Connecticut Grease Trap Regulations (2026)
Everything a Connecticut 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.
Connecticut Requirements at a Glance
| Cleaning frequency | Clean before FOG and solids reach 25% of the unit's depth; quarterly (at least four times a year) is the standard for indoor units, with monthly or bimonthly service for high-volume establishments. |
| State regulator | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) |
| Governing regulation | DEEP General Permit for the Discharge of Wastewater Associated with Food Service Establishments (reissued October 5, 2025) — applies to all Class III and IV food service establishments discharging to sanitary sewers |
| Manifest required | Yes — written cleaning logs plus hauler receipts for every service event, kept at the facility and available at inspection (DEEP General Permit) (source) |
| Licensed hauler required | Yes — permittees must use a licensed FOG hauler to transport and recycle/dispose of grease waste (DEEP General Permit §5(d)(9)); hauler licensing is handled at the municipal/POTW level (source) |
| Record retention | 5 years — all inspection, cleaning, and maintenance logs and monitoring results kept at the facility (source) |
| Penalties | DEEP General Permit violations are enforceable under Connecticut General Statutes; municipal fines apply on top. The Hartford-area MDC schedule runs $100–$1,000 per violation category (e.g., $1,000 for being the source of a sewer blockage, $500 for failure to register). (source) |
Who Regulates Grease Traps in Connecticut
At the state level, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is DEEP General Permit for the Discharge of Wastewater Associated with Food Service Establishments (reissued October 5, 2025) — applies to all Class III and IV food service establishments discharging to sanitary sewers. 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
Connecticut requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under permittees must use a licensed FOG hauler to transport and recycle/dispose of grease waste (DEEP General Permit §5(d)(9)); hauler licensing is handled at the municipal/POTW level. (source)
Manifests & Record Keeping
- Collect a signed manifest (written cleaning logs plus hauler receipts for every service event, kept at the facility and available at inspection (DEEP General Permit)) at every service — date, volume removed, hauler license, disposal facility. (source)
- Keep records 5 years — all inspection, cleaning, and maintenance logs and monitoring results kept at the facility. (source)
- Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.
City Programs in Connecticut
Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:
Hartford
- Program: Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) FOG Program (Hartford + surrounding towns)
- Ordinance: DEEP FOG General Permit; MDC Sewer Ordinances
- Cleaning frequency: Outdoor interceptors: every 3 months or at 25% full, whichever is sooner; indoor units: at least quarterly
- Permit: Facility registration required ($150/year), valid 3 years; compliant equipment (automatic grease removal unit or an outdoor interceptor of at least 1,000 gallons)
- Fines: $100–$1,000 per violation category: no registration $500, non-compliant equipment $200, poor records $100, sewer blockage source $1,000
New Haven
- Program: Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority (GNHWPCA)
- Ordinance: CT DEEP General Permit for Food Preparation Establishments
- Cleaning frequency: Never exceed 25% capacity with FOG and solids; typically monthly to quarterly by volume
- Permit: GNHWPCA installation approval and post-install inspection required before discharge; outdoor interceptor (min 1,000 gal) or automatic grease removal unit
Worth Knowing in Connecticut
Connecticut runs one of the most structured statewide FOG frameworks in the Northeast: DEEP's General Permit (reissued October 2025) sets a floor that every municipal sewer authority must enforce, and big authorities like the MDC (Hartford) and GNHWPCA (New Haven) layer their own requirements on top. Applicability keys off the state's food-service classification — Class III/IV establishments trigger the permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must grease traps be cleaned in Connecticut?
Clean before FOG and solids reach 25% of the unit's depth; quarterly (at least four times a year) is the standard for indoor units, with monthly or bimonthly service for high-volume establishments. 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 Connecticut?
Yes. Get a signed manifest (written cleaning logs plus hauler receipts for every service event, kept at the facility and available at inspection (DEEP General Permit)) from the hauler at every service and keep it 5 years — all inspection, cleaning, and maintenance logs and monitoring results kept at the facility. It's the document inspectors ask for first.
What are the penalties for grease trap violations in Connecticut?
DEEP General Permit violations are enforceable under Connecticut General Statutes; municipal fines apply on top. The Hartford-area MDC schedule runs $100–$1,000 per violation category (e.g., $1,000 for being the source of a sewer blockage, $500 for failure to register). 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 Connecticut?
No — use a licensed/registered hauler (permittees must use a licensed FOG hauler to transport and recycle/dispose of grease waste (DEEP General Permit §5(d)(9)); hauler licensing is handled at the municipal/POTW level). If your hauler dumps illegally, the paper trail you kept is your protection.
Do I need a permit for a grease trap in Connecticut?
In most Connecticut 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 Connecticut
- Run the Connecticut-adapted compliance checklist
- Put manifests and pricing in writing (free template)
Official Sources
- https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Municipal-Wastewater/Fats-Oils-and-Grease-FOG-Model-Program
- https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/Permits_and_Licenses/Water_Discharge_General_Permits/foggppdf.pdf
- https://www.middletownct.gov/1090/FOG-Permit
- https://gnhwpca.com/doing-business-with-gnhwpca/food-preparation-establishments/
- https://themdc.org/utility-services/fats-oils-grease-program-for-businesses/
This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and your local FOG program.
Connecticut Grease Trap Costs & Rules by City
City-level pricing, cleaning frequency and permit requirements:
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