Louisiana Grease Trap Regulations (2026)

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

Everything a Louisiana 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.

Louisiana Requirements at a Glance

Cleaning frequency	No single statewide interval — local pretreatment ordinances govern. New Orleans requires cleaning at 25% of design capacity with a quarterly minimum; Baton Rouge requires at least quarterly.
State regulator	Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ)
Governing regulation	La. R.S. Title 30 (Environmental Quality Act); Louisiana Administrative Code Title 33, Part IX (General Pretreatment Regulations); LA State Plumbing Code (grease trap sizing, administered by LDH)
Manifest required	Yes — trip-ticket manifest booklet documenting generation point, transporter, volume, and disposal site (e.g., Baton Rouge City-Parish); New Orleans requires permitted transporters (source)
Licensed hauler required	Yes — LDEQ Sewage Sludge Hauler Registration (state, renewed each July–June fiscal year) — PLUS a local liquid waste hauler permit from the city/parish (source)
Penalties	Civil penalties up to $32,500 per day of violation (La. R.S. 30:2025); intentional or knowing violations causing severe environmental damage can add up to $1,000,000. (source)

Who Regulates Grease Traps in Louisiana

At the state level, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is La. R.S. Title 30 (Environmental Quality Act); Louisiana Administrative Code Title 33, Part IX (General Pretreatment Regulations); LA State Plumbing Code (grease trap sizing, administered by LDH). 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

Louisiana requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under LDEQ Sewage Sludge Hauler Registration (state, renewed each July–June fiscal year) — PLUS a local liquid waste hauler permit from the city/parish. (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

Collect a signed manifest (trip-ticket manifest booklet documenting generation point, transporter, volume, and disposal site (e.g., Baton Rouge City-Parish); New Orleans requires permitted transporters) at every service — date, volume removed, hauler license, disposal facility. (source)
Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.

City Programs in Louisiana

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

New Orleans

Program: Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans FOG Program
Ordinance: New Orleans Plumbing Code Section 16; SWBNO FOG Program
Cleaning frequency: At least quarterly, or when the trap reaches 25% of design capacity, whichever comes first
Permit: Grease Trap/Interceptor Discharge Permit from SWBNO, $100 per unit, expires yearly, non-transferable

Baton Rouge

Program: East Baton Rouge Sewerage Commission Pretreatment / FOG Program
Ordinance: East Baton Rouge Parish Ordinance 19-01311
Cleaning frequency: At least quarterly (every 3 months)
Permit: City-Parish liquid waste hauler permit plus LDEQ sewage sludge hauler license

Worth Knowing in Louisiana

Louisiana is a dual-license state: grease trap waste haulers need BOTH a local city/parish liquid waste permit and a state LDEQ Sewage Sludge Hauler Registration — miss either and the hauler isn't legal. State FOG rules run mostly through local pretreatment ordinances, while grease trap sizing sits in the separate State Plumbing Code administered by the health department. Penalties are steep on paper: up to $32,500 per day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often must grease traps be cleaned in Louisiana?

No single statewide interval — local pretreatment ordinances govern. New Orleans requires cleaning at 25% of design capacity with a quarterly minimum; Baton Rouge requires at least quarterly. 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 Louisiana?

Yes. Get a signed manifest (trip-ticket manifest booklet documenting generation point, transporter, volume, and disposal site (e.g., Baton Rouge City-Parish); New Orleans requires permitted transporters) from the hauler at every service and keep it at least 3 years. It's the document inspectors ask for first.

What are the penalties for grease trap violations in Louisiana?

Civil penalties up to $32,500 per day of violation (La. R.S. 30:2025); intentional or knowing violations causing severe environmental damage can add up to $1,000,000. 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 Louisiana?

No — use a licensed/registered hauler (LDEQ Sewage Sludge Hauler Registration (state, renewed each July–June fiscal year) — PLUS a local liquid waste hauler permit from the city/parish). 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 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and your local FOG program.

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