Maryland Grease Trap Regulations (2026)

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

Everything a Maryland 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.

Maryland Requirements at a Glance

Cleaning frequency	No single statewide interval — establishments maintain interceptors on a schedule approved by the local authority. County health departments and utilities set intervals; the 25% rule is widely adopted, and Baltimore City requires at least quarterly (every 90 days).
State regulator	Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)
Governing regulation	COMAR Title 26, Subtitle 04 (water supply, sewage disposal, solid waste); COMAR 26.04.02 covers on-site disposal incl. grease interceptors; Environment Article §9-217.2 (administrative penalties)
Manifest required	Yes — service receipts / hauler manifests (date, company, hauler license number, volume removed, disposal location), required by local FOG programs such as Baltimore City and WSSC Water (source)
Licensed hauler required	Yes — MDE Liquid Waste Hauler permit — haulers must also be approved by the local Approving Authority before servicing grease interceptors (source)
Record retention	at least 3 years — maintenance records, service receipts, and manifests, available for inspection (WSSC Water) (source)
Penalties	State administrative penalties up to $10,000 per violation (Environment Article §9-217.2 / COMAR 26.04.12.07). WSSC Water separately imposes fines up to $1,000 per violation or termination of water and sewer service. (source)

Who Regulates Grease Traps in Maryland

At the state level, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is COMAR Title 26, Subtitle 04 (water supply, sewage disposal, solid waste); COMAR 26.04.02 covers on-site disposal incl. grease interceptors; Environment Article §9-217.2 (administrative penalties). 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

Maryland requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under MDE Liquid Waste Hauler permit — haulers must also be approved by the local Approving Authority before servicing grease interceptors. (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 (service receipts / hauler manifests (date, company, hauler license number, volume removed, disposal location), required by local FOG programs such as Baltimore City and WSSC Water) at every service — date, volume removed, hauler license, disposal facility. (source)
Keep records at least 3 years — maintenance records, service receipts, and manifests, available for inspection (WSSC Water). (source)
Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.

City Programs in Maryland

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

Baltimore City

Program: Baltimore City Department of Public Works FOG Control Program
Ordinance: Baltimore City FOG Manual (2016)
Cleaning frequency: At least every 90 days; also required whenever FOG and solids reach 25% of trap capacity

Montgomery County (WSSC Water)

Program: WSSC Water FSE FOG Wastewater Discharge Permit Program (Montgomery & Prince George's Counties)
Ordinance: WSSC Water FOG Program
Cleaning frequency: Maintained on an approved schedule verified at annual inspection (no fixed interval stated)
Permit: Annual FSE FOG Discharge Permit — Full Permit $855/year; BMP Permit $265/year (effective July 1, 2026)
Fines: Up to $1,000 per violation or termination of water and sewer service

Worth Knowing in Maryland

Maryland delegates FOG enforcement to county health departments and utilities rather than running one statewide program, so intervals and permit fees vary widely — WSSC Water (the DC suburbs) charges annual permit fees and runs its own ePermitting, while Baltimore City works off its 2016 FOG Manual. Grease waste must go to a licensed disposal facility via an MDE-approved hauler.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often must grease traps be cleaned in Maryland?

No single statewide interval — establishments maintain interceptors on a schedule approved by the local authority. County health departments and utilities set intervals; the 25% rule is widely adopted, and Baltimore City requires at least quarterly (every 90 days). 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 Maryland?

Yes. Get a signed manifest (service receipts / hauler manifests (date, company, hauler license number, volume removed, disposal location), required by local FOG programs such as Baltimore City and WSSC Water) from the hauler at every service and keep it at least 3 years — maintenance records, service receipts, and manifests, available for inspection (WSSC Water). It's the document inspectors ask for first.

What are the penalties for grease trap violations in Maryland?

State administrative penalties up to $10,000 per violation (Environment Article §9-217.2 / COMAR 26.04.12.07). WSSC Water separately imposes fines up to $1,000 per violation or termination of water and sewer service. 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 Maryland?

No — use a licensed/registered hauler (MDE Liquid Waste Hauler permit — haulers must also be approved by the local Approving Authority before servicing grease interceptors). 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 Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and your local FOG program.

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