What is a common starting penalty for unresolved FOG non-compliance?

Daily civil penalties often start around $500 per day depending on agency findings and enforcement stage.

Can both LACDPH and LASAN cite my facility?

Yes. Health inspection actions and sanitation enforcement can run independently or in parallel.

How can I reduce risk after a notice of violation?

Respond quickly, complete corrective service, and submit records before deadlines to limit escalation.

Regulations for Dummies

FOG Violations and Fines in Los Angeles: What the Penalties Actually Look Like

Name: LA Restaurant Services
Address: 13141 San Fernando Rd, Sylmar, CA, 91342, US
Telephone: +1-818-698-4252

The numbers restaurants rarely see until it is too late — and how to avoid them or reduce them once they land.

LA Restaurant Services · Field Technician Notes

Two separate agencies, two separate fine structures

FOG violations in Los Angeles can come from two different authorities — and they operate independently. You can receive a citation from one without the other being involved, or from both simultaneously if a situation is serious enough.

LACDPH (LA County Department of Public Health) cites violations through the restaurant inspection scoring system. Penalties manifest as grade deductions, re-inspection fees, and correction orders. The financial exposure here is measured in hundreds of dollars per incident.

LASAN (LA Sanitation and Environment) has civil enforcement authority over the FOG Control Program. They issue Notices of Violation, administrative citations, and can refer cases to the City Attorney for criminal prosecution. The financial exposure here starts at $500 per day and can reach tens of thousands of dollars if an SSO event is involved.

Violation and penalty reference table

These are real penalty structures currently in effect. Note that daily civil penalties continue to accrue until the violation is corrected and verified — the longer you wait, the larger the bill.

Violation	Authority	Initial Penalty	If Uncorrected
Missing service records (no manifest on file)	LACDPH	Up to 4-point deduction + correction order	Re-inspection fee $185–$245
FOG layer exceeds 25% capacity	LACDPH / LASAN	Notice of Violation + up to 4-point deduction	$500/day civil citation if uncorrected
No grease interceptor installed	LASAN	Mandatory installation order	Permit suspension until corrected
Using an unlicensed waste hauler	CalEPA / LASAN	$1,000–$5,000 per incident	Joint liability with hauler for illegal disposal
Intentional grease discharge to drain	LASAN	$500–$10,000 per day	Criminal referral for repeat violations
Contributing to a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO)	LASAN / RWQCB	$50,000+ for remediation costs	Civil lawsuit from affected parties

The SSO scenario — when it gets very serious

A Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) caused by FOG is a different category of incident entirely. When sewage overflows into streets or reaches waterways, LASAN and the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) investigate the contributing sources. If your facility is identified as an upstream contributor — through FOG sampling or inspection history — you can be held liable for a portion of the remediation costs.

Remediation for a sewer overflow can include emergency pipeline clearing, environmental testing, public notification, and in cases involving beach closures, coordination with the Coastal Commission. Total costs for a significant event have historically reached $50,000 to $250,000. Liability is shared among contributing FSEs, but the investigation process itself is damaging to your permit standing — regardless of final cost allocation.

How to reduce a violation once you have one

Receiving a Notice of Violation is not the end of the road. Most first-time violations can be resolved without the maximum penalty if you respond correctly. Here is what actually works:

Respond to the Notice of Violation immediately

The worst thing you can do is ignore a NOV. LASAN interprets non-response as non-compliance and escalates faster. Even if you disagree with the finding, acknowledge receipt and state your intended corrective action in writing. This creates a paper trail that works in your favor during any subsequent hearing.

Schedule the corrective service before the deadline

If the violation is a maintenance finding — overdue service, missing records — the fastest resolution is to service the trap immediately, collect the manifest, and submit copies to the issuing inspector. Violations with documented corrective action before the deadline are almost always resolved without the daily civil penalty kicking in.

Build a compliance record going forward

Enforcement agencies consider your compliance history. A facility with three years of clean service records that has a single missed interval will be treated very differently than one with no records at all. Starting a clean maintenance calendar today shortens your enforcement exposure every month you stay current.

Request an informal hearing before formal citation

LASAN offers an informal hearing process before issuing a formal administrative citation. Request it in writing within the timeframe stated in your NOV. Come with service records, a corrective action plan, and evidence of current compliance. Most facilities that show genuine corrective effort get reduced penalties or extended timelines at this stage.

Eliminate your violation risk

Scheduled service, licensed disposal, and documentation that protects you at every inspection.

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