Grease pit

Think about how long you can hold hands above head to turn wrenches. Then just make it as deep as you need. Nice to have drain in bottom but if you do a drain need leakproof container to run drain into.

Nice to have planks to cover it when not in use too. Saves the sudden stops, because as you know it is not the fall, it's the stop.

Jim

If you live in a populated area like the northeast, you pretty much need a permit to do anything. You just can't do things like the rest of rural america can. You thought you lived in a free country and it's your land---right.

We never had a problem with ours, it was built right and we drained oils into a bucket and stored them in a drum outside and properly handled gasoline. Never drained anything on to the pit floor. Someone who doesn't know how to handle oil and gasoline could blow up the place as mentioned. It sounds like those guys should have been educated before they ever got near a vehicle. The lift is a good idea if you have the money.

KraigWY

I know a few contractors in those parts of the country. They operate with the philosopy it's easier to get forgiven than it is to get permission. Just like the our founders-- bucking the status quo. Truth is the people enforcing codes usually end up on the other side as expert witnesses for hire. More money in it for them. Know a guy who was fined $10,000 for digging a ditch for sock tile. By the time it was over he paid $600 for legal fees on a $3000 profit. Both the lawyer and expert were former EPA guys--case settled no fine, Suddenly those weren't wetlands after all, just muddy fields.

Anyhow, in the case I mentioned, a buildup of vapor was somehow lit off in the grease pit, and the resulting explosion blew the overhead door off their shop, and blew a 4-wheeler that was inside the door well outside the building. If I recall, no one had life-threatening injuries, but it's still something to think about.