| Stage | What you notice | What the city does |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 4–10 | Nothing. The tank passes 25% of design depth. | Operating over 25% is a prohibited act under Chapter 13.40. |
| Weeks 10–14 | Smell; slow sink on busy nights. | Grease is passing the outlet toward the lateral. |
| Inspection | FOG inspector reviews the device and the file. | FOG inspection fee $148; re-inspection $200 (MUD fee schedule FY 2026-27). |
| Order | Director orders a cleaning. | Must be done “in no case more than 24 hours following issuance of an order to clean.” |
| Citation | Administrative citation. | $293 first occurrence, $729 second or subsequent (Sec. 13.40.250 via Title 1). |
| City action | The city pumps it and bills you. | Operator and property owner owe the cost jointly and severally; noncompliance charges under Sec. 13.40.180 on top. |
| Prosecution | Each day a separate offense. | Misdemeanor (Sec. 13.40.250). |
| End state | Sewer service suspended or terminated. | Sec. 13.40.230; reconsideration in writing within 10 days. |
Where the money goes
A year of scheduled interceptor service for a typical restaurant runs in the low thousands. One re-inspection, one second citation and one city-performed pump-out approach that before a single day of lost sewer service. The ordinance is written so that skipping the service is never the cheap option.
The way out at any stage
A full pump-out with the six-line receipt, then an interval set from the reading. The ladder stops at the first rung with a receipt behind it.
Plain-English guidance, not legal advice. Quotations are from the Stockton
Municipal Code, Title 13, Chapter 13.40 “Fats, Oils and Grease” (Ord. 002-10 C.S.),
read on the city’s code publisher on 2026-10-08, and from the City of Stockton Municipal
Utilities Department FY 2026-27 Adopted Fee Schedule (effective 7/1/2026). Where a section number
is not shown, the chapter’s heading is cited instead. Confirm current requirements with the
Municipal Utilities Department, (209) 937-8700.