Kitchen Hood Cleaning Requirements in California

CFC §609 and NFPA 96 require semi-annual cleaning of commercial kitchen exhaust hoods and ductwork, with restaurants, food halls, and ghost kitchens driving the highest inspection volumes in the LA and Orange County metros. Grease buildup beyond the 2mm threshold triggers immediate shutdown orders from the local fire marshal. Repeat violations carry daily penalties — Santa Monica escalates to $2,500/day under SMMC §1.10.110, the steepest kitchen-hood enforcement rate in the state.

Compare inspection requirements across 26 jurisdictions in 4 metro areas

26 Jurisdictions · 65 Compliance Rules · 234 Providers

Compare by Metro

kitchen hood cleaning overview by metro area

Kitchen Hood Cleaning requirements by metro area
MetroCitiesPenalty RangePortals
Los Angeles Metro

The Greater Los Angeles metro spans 8 jurisdictions — 7 cities plus unincorporated LA County territory under LACoFD — each enforcing local fire code amendments on top of California Title 19.

8$100–$1,000 per violation; misdemeanor escalation in all 8 jurisdictionsTCEView details →
Bay Area Metro

The San Francisco Bay Area metro spans 7 jurisdictions across 4 counties — San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, and Contra Costa — each enforcing local fire code amendments on top of California Title 19.

7$100–$5,000 per violation; misdemeanor escalation in all 7 jurisdictionsNoneView details →
San Jose Metro

The San Jose metro spans 5 cities in Santa Clara County, each enforcing local fire code amendments on top of California Title 19.

5$100–$2,500 per violation; misdemeanor escalation in all 5 jurisdictionsTCEView details →
Orange County Metro

The Orange County metro spans 6 jurisdictions — two served by the Orange County Fire Authority (Irvine and Santa Ana) and four with independent fire departments (Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa) — each enforcing local fire code amendments on top of California Title 19.

6$100–$3,000 per violation; misdemeanor escalation in all 6 jurisdictionsNoneView details →

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