San Antonio grease trap cleaning and backflow test rules
San Antonio 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 San Antonio
Applies when: Food service establishment on SAWS wastewater service with an interceptor.
What happens: A permitted waste hauler completely evacuates the interceptor. Once a year a licensed plumber inspects it after pumping and writes a report with photos.
Who may do it: A waste hauler permitted by SAWS (and TCEQ-registered), and a licensed plumber or SAWS-approved professional for the annual inspection.
Your part: Pump within 2 working days if 25 percent of wetted height holds grease or solids. Operations open under 120 days a year may ask SAWS for a lower frequency. Keep records of every inspection, cleaning, repair and pump-out.
Filing: Keep all records on site for five years for SAWS inspection (City Code 34-528). No online filing was found. This is the 2011 ordinance text and may have been amended. San Antonio Water System (SAWS)
Backflow testing in San Antonio
Applies when: Backflow prevention assembly on a SAWS water service.
What happens: A registered tester tests the assembly and submits the result on BSI Online.
Who may do it: A TCEQ-licensed BPAT registered with SAWS. Customers can look up registered testers on the BSI customer site.
Your part: Watch for due and past-due notices from BSI, which runs the program for SAWS.
Filing (BSI Online): Registered testers and customer service inspectors submit results on BSI Online. SAWS requires annual testing under a City of San Antonio ordinance and state rules. San Antonio Water System (SAWS), Backflow Prevention
Every inspection for a San Antonio 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 SAWS (and TCEQ-registered), and a licensed plumber or SAWS-approved professional for the annual inspection. | Keep all records on site for five years for SAWS inspection (City Code 34-528). No online filing was found. This is the 2011 ordinance text and may have been amended. |
| Backflow testing | Every year | A TCEQ-licensed BPAT registered with SAWS. Customers can look up registered testers on the BSI customer site. | BSI Online. Registered testers and customer service inspectors submit results on BSI Online. SAWS requires annual testing under a City of San Antonio ordinance and state rules. |
| 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.
- SAWS FOG Ordinance 2011-05-12-0378 (San Antonio City Code ch. 34, sec. 34-527 and 34-528), Sec. 34-527(b) every 90 days and within 2 working days at 25 percent; 34-527(d) annual inspection; 34-528 five-year records. 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.
- SAWS, Annual Testing of Backflow Prevention Assemblies, Annual testing under City ordinance and state rules; BSI Online submission. 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.