Arkansas Grease Trap Regulations (2026)
Everything a Arkansas restaurant or commercial kitchen needs to know about grease trap requirements: who regulates it, how often you must clean, what permits and registration you need, 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.
Arkansas Requirements at a Glance
| Cleaning frequency | No statewide interval — set by municipal pretreatment ordinances. Little Rock requires cleaning at least every 90 days, or when FOG and solids reach 25% of the trap's total liquid depth, whichever comes first. |
| State regulator | Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) |
| Governing regulation | Arkansas Pollution Control & Ecology Commission rules (NPDES/pretreatment under Rule 6); septage/grease hauler licensing under Arkansas Dept. of Health rules (8 CAR §294) |
| Licensed hauler required | Yes — Arkansas Department of Health Septic Tank Cleaner License — required to transport septage/grease trap waste for compensation ($25/vehicle, effective July 1 each year); the de facto state grease-hauler license (source) |
| Record retention | at least 3 years in Little Rock — cleaning and waste-disposal records (no statewide FOG retention period found) (source) |
| Penalties | Under Little Rock Ordinance No. 21,801, non-compliance starts at $500 and rises for repeat violations, with mandatory upgrades and possible business closure. Statewide, ADEQ has civil penalty authority under the PC&E Commission rules. (source) |
Who Regulates Grease Traps in Arkansas
At the state level, Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is Arkansas Pollution Control & Ecology Commission rules (NPDES/pretreatment under Rule 6); septage/grease hauler licensing under Arkansas Dept. of Health rules (8 CAR §294). 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
Arkansas requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under Arkansas Department of Health Septic Tank Cleaner License — required to transport septage/grease trap waste for compensation ($25/vehicle, effective July 1 each year); the de facto state grease-hauler license. (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
- Keep records at least 3 years in Little Rock — cleaning and waste-disposal records (no statewide FOG retention period found). (source)
- Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.
City Programs in Arkansas
Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:
Little Rock
- Program: Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority FOG Program
- Ordinance: Little Rock Ordinance No. 21,801
- Cleaning frequency: At least every 90 days, or at 25% of the trap's total liquid depth, whichever is sooner
- Permit: Grease devices must be registered with LRWRA; must use a Registered FOG Hauler from the approved list (tracked via SwiftComply)
- Fines: From $500, rising for repeat violations; business closure possible for continued non-compliance
Fayetteville
- Program: Fayetteville Water and Sewer Industrial Pretreatment Program
- Ordinance: Fayetteville City Code Chapter 51 §§75-76; 40 CFR 403
- Permit: City may require an interceptor at its discretion based on discharge levels
Worth Knowing in Arkansas
Arkansas has no single statewide FOG rule — obligations come from municipal NPDES-delegated pretreatment ordinances, so Little Rock (prescriptive, registered-hauler list) looks very different from Fayetteville (interceptor required only at the city's discretion). The one statewide thread is hauler licensing: anyone hauling grease trap waste for pay needs an Arkansas Department of Health Septic Tank Cleaner License.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must grease traps be cleaned in Arkansas?
No statewide interval — set by municipal pretreatment ordinances. Little Rock requires cleaning at least every 90 days, or when FOG and solids reach 25% of the trap's total liquid depth, whichever comes first. 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.
What are the penalties for grease trap violations in Arkansas?
Under Little Rock Ordinance No. 21,801, non-compliance starts at $500 and rises for repeat violations, with mandatory upgrades and possible business closure. Statewide, ADEQ has civil penalty authority under the PC&E Commission rules. 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 Arkansas?
No — use a licensed/registered hauler (Arkansas Department of Health Septic Tank Cleaner License — required to transport septage/grease trap waste for compensation ($25/vehicle, effective July 1 each year); the de facto state grease-hauler license). If your hauler dumps illegally, the paper trail you kept is your protection. Verify registration on the official lookup linked above.
Do I need a permit for a grease trap in Arkansas?
In most Arkansas cities, yes — food service establishments must register with, or get a permit from, the local FOG / pretreatment program before discharging grease trap waste to the sewer. The exact permit and registration requirements vary by city; the major-city programs are listed above, and your local sewer authority has the specifics for your address.
Next Steps
- Find grease trap cleaning companies in Arkansas
- Run the Arkansas-adapted compliance checklist
- Put manifests and pricing in writing (free template)
Official Sources
- https://adeq.state.ar.us/regs/
- https://www.lrwra.com/programs/fog/
- https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/1920/Grease-Disposal
- https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/1917/Wastewater-Pretreatment
- https://healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/SEPTIC_TANK_CLEANER.pdf
This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and your local FOG program.
Arkansas Grease Trap Costs & Rules by City
City-level pricing, cleaning frequency and permit requirements:
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