Grease trap cleaning
There is no national schedule for grease traps. Your city or sewer utility sets it, and the common rule is every 90 days or sooner once grease and solids fill a set share of the trap, usually 25 percent of the wetted depth.
A permitted hauler pumps the whole trap, scrapes the walls and takes the waste away, and you both sign a manifest. That manifest is your proof, and cities expect you to keep three to five years of them on site.
Rules last checked Oct 23, 2026. Sources are at the foot of the page.
What the code asks for
- Applies when
- Restaurant or food service kitchen with a grease trap or interceptor connected to the sewer.
- What the pro does
- A licensed hauler pumps the whole trap, scrapes the walls, does not return liquid to the trap, takes the waste to a permitted site, and leaves a manifest.
- Who may do it
- A waste hauler registered or permitted by the state and often the city.
- Your own checks
- Check the trap between visits. Many local rules require pumping early when grease and solids reach a set share of depth.
- Kept on site as your record
- No national interval exists. Local pretreatment rules set it, commonly every 90 days or sooner when grease and solids reach 25 percent of the wetted depth (Austin uses 50 percent in the final compartment). Keep manifests on site (3 to 5 years in the Texas cities listed here).
- Source: National code baseline
- TCEQ RG-389, Waste from Grease Traps, Grit Traps, and Septic Tanks (rev. August 2026), 30 TAC ch. 312 subch. G (sludge transporter registration, trip ticket); local ordinances set trap design and pumping frequency. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Dallas Pretreatment Program FAQ, Dallas City Code ch. 19, sec. 19-126.2(c): clean at least every 90 days or at 25 percent. Read Oct 23, 2026.
NFPA sells its codes rather than publishing them, so these are fire and health authorities quoting the code. They are national code, not rules for that city or state.
What it costs to miss
- Houston inspectors ask for your grease permit and five years of manifests.
- Dallas expects you to supervise the cleaning and confirm everything was removed.
- Austin's trigger is 50 percent of the final compartment, not 25.
Where the local rule differs
The state and city rules we have on file for grease trap cleaning, and how the paperwork gets filed in each.
| Where | How often | Who may do it | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | Every 3 months | A liquid waste hauler licensed by TCEQ (sludge transporter registration, 30 TAC 312) and permitted by the City of Austin. | Austin Water states no grease-trap-specific online submission. The trip ticket manifest documents each cleaning and manifest records are kept up to three years (Austin City Code 15-10-197 and 15-10-165(B)). |
| Dallas, TX | Every 3 months | A liquid waste hauler licensed by TCEQ and permitted by Dallas Water Utilities (City Code ch. 19, sec. 19-126.2(c)). | Keep the completed manifest on the premises for three years, available for city staff. No online filing by the restaurant was found. |
| Houston, TX | Every 3 months | A waste hauler permitted by the City of Houston and registered with TCEQ as a sludge transporter. The establishment holds a Fats, Oils, and Grease permit renewed yearly. | No online filing was found. Keep generator and returned manifest copies on site for five years. Inspectors ask for the permit and five years of manifests. A Notice of Waiver can be filed to reduce the quarterly frequency. |
| San Antonio, TX | Every 3 months | A waste hauler permitted by SAWS (and TCEQ-registered), and a licensed plumber or SAWS-approved professional for the annual inspection. | Keep all records on site for five years for SAWS inspection (City Code 34-528). No online filing was found. This is the 2011 ordinance text and may have been amended. |
When is yours due?
Pick your state, add the month from your tag, and see the next date and the rule behind it. Then book a licensed pro if you want one.
Questions about grease trap cleaning
How often does a grease trap need to be cleaned?
Most cities set every 90 days, or sooner when grease and solids reach 25 percent of the wetted depth. Austin uses 50 percent of the final compartment. Some cities let low-volume kitchens apply for less frequent pumping.
Who can pump a grease trap in Texas?
A hauler registered with TCEQ as a sludge transporter and permitted by the city, in Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.
How long do I keep grease trap manifests?
Three years in Austin and Dallas, five years in Houston and San Antonio.
Sources
- TCEQ RG-389, Waste from Grease Traps, Grit Traps, and Septic Tanks (rev. August 2026), 30 TAC ch. 312 subch. G (sludge transporter registration, trip ticket); local ordinances set trap design and pumping frequency. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Dallas Pretreatment Program FAQ, Dallas City Code ch. 19, sec. 19-126.2(c): clean at least every 90 days or at 25 percent. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Austin Water, Pretreatment Requirements and Resources, Austin City Code 15-10-197 (every three months or 50 percent), 15-10-165(B) (manifest records). Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Dallas, Grease Traps and Interceptors poster, 90 days or 25 percent; manifest steps; three-year record. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Houston Health Department, Special Waste Generators, City of Houston Code 47-512(b) (fully evacuate every 90 days unless a waiver is approved); Chapter 47 Article XI. Read Oct 23, 2026.
- SAWS FOG Ordinance 2011-05-12-0378 (San Antonio City Code ch. 34, sec. 34-527 and 34-528), Sec. 34-527(b) every 90 days and within 2 working days at 25 percent; 34-527(d) annual inspection; 34-528 five-year records. Read Oct 23, 2026.
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