NFPA 96 · Fire Code §607 · FDNY

Kitchen Hood Cleaning Requirements

Commercial kitchen exhausts must be professionally cleaned on a schedule based on cooking type. Records on-site for 2 years. Calculator included.

NFPA 96 NYC Fire Code §607 Active — ongoing
Kitchen Hood Cleaning Requirements

NYC has adopted NFPA 96 (Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations) as part of the NYC Fire Code. It requires commercial kitchen exhaust hoods and ductwork to be professionally cleaned at intervals based on cooking type and volume. A dated sticker must be affixed to the hood after every cleaning, and records kept on-site for 2 years.

$1,000
Min fine for missing sticker or records
$2,500
Fine for grease buildup fire hazard
2
Years of records required on-site
Required Cleaning Frequency
Hood Cleaning Intervals by Cooking Type (NFPA 96 Table 11.4)
Source: NFPA 96 Standard · NYC Fire Code §607
Solid fuel (wood, charcoal)
Monthly
High-volume frying / 24hr ops
Monthly
Moderate cooking (full-service restaurant)
Quarterly
Low-volume (limited cooking menu)
Semi-annually
Minimal (hot dog stand, occasional cooking)
Annually
Cleaning Frequency Calculator
Required cleaning frequency
Fine Schedule
ViolationFine
Hood cleaning log not on-site during FDNY inspection$500–$1,000
Missing or expired cleaning sticker on hood$500
Grease buildup — fire hazard citation$1,000–$2,500
Using a contractor without FDNY certificate of fitness$1,000+
Compliance Checklist
  • Hire only a contractor with a valid FDNY Certificate of Fitness for hood cleaning
  • Confirm a dated inspection sticker is affixed to the hood after every service
  • Keep all service reports and invoices in a physical binder on-site for 2 years
  • Verify the cleaning frequency matches your actual cooking volume — FDNY inspectors can require more frequent cleaning