Massachusetts Grease Trap Regulations (2026)

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

Everything a Massachusetts 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.

Massachusetts Requirements at a Glance

Cleaning frequency	Owner inspects monthly and has a licensed septage hauler clean whenever grease reaches 25% of the trap's effective depth, or at least every 3 months, whichever comes first (MassDEP guidance / MWRA pretreatment).
State regulator	Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Division of Water Pollution Control
Governing regulation	314 CMR 18.00 (industrial wastewater hauling, incl. grease trap waste); 248 CMR 10.00 (Uniform State Plumbing Code, grease trap installation); M.G.L. c. 111 §31A (local Board of Health hauler permits); M.G.L. c. 21 §§42, 44 (enforcement)
Manifest required	Yes — bills of lading for every load, plus a System Pumping Record filed with the local Board of Health within 14 days (314 CMR 18.12) (source)
Licensed hauler required	Yes — Board of Health hauler permit in EACH city or town where waste is collected (314 CMR 18.12; M.G.L. c. 111 §31A) — renewed annually (source)
Record retention	haulers keep bills of lading and receiving-facility contracts 5 years (314 CMR 18.12); establishments generally keep cleaning logs at least 3 years (source)
Penalties	Criminal fines up to $50,000 per day and/or up to a year imprisonment (M.G.L. c. 21 §42); administrative penalties up to $10,000 per violation per day, each day a separate violation (§§42, 44). (source)

Who Regulates Grease Traps in Massachusetts

At the state level, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Division of Water Pollution Control (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is 314 CMR 18.00 (industrial wastewater hauling, incl. grease trap waste); 248 CMR 10.00 (Uniform State Plumbing Code, grease trap installation); M.G.L. c. 111 §31A (local Board of Health hauler permits); M.G.L. c. 21 §§42, 44 (enforcement). 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

Massachusetts requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under Board of Health hauler permit in EACH city or town where waste is collected (314 CMR 18.12; M.G.L. c. 111 §31A) — renewed annually. (source)

Manifests & Record Keeping

Collect a signed manifest (bills of lading for every load, plus a System Pumping Record filed with the local Board of Health within 14 days (314 CMR 18.12)) at every service — date, volume removed, hauler license, disposal facility. (source)
Keep records haulers keep bills of lading and receiving-facility contracts 5 years (314 CMR 18.12); establishments generally keep cleaning logs at least 3 years. (source)
Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.

City Programs in Massachusetts

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

Boston

Program: Boston Water and Sewer Commission Commercial Kitchen Grease Trap Program
Ordinance: BWSC Sewer and Drainage Regulations, Article III §15 (100 mg/L FOG discharge limit)
Cleaning frequency: Point-of-use traps: at least monthly; large in-ground interceptors: quarterly; all traps at 25% of liquid level
Permit: Annual grease trap permit, $200/year
Fines: $100–$200 per inspection finding; up to $1,000/day under the Site Cleanliness Ordinance; plus cleanup cost recovery

Worcester

Program: City of Worcester Sewer Use Ordinance FOG provisions (DPW & Parks, Sewer Operations)
Ordinance: City of Worcester Sewer Use Ordinance
Cleaning frequency: Clean at 25% of trap capacity; high-volume kitchens typically every 1–3 months; detailed logs required

Worth Knowing in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is the town-by-town outlier: under M.G.L. c. 111 §31A, a hauler needs a separate Board of Health permit from every municipality it collects in — so a hauler crossing town lines needs multiple permits. Boston (BWSC) enforces a strict 100 mg/L FOG discharge limit, tighter than the MWRA's regional 300 mg/L.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often must grease traps be cleaned in Massachusetts?

Owner inspects monthly and has a licensed septage hauler clean whenever grease reaches 25% of the trap's effective depth, or at least every 3 months, whichever comes first (MassDEP guidance / MWRA pretreatment). 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 Massachusetts?

Yes. Get a signed manifest (bills of lading for every load, plus a System Pumping Record filed with the local Board of Health within 14 days (314 CMR 18.12)) from the hauler at every service and keep it haulers keep bills of lading and receiving-facility contracts 5 years (314 CMR 18.12); establishments generally keep cleaning logs at least 3 years. It's the document inspectors ask for first.

What are the penalties for grease trap violations in Massachusetts?

Criminal fines up to $50,000 per day and/or up to a year imprisonment (M.G.L. c. 21 §42); administrative penalties up to $10,000 per violation per day, each day a separate violation (§§42, 44). 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 Massachusetts?

No — use a licensed/registered hauler (Board of Health hauler permit in EACH city or town where waste is collected (314 CMR 18.12; M.G.L. c. 111 §31A) — renewed annually). If your hauler dumps illegally, the paper trail you kept is your protection.

Next Steps

Official Sources

This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Division of Water Pollution Control and your local FOG program.

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