas County) - **Solids at the outlet pipe invert** (about 8 inches) is a pumping trigger in Tampa and Temple Terrace ## 2\. Fittings and condition - **Baffles** intact, so grease and solids can’t short-circuit to the outlet - **Inlet and outlet tees** present and unbroken - **Flow-control device** on indoor traps (Tampa Sec. 26-306(f)(1)) - **Vent** ending at least 6 inches above the flood rim (Tampa) - **Lids and risers** sound and sealed ## 3\. Connections Every grease-producing fixture should drain through the unit: sinks, dishwashers, floor drains in prep areas and, in Clearwater, automatic hood-wash units. Restroom waste must never enter it. ## 4\. Records - **Logbook:** dates, volumes removed, defects, repairs. Kept 1 year in Tampa, 12 months in Hillsborough, and 3 years in Pinellas County, Pasco County and Temple Terrace. - **Manifests:** every hauler pump-out, signed by both sides, kept at least a year under Florida law. - **St. Petersburg also asks for** a written cleaning protocol, plumbing schematics, your permit and every service invoice. ## 5\. Practices and additives St. Petersburg inspectors ask whether staff follow the city’s best-management practices: sink strainers, dry-wiping, no grease down the drain. Additives are checked too. Tampa requires approval for any enzyme or chemical, and Clearwater bans emulsifiers. ## 6\. Sampling Some programs test what leaves your building. Hillsborough County may sample wastewater, and in the City of Tampa a result over 400 mg/l of grease is grounds to require a new or upgraded trap. ## Passing before they arrive A [grease trap inspection](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/grease-trap-inspection/) runs these same checks and gives you a written fix list. If something fails, see [grease trap repair](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/grease-trap-repair/). If a notice has already arrived, see [what to do after a Notice of Violation](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/guide/grease-trap-notice-of-violation/). Bottom line Inspectors check the unit, its fittings, its connections and your paperwork. Measure before they do, fix broken parts early, and keep every manifest. To run a pre-inspection, call [(727) 476-9241](tel:+17274769241). [Related service Grease Trap Inspection A written check of the trap, its fittings and your records before an inspector or a buyer finds the problem. See the service](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/grease-trap-inspection/)[Also related Grease Trap Repair Broken baffles, missing tees, flow-control devices and lids found, written up and fixed before the deadline. See the service](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/grease-trap-repair/) Want a quote? [(727) 476-9241](tel:+17274769241) ## Questions about this ### Do grease inspectors give notice before they come? Not always. Hillsborough County runs scheduled and unannounced inspections, and St. Petersburg says you may or may not be told ahead of time. In St. Petersburg, refusing an inspector access is itself a violation. ### Can an inspector sample my wastewater? Yes, in several programs. Hillsborough County may collect samples, and in the City of Tampa grease above 400 mg/l in the inspector's sampling is one trigger for requiring a new or upgraded trap. ### What records should be ready? Your maintenance logbook and every pump-out manifest and receipt. In St. Petersburg, also a written cleaning protocol, plumbing schematics and your permit. ## More guides - [Buying a Restaurant? Grease Trap Requirements to CheckWhy a change of ownership matters to the grease program, and the checks to make before you sign.](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/guide/buying-a-restaurant-grease-trap/) - [What Grease Trap Records and Manifests Does Florida Require?What a valid service manifest contains, who signs it, and the record-keeping rules that sit on top of it in each Tampa Bay program.](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/guide/grease-trap-records-manifests-florida/) - [How Do You Choose a Grease Trap Company?Eight questions that separate a hauler who keeps you compliant from one who just empties the tank.](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/guide/choosing-a-grease-trap-company/) - [Can I Clean My Own Grease Trap?Which units staff may clean, the disposal limits that apply, and a step-by-step routine that meets the logbook rules.](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/guide/can-i-clean-my-own-grease-trap/) - [How Much Does Emergency Grease Trap Pumping Cost?The emergency premium, worked examples by unit size, and the fines and re-inspection fees that make a missed pump-out the expensive option.](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/guide/emergency-grease-trap-pumping-cost/) Get an exact price for your kitchen Two quick steps. We call back to confirm. Faster by phone: [(727) 476-9241](tel:+17274769241) Rather talk it through? Call now. Call any time. If we can't pick up, leave a message and you'll get a call back. [(727) 476-9241](tel:+17274769241) [Request a quote](https://greasetrapcleaningtampa.com/contact/)