Alabama Grease Trap Regulations (2026)
Everything a Alabama restaurant or commercial kitchen needs to know about grease trap compliance: who regulates it, how often you must clean, what records to keep, and what violations actually cost. Citations link to the official source so you can verify every claim — and show your inspector you did.
Alabama Requirements at a Glance
| Cleaning frequency | No statewide statutory interval — state rules cover installation and access, while municipal utilities set the schedule. The 90-day minimum (or sooner at 25% of tank volume) is the standard applied across Alabama FOG programs, e.g. Madison Utilities. |
| State regulator | Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) — Water Division; Alabama Department of Public Health (installation standards) |
| Governing regulation | Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-3-1-.22 (Use of a Grease Trap) and r. 420-3-1-.17 (grease trap specifications); ADEM Admin. Code Div. 335-6 governs municipal pretreatment |
| Manifest required | Yes — county/municipal grease disposal manifest — e.g. Jefferson County's three-part Grease Disposal Manifest; grease waste may not be combined with septic tank waste (source) |
| Licensed hauler required | Yes — Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board (AOWB) Pumper License — required to pump or service grease traps; one licensed individual in responsible charge per company (source) |
| Record retention | at least 3 years — cleaning dates, hauler information, and disposal sites, kept on-site (per Alabama municipal FOG programs) (source) |
| Penalties | ADEM may issue administrative orders and civil penalties for pretreatment/FOG violations under Ala. Code §22-22A-5; local utilities add surcharges, fines, or suspension of sewer service. Specific dollar amounts are set by ADEM's penalty policy and individual utility ordinances. (source) |
Who Regulates Grease Traps in Alabama
At the state level, Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) — Water Division; Alabama Department of Public Health (installation standards) (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-3-1-.22 (Use of a Grease Trap) and r. 420-3-1-.17 (grease trap specifications); ADEM Admin. Code Div. 335-6 governs municipal pretreatment. Day-to-day enforcement — inspections, cleaning intervals, fines — usually happens through your city or county sewer utility's pretreatment program, which can set stricter rules than the state.
Hauler Licensing & Verification
Alabama requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board (AOWB) Pumper License — required to pump or service grease traps; one licensed individual in responsible charge per company. (source) Before signing a contract, verify the hauler's registration on the official lookup — it takes two minutes and it's the single best protection against illegal-dumping liability landing on you.
Manifests & Record Keeping
- Collect a signed manifest (county/municipal grease disposal manifest — e.g. Jefferson County's three-part Grease Disposal Manifest; grease waste may not be combined with septic tank waste) at every service — date, volume removed, hauler license, disposal facility. (source)
- Keep records at least 3 years — cleaning dates, hauler information, and disposal sites, kept on-site (per Alabama municipal FOG programs). (source)
- Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.
City Programs in Alabama
Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:
Birmingham
- Program: Jefferson County Environmental Services Grease Control Program (covers Birmingham and the county sewer area)
- Ordinance: Jefferson County ESD Grease Control Program
- Cleaning frequency: No county-codified interval; the statewide 90-day guidance applies
- Permit: Haulers need a Jefferson County certificate of competency plus an AOWB pumper license; county disposal tickets required per load (about $466/book of 20, 200 gal/ticket), discharged only at authorized sites
Montgomery
- Program: Montgomery Water Works & Sanitary Sewer Board Pretreatment Program
- Ordinance: MWWSSB Guidance for Food Service Facilities
- Permit: Outdoor gravity interceptor required (minimum 300-gallon, sized per MWWSSB worksheet) with a separate sampling well; enroll in the Pretreatment Program
Worth Knowing in Alabama
Alabama doesn't codify a statewide pumping interval — state Public Health rules set installation and location standards while each municipal utility sets its own schedule (most land on 90 days). Grease pumpers must hold an Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board license, which you can verify online. Jefferson County (Birmingham) runs one of the more formalized county programs, requiring purchased disposal tickets and discharge only at approved treatment plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must grease traps be cleaned in Alabama?
No statewide statutory interval — state rules cover installation and access, while municipal utilities set the schedule. The 90-day minimum (or sooner at 25% of tank volume) is the standard applied across Alabama FOG programs, e.g. Madison Utilities. Your city's FOG program may require more frequent service — and regardless of the legal interval, clean before fats, oils, and grease reach 25% of trap capacity.
Do I need a manifest for grease trap cleaning in Alabama?
Yes. Get a signed manifest (county/municipal grease disposal manifest — e.g. Jefferson County's three-part Grease Disposal Manifest; grease waste may not be combined with septic tank waste) from the hauler at every service and keep it at least 3 years — cleaning dates, hauler information, and disposal sites, kept on-site (per Alabama municipal FOG programs). It's the document inspectors ask for first.
What are the penalties for grease trap violations in Alabama?
ADEM may issue administrative orders and civil penalties for pretreatment/FOG violations under Ala. Code §22-22A-5; local utilities add surcharges, fines, or suspension of sewer service. Specific dollar amounts are set by ADEM's penalty policy and individual utility ordinances. Enforcement is usually municipal, so your city's fine schedule controls — the fastest way to stay off it is a maintained cleaning schedule and complete records.
Can anyone pump my grease trap in Alabama?
No — use a licensed/registered hauler (Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board (AOWB) Pumper License — required to pump or service grease traps; one licensed individual in responsible charge per company). If your hauler dumps illegally, the paper trail you kept is your protection. Verify registration on the official lookup linked above.
Next Steps
- Find grease trap cleaning companies in Alabama
- Run the Alabama-adapted compliance checklist
- Put manifests and pricing in writing (free template)
Official Sources
- https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-code/420-3-1-.22
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/alabama/Ala-Admin-Code-r-420-3-1-.22
- https://aowb.alabama.gov/faq.aspx
- https://licensesearch.alabama.gov/AOWB
- https://www.jccal.org/Default.asp?ID=2241&pg=Hauled+Waste
- https://www.jeffcoes.org/Default.asp?ID=95&pg=HAULED+WASTE
- https://madisonutilities.org/your-water-wastewater/grease-program/
- https://mwwssb.forms.fm/grease-interceptor
- https://adem.alabama.gov/enforcement-and-compliance-information
This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) — Water Division; Alabama Department of Public Health (installation standards) and your local FOG program.
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