Indiana Grease Trap Regulations (2026)

By the GreaseTrapFinder Editorial Team · Updated August 5, 2026 · All citations link to official sources

Everything a Indiana 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.

Indiana Requirements at a Glance

Cleaning frequencyNo statewide mandatory interval — set locally. In Indianapolis, Citizens Energy Group (following Marion County Health Department BMPs) requires indoor grease traps cleaned at least every 3 months and outdoor interceptors cleaned when FOG reaches 25% of trap depth.
State regulatorIndiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) — Septage Management Program
Governing regulationIndiana Code 13-18-12 (Septage); 327 IAC 7.1 (Septage Management) — grease trap and interceptor waste is included in the definition of septage under IC 13-11-2-199.2 and 327 IAC 7.1
Manifest requiredYes — permittees keep service contracts/invoices and disposal receipts under 327 IAC 7.1; land-application permittees file quarterly reports with IDEM (source)
Licensed hauler requiredYes — IDEM Septage Management Business Permit (State Form 50399, no fee, valid 3 years) — required to remove/transport/dispose of grease trap waste; hauler vehicles must have at least 250-gallon tank capacity (source)
Record retention5 years — service contracts, invoices, disposal receipts, and permit documents, available to IDEM (source)
PenaltiesViolations of IC 13-18-12 / 327 IAC 7.1 carry civil penalties — in one documented IDEM enforcement action, $8,750 for operating without a required septage management permit. (source)

Who Regulates Grease Traps in Indiana

At the state level, Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) — Septage Management Program (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is Indiana Code 13-18-12 (Septage); 327 IAC 7.1 (Septage Management) — grease trap and interceptor waste is included in the definition of septage under IC 13-11-2-199.2 and 327 IAC 7.1. 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

Indiana requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under IDEM Septage Management Business Permit (State Form 50399, no fee, valid 3 years) — required to remove/transport/dispose of grease trap waste; hauler vehicles must have at least 250-gallon tank capacity. (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 Indiana

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

Indianapolis

Fort Wayne

Worth Knowing in Indiana

Indiana runs a statewide IDEM Septage Management Business Permit that explicitly covers grease trap haulers — and notably charges no permit fee. Fort Wayne is unusual for its City Utilities Grease Cooperative: restaurants can opt in and have the utility schedule and manage their cleaning collectively, rather than each arranging its own hauler. Records are kept 5 years statewide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often must grease traps be cleaned in Indiana?

No statewide mandatory interval — set locally. In Indianapolis, Citizens Energy Group (following Marion County Health Department BMPs) requires indoor grease traps cleaned at least every 3 months and outdoor interceptors cleaned when FOG reaches 25% of trap depth. 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 Indiana?

Yes. Get a signed manifest (permittees keep service contracts/invoices and disposal receipts under 327 IAC 7.1; land-application permittees file quarterly reports with IDEM) from the hauler at every service and keep it 5 years — service contracts, invoices, disposal receipts, and permit documents, available to IDEM. It's the document inspectors ask for first.

What are the penalties for grease trap violations in Indiana?

Violations of IC 13-18-12 / 327 IAC 7.1 carry civil penalties — in one documented IDEM enforcement action, $8,750 for operating without a required septage management permit. 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 Indiana?

No — use a licensed/registered hauler (IDEM Septage Management Business Permit (State Form 50399, no fee, valid 3 years) — required to remove/transport/dispose of grease trap waste; hauler vehicles must have at least 250-gallon tank capacity). 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 Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) — Septage Management Program and your local FOG program.

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