Not by name in Phoenix. The 2024 plumbing code has no hair interceptor section for groomers or kennels, but its general interceptor rule and Phoenix City Code let the city require one when solids could harm the sewer. Floor drains need removable, cleanable strainers either way, and a hair trap on each tub is the practical protection.
Does the plumbing code require a hair interceptor for groomers?
Not by name. The interceptor chapter of the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), as adopted in Phoenix, begins with a broad rule. Section 1003.1 says "Interceptors and separators shall be provided to prevent the discharge of oil, grease, sand and other substances harmful or hazardous to the public sewer, the private sewage system or the sewage treatment plant or processes." Hair is not listed, and the sections after it deal with grease, oil, sand and laundries. Nothing in the chapter names a grooming shop or kennel.
Section 1003.2 puts the decision with the local authority. The size, type and location of each interceptor must follow "the manufacturer's instructions and the requirements of the Authority Having Jurisdiction." In Phoenix, that is the city. Our page on whether a salon needs a hair interceptor covers the same code logic for hair from people, and it applies the same way to fur.
What does Phoenix City Code add?
Two things. First, a general ban. Phoenix City Code Chapter 28 prohibits discharging "Solid or viscous pollutants, FOG, petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin that can cause interference or pass-through or that can cause obstruction to the flow in sewers or other damage to the POTW." Fur in quantity is a solid that can obstruct a line.
Second, a discretion. The code says interceptors must be installed by "laundries, food service establishments, service stations, auto repair shops, carwashes, commissaries, and other facilities when the Director determines they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease or oil in excessive amounts, or any flammable wastes, solids, or other harmful ingredients." A grooming shop is not on the list, but it falls under "other facilities" if the Director decides it needs one. Where one is required, "Interceptors must be of a type and capacity approved by the Director," so do not buy a unit without confirming it will be accepted.
We found no Phoenix section that names pet grooming or kennels. Other Valley cities write their own sewer codes, so confirm with the city where the shop sits.
Why do other cities tell groomers to filter?
Some municipal clean-water programs say it directly. A City of Pleasanton, California fact sheet for pet care providers says to "Filter the wash water before discharging to the sanitary sewer. Fur and other solids in the wash water can cause blockages in the sewer system." That is California guidance, not Phoenix law, but it states the reason a Phoenix reviewer would have if they asked.
For the hardware, a manufacturer describes a hair and lint interceptor as one that "intercepts hair and sediment" and is cleaned by "removing cleanout plug on bottom of body and dropping perforated basket." Hair traps are built to be emptied by staff, not snaked out by a plumber.
What about the floor drains in the kennel or grooming room?
Floor drains have their own code rules, and they matter in a room that is hosed down. IPC Section 413.2 says "Floor drains shall have removable strainers" and that the drain "shall be constructed so that the drain is capable of being cleaned," with "Ready access" to the drain inlet. Section 413.3 sets a drain outlet "not less than 2 inches (51 mm) in diameter."
Two practical points follow:
- Keep the strainer in and clean it. Fur that gets past a missing strainer goes straight into the line. A removable strainer lets staff scrape it daily.
- Keep the trap wet. IPC 1002.4 requires a trap seal of 2 to 4 inches, and Section 1002.4.1 requires protection for "trap seals subject to evaporation." A floor drain in a back kennel run that is rarely wetted can dry out and let sewer odor in. See trap primers for commercial floor drains.
Phoenix amended other parts of the 2024 IPC (Ordinance G-7397) but not Sections 413 or 1002, so the base text applies. Other cities may differ.
What should a shop do in practice?
- Put a removable hair trap or basket on each grooming tub drain and empty it every day.
- Keep fur out of floor drains and do not rinse brushes or clippers into them.
- Ask the plan reviewer or the city's sewer authority about pretreatment before you build out, since the city decides what is approved.
- If tub drains still slow down, the buildup is in the branch line. A camera and jetting find and clear it. See what hydro jetting is.
HQ Plumbing & Air clears and jets commercial drain lines and floor drains, with upfront pricing and free estimates, through its commercial drain cleaning service.