Houston grease trap cleaning and backflow test rules
Houston sets its own rules for grease trap cleaning and backflow test. Here is what they say, followed by the Texas rules for everything else.
Grease trap cleaning in Houston
Applies when: Food establishment within the City of Houston limits with a grease interceptor or trap.
What happens: A permitted hauler fully evacuates the interceptor. You sign the generator portion of the manifest and keep the generator copy.
Who may do it: A waste hauler permitted by the City of Houston and registered with TCEQ as a sludge transporter. The establishment holds a Fats, Oils, and Grease permit renewed yearly.
Your part: Before you sign the manifest, check the trap is clean and fully empty and the capacity noted is right.
Filing: No online filing was found. Keep generator and returned manifest copies on site for five years. Inspectors ask for the permit and five years of manifests. A Notice of Waiver can be filed to reduce the quarterly frequency. Houston Health Department, Special Waste Permits
Backflow testing in Houston
Applies when: Backflow prevention assembly on a City of Houston water connection.
What happens: A TCEQ-licensed tester on Houston's tester list tests the assembly. The testing company uploads the result and pays the fee.
Who may do it: A TCEQ-licensed BPAT approved by Houston's Cross Connection Control Program and on its Backflow Testing Company List. Fire line assemblies only by testers employed by a state-approved fire line contractor.
Your part: Keep test results on site. A failed test leaves you out of compliance until a passing report is submitted.
Filing (SwiftComply): The testing company uploads each result to SwiftComply and pays the fee for the owner to get credit. Houston can fine up to $2,000 a day for non-compliance. Houston Public Works, Cross Connection Control Program
Every inspection for a Houston building
| Inspection | How often | Who may do it | Paperwork |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire extinguisher inspection | Every year | A Type B (portable extinguisher), Type A or Type PL licensee working for a company with a Texas State Fire Marshal's Office Extinguisher Certificate of Registration. DOT cylinder hydrostatic tests need a Type C registered company. | The licensee attaches a signed service tag after any service. For a red tag the licensee must tell the owner in writing, and tell the local fire marshal within 24 hours and send a copy of the owner notice within three business days. |
| Fire sprinkler inspection | Every year | A company holding a Texas Sprinkler Certificate of Registration with a Responsible Managing Employee licence (General, or General Inspector for inspections), from the State Fire Marshal's Office. | A yellow tag needs written notice to the owner and the local fire marshal within five business days. A red tag needs written notice within 24 hours. Routine reports may also go to a city portal (not confirmed per city). |
| Fire alarm inspection | Every 6 months | A company with a Texas Alarm Certificate of Registration whose licensed employee holds a Fire Alarm Technician or Planning Superintendent licence, from the State Fire Marshal's Office. | The licensee signs the inspection/test label and attaches it to the panel. If the system fails or is impaired, the licensee notifies the owner and the local fire marshal, and again when it is fixed. |
| Kitchen fire suppression inspection | Every 6 months | A Type K (kitchen cooking systems) or Type A (fixed system) licensee, working for a company with an Extinguisher Certificate of Registration, from the State Fire Marshal's Office. | The licensee attaches a signed service tag after every service. A red tag requires owner notice at once and fire marshal notice within 24 hours. |
| Kitchen hood cleaningNational baseline, no local rule on file | Every month to every year, by type | NFPA 96 calls for trained, qualified, certified cleaners acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction. Most states have no hood cleaner licence. | The cleaner documents each cleaning and gives the owner a report. NFPA 96 expects records kept for the fire inspector. |
| Grease trap cleaning | Every 3 months | A waste hauler permitted by the City of Houston and registered with TCEQ as a sludge transporter. The establishment holds a Fats, Oils, and Grease permit renewed yearly. | No online filing was found. Keep generator and returned manifest copies on site for five years. Inspectors ask for the permit and five years of manifests. A Notice of Waiver can be filed to reduce the quarterly frequency. |
| Backflow testing | Every year | A TCEQ-licensed BPAT approved by Houston's Cross Connection Control Program and on its Backflow Testing Company List. Fire line assemblies only by testers employed by a state-approved fire line contractor. | SwiftComply. The testing company uploads each result to SwiftComply and pays the fee for the owner to get credit. Houston can fine up to $2,000 a day for non-compliance. |
| Boiler inspection | Every year to every 3 years, by type | A boiler inspector commissioned by TDLR. Insured boilers are inspected by the insurer's inspector (an Authorized Inspection Agency). Uninsured boilers by a TDLR deputy inspector. | TDLR online services (boiler invoices and certificates). The inspector reports to TDLR. The owner pays the invoice and prints the certificate from TDLR online services, and posts it. A late inspection fee of $25 per day (first 30 days), then $50, then $100 applies to owner and inspection agency. |
Check your building's dates with the free checker.
Sources
- 28 TAC 34.507, NFPA standards adopted (fire extinguisher rules), 28 Tex. Admin. Code 34.507 (NFPA 10-2018, 17A-2021, 25-2020, 96-2021; effective 9/1/2023). Read Oct 23, 2026.
- 28 TAC 34.520, service tags, 28 Tex. Admin. Code 34.520 (service tag contents, size, attach after every service). Read Oct 23, 2026.
- 28 TAC 34.521, red tags, 28 Tex. Admin. Code 34.521 (red tag contents, owner and AHJ notice deadlines). Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDI State Fire Marshal's Office, fire extinguisher registration, license and test information, Insurance Code ch. 6001; 28 TAC ch. 34 subch. E (licence types Type B, Type K, Type A, Type PL; company Certificate of Registration). Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Texas Insurance Code ch. 6001, Fire Extinguisher Service and Installation, Tex. Ins. Code 6001.051 and chapter headings (registration, licensing, renewal, enforcement). Read Oct 23, 2026.
- OSHA portable fire extinguisher rule, 29 CFR 1910.157(e) and Table L-1 (monthly visual check, annual maintenance, 6-year emptying, hydrostatic test intervals). Read Oct 23, 2026.
- 28 TAC 34.707, fire sprinkler rules, standards adopted, 28 Tex. Admin. Code 34.707 (NFPA 25-2020, NFPA 13-2019 and others). Read Oct 23, 2026.
- 28 TAC 34.721, sprinkler yellow tags, 28 Tex. Admin. Code 34.721. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- 28 TAC 34.722, sprinkler red tags, 28 Tex. Admin. Code 34.722. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDI State Fire Marshal's Office, fire sprinkler registration, license and test information, Insurance Code ch. 6003; 28 TAC ch. 34 subch. G (Sprinkler Certificate of Registration, RME licences incl. General Inspector). Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Texas Insurance Code ch. 6003, fire protection sprinkler systems, Tex. Ins. Code 6003.051. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- 28 TAC 34.607, fire alarm rules, standards adopted, 28 Tex. Admin. Code 34.607 (NFPA 72-2019, NFPA 25-2020 and others). Read Oct 23, 2026.
- 28 TAC 34.622, fire alarm inspection/test label, 28 Tex. Admin. Code 34.622. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDI State Fire Marshal's Office, fire alarm registration, license and test information, Insurance Code ch. 6002; 28 TAC ch. 34 subch. F (Alarm Certificate of Registration, Fire Alarm Technician and related licences). Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Texas Insurance Code ch. 6002, fire alarm, Tex. Ins. Code 6002.051. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Minnesota Department of Health, Protection of Kitchen Cooking Equipment, NFPA 96 (2011) 11.2.1, 11.2.4, 11.4 and Table 11.4; NFPA 17A (2009) 7.2.2 and 7.5.1. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Marysville Fire District, Restaurant Owner's Guide to Exhaust Hood Cleaning, NFPA 96 hood cleaning schedule by cooking volume. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Portland Fire & Rescue, FIR-8.08 Commercial Kitchen Exhaust, Section III.B.3, minimum cleaning frequency by cooking type (NFPA 96, 2011 edition referenced). Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Houston Health Department, Special Waste Generators, City of Houston Code 47-512(b) (fully evacuate every 90 days unless a waiver is approved); Chapter 47 Article XI. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TCEQ RG-389, Waste from Grease Traps, Grit Traps, and Septic Tanks (rev. August 2026), 30 TAC ch. 312 subch. G (sludge transporter registration, trip ticket); local ordinances set trap design and pumping frequency. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Houston Public Works, Cross Connection Control Program, Annual testing under state rules and the Houston Plumbing Code; SwiftComply upload; tester approval. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- 30 TAC 290.44, water distribution, subsection (h) cross-connection control, 30 Tex. Admin. Code 290.44(h)(4): testing on installation and at least annually by a licensed BPAT; (h)(4)(C): signed original to the public water supplier. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Texas Health and Safety Code 755.025, boiler inspection, Tex. Health & Safety Code 755.025(b)-(d): annual, biennial and triennial certificate inspections by boiler type. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Texas Health and Safety Code 755.026, extension of internal inspection interval, Tex. Health & Safety Code 755.026. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- 16 TAC 65.61, inspection of all boilers required, 16 Tex. Admin. Code 65.61 (certificate inspection before certificate expires; AIA inspects insured boilers, TDLR the rest). Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDLR Boiler Safety at a Glance (Dec. 2025), Ch. 755 Health and Safety Code; 16 TAC ch. 65; late inspection fees. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDLR Boiler Safety FAQ, Owner/operator duties: pay fees, post certificate on or near the boiler; certificate printed from TDLR online services once fees are paid. Read Oct 23, 2026.