Kentucky Grease Trap Regulations (2026)
Everything a Kentucky 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.
Kentucky Requirements at a Glance
| Cleaning frequency | No statewide interval in the installation rule. Louisville MSD requires cleaning when FOG and food solids exceed 25% of the trap's water-depth capacity; Lexington and other cities set schedules through their pretreatment programs. |
| State regulator | Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services — Environmental Management Branch (onsite/haulers); Energy and Environment Cabinet (water discharge) |
| Governing regulation | 902 KAR 10:085 (grease trap installation for facilities on private sewage systems); 902 KAR 10:170 (septic/grease trap servicing — hauler licensing, records, disposal); 815 KAR 20:090 (State Plumbing Code) |
| Manifest required | Yes — per-service customer invoice under 902 KAR 10:170 — customer, date, gallons removed, vehicle plate, operator signature, approved disposal site; Louisville MSD adds annual Form A/B certification by a certified hauler (source) |
| Licensed hauler required | Yes — Kentucky CHFS Sewage Disposal Service business license (form DFS-306), renewed annually by March 1 — $150 business + $50/vehicle, $5,000 surety bond; covers grease trap waste (source) |
| Record retention | 5 years — haulers must keep customer invoices and business records available to the cabinet (902 KAR 10:170) (source) |
| Penalties | The cabinet may suspend or revoke a hauler's license for violations, fraud, or unpaid fees, and may seek an injunction to prevent a public health hazard (902 KAR 10:170). Wastewater discharge penalties fall under the state KPDES program. (source) |
Who Regulates Grease Traps in Kentucky
At the state level, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services — Environmental Management Branch (onsite/haulers); Energy and Environment Cabinet (water discharge) (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is 902 KAR 10:085 (grease trap installation for facilities on private sewage systems); 902 KAR 10:170 (septic/grease trap servicing — hauler licensing, records, disposal); 815 KAR 20:090 (State Plumbing Code). 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
Kentucky requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under Kentucky CHFS Sewage Disposal Service business license (form DFS-306), renewed annually by March 1 — $150 business + $50/vehicle, $5,000 surety bond; covers grease trap waste. (source)
Manifests & Record Keeping
- Collect a signed manifest (per-service customer invoice under 902 KAR 10:170 — customer, date, gallons removed, vehicle plate, operator signature, approved disposal site; Louisville MSD adds annual Form A/B certification by a certified hauler) at every service — date, volume removed, hauler license, disposal facility. (source)
- Keep records 5 years — haulers must keep customer invoices and business records available to the cabinet (902 KAR 10:170). (source)
- Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.
City Programs in Kentucky
Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:
Louisville
- Program: Louisville & Jefferson County MSD FOG Management Program
- Ordinance: MSD Discharge Regulations; MSD FOG Guidelines (2019)
- Cleaning frequency: Clean when FOG and food solids exceed 25% of water-depth capacity; annual Form A (interceptors) or Form B (traps) certification by an MSD-certified hauler
- Permit: Grease equipment must meet MSD design specs; exemption form available for qualifying establishments; MSD inspection access required
Lexington
- Program: Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Water Quality — FOG / Grease Interceptor Pretreatment Program
- Ordinance: Lexington Code of Ordinances Chapter 16 (§§16-43, 16-44, 16-44.1)
- Permit: All food facilities must obtain an FOG permit or waiver before installation; keep the interceptor permit on file; inspection required after install
Worth Knowing in Kentucky
Kentucky splits jurisdiction by sewer type: the state grease trap installation rule (902 KAR 10:085) governs facilities on private septic systems, while sewer-connected restaurants answer to local pretreatment programs like Louisville MSD and Lexington. The state hauler rule (902 KAR 10:170) is unusually detailed — per-service invoices and a 5-year record-keeping requirement — and grease alone may not be land-applied (only blended 1:3 with domestic septage at approved sites).
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must grease traps be cleaned in Kentucky?
No statewide interval in the installation rule. Louisville MSD requires cleaning when FOG and food solids exceed 25% of the trap's water-depth capacity; Lexington and other cities set schedules through their pretreatment programs. 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 Kentucky?
Yes. Get a signed manifest (per-service customer invoice under 902 KAR 10:170 — customer, date, gallons removed, vehicle plate, operator signature, approved disposal site; Louisville MSD adds annual Form A/B certification by a certified hauler) from the hauler at every service and keep it 5 years — haulers must keep customer invoices and business records available to the cabinet (902 KAR 10:170). It's the document inspectors ask for first.
What are the penalties for grease trap violations in Kentucky?
The cabinet may suspend or revoke a hauler's license for violations, fraud, or unpaid fees, and may seek an injunction to prevent a public health hazard (902 KAR 10:170). Wastewater discharge penalties fall under the state KPDES program. 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 Kentucky?
No — use a licensed/registered hauler (Kentucky CHFS Sewage Disposal Service business license (form DFS-306), renewed annually by March 1 — $150 business + $50/vehicle, $5,000 surety bond; covers grease trap waste). If your hauler dumps illegally, the paper trail you kept is your protection.
Do I need a permit for a grease trap in Kentucky?
In most Kentucky 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 Kentucky
- Run the Kentucky-adapted compliance checklist
- Put manifests and pricing in writing (free template)
Official Sources
- https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/902/010/085/
- https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/902/010/170/
- https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/815/020/090/
- https://louisvillemsd.org/industrial-waste-programs/fog
- https://www.lexingtonky.gov/fats-oils-grease-fog-program
This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services — Environmental Management Branch (onsite/haulers); Energy and Environment Cabinet (water discharge) and your local FOG program.
Kentucky Grease Trap Costs & Rules by City
City-level pricing, cleaning frequency and permit requirements:
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