Illinois Grease Trap Regulations (2026)

By the GreaseTrapFinder Editorial Team · Updated June 11, 2026 · All citations link to official sources

Everything a Illinois 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.

Illinois Requirements at a Glance

Cleaning frequencyNo statewide mandatory interval — 415 ILCS 5/22.30 authorizes treatment works (sewer authorities) to set local schedules. Chicago's rule: clean at minimum every 90 days, with the 25%-of-capacity threshold applying regardless of schedule.
State regulatorIllinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA)
Governing regulation415 ILCS 5/22.30 (Illinois Environmental Protection Act §22.30 — Grease Trap Sludge); 77 Ill. Admin. Code §890.510 (Illinois Plumbing Code — grease interceptor requirements)
Manifest requiredYes — a "shipping paper" for every off-site transport of grease trap sludge under 415 ILCS 5/22.30 — generator name and signature, trap address, volume removed, transporter details and signature, receiving facility acknowledgment (source)
Licensed hauler requiredYes — Illinois EPA Special Waste Transporter Permit; sewer authorities may layer local hauler registration on top under 415 ILCS 5/22.30(g) (source)
Record retention2 years minimum by statute — generator, transporter, AND disposal facility must each keep shipping-paper copies and produce them on IEPA or sewer-authority request (some cities require 3 years for maintenance logs; keep 3 to be safe) (source)
PenaltiesSteepest in the country on paper: violations of 415 ILCS 5/22.30 carry civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation plus up to $10,000 per day under the Illinois EPA Act's general penalty provisions — and a sewer authority that brings the enforcement action keeps 75% of the penalty, which gives local districts a direct incentive to enforce. Chicago city fines start at $500 and escalate to $10,000. (source)

Who Regulates Grease Traps in Illinois

At the state level, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is 415 ILCS 5/22.30 (Illinois Environmental Protection Act §22.30 — Grease Trap Sludge); 77 Ill. Admin. Code §890.510 (Illinois Plumbing Code — grease interceptor requirements). 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

Illinois requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under Illinois EPA Special Waste Transporter Permit; sewer authorities may layer local hauler registration on top under 415 ILCS 5/22.30(g). (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

City Programs in Illinois

Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:

Chicago

Springfield

Worth Knowing in Illinois

Illinois is one of the few states with an explicit grease-trap-sludge statute: 415 ILCS 5/22.30 mandates shipping papers on every off-site load statewide and lets sewer authorities run their own hauler registration. The MWRD covers Chicago plus 128 suburban Cook County communities, making it the dominant FOG enforcer in the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often must grease traps be cleaned in Illinois?

No statewide mandatory interval — 415 ILCS 5/22.30 authorizes treatment works (sewer authorities) to set local schedules. Chicago's rule: clean at minimum every 90 days, with the 25%-of-capacity threshold applying regardless of schedule. 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 Illinois?

Yes. Get a signed manifest (a "shipping paper" for every off-site transport of grease trap sludge under 415 ILCS 5/22.30 — generator name and signature, trap address, volume removed, transporter details and signature, receiving facility acknowledgment) from the hauler at every service and keep it 2 years minimum by statute — generator, transporter, AND disposal facility must each keep shipping-paper copies and produce them on IEPA or sewer-authority request (some cities require 3 years for maintenance logs; keep 3 to be safe). It's the document inspectors ask for first.

What are the penalties for grease trap violations in Illinois?

Steepest in the country on paper: violations of 415 ILCS 5/22.30 carry civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation plus up to $10,000 per day under the Illinois EPA Act's general penalty provisions — and a sewer authority that brings the enforcement action keeps 75% of the penalty, which gives local districts a direct incentive to enforce. Chicago city fines start at $500 and escalate to $10,000. 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 Illinois?

No — use a licensed/registered hauler (Illinois EPA Special Waste Transporter Permit; sewer authorities may layer local hauler registration on top under 415 ILCS 5/22.30(g)). If your hauler dumps illegally, the paper trail you kept is your protection. Verify registration on the official lookup linked above.

Next Steps

Official Sources

This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and your local FOG program.

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