Michigan Grease Trap Regulations (2026)
Everything a Michigan 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.
Michigan Requirements at a Glance
| Cleaning frequency | State law sets no universal cleaning interval — that's governed by local municipal pretreatment programs. State rules focus on the waste side: licensed haulers must track food establishment septage separately, and if it's land-applied it must be blended no richer than 1 part FES to 3 parts domestic septage. |
| State regulator | Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) — Septage Waste Program |
| Governing regulation | Part 117 (Septage Waste Servicers) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, MCL 324.11701 et seq. — grease trap waste is classified as "food establishment septage" (FES), regulated separately from domestic septage |
| Manifest required | Yes — licensed servicers keep pumping/disposal records and submit annual septage volume logs to EGLE (MCL 324.11703(5)) (source) |
| Licensed hauler required | Yes — EGLE Septage Waste Program per-vehicle license (Part 117 NREPA) — anyone removing/transporting grease trap (food establishment) septage needs it (source) |
| Record retention | 5 years — septage application records under federal 40 CFR Part 503 (adopted by reference), plus Part 117 records available to EGLE (source) |
| Penalties | Failing to submit information required by Part 117 is a misdemeanor, and EGLE may revoke a hauler's license for noncompliance. City pretreatment programs (Detroit, Grand Rapids) add their own enforcement. (source) |
Who Regulates Grease Traps in Michigan
At the state level, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) — Septage Waste Program (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is Part 117 (Septage Waste Servicers) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, MCL 324.11701 et seq. — grease trap waste is classified as "food establishment septage" (FES), regulated separately from domestic septage. 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
Michigan requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under EGLE Septage Waste Program per-vehicle license (Part 117 NREPA) — anyone removing/transporting grease trap (food establishment) septage needs it. (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 (licensed servicers keep pumping/disposal records and submit annual septage volume logs to EGLE (MCL 324.11703(5))) at every service — date, volume removed, hauler license, disposal facility. (source)
- Keep records 5 years — septage application records under federal 40 CFR Part 503 (adopted by reference), plus Part 117 records available to EGLE. (source)
- Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.
City Programs in Michigan
Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:
Detroit
- Program: Detroit Water and Sewerage Department FOG Program
- Ordinance: DWSD Rules and Regulations (adopted June 2023); Detroit City Code
- Permit: Food service establishments discharging to DWSD sewers are subject to DWSD pretreatment requirements and sewer permits
- Fines: Governed by the DWSD Schedule of Fees and Penalties
Grand Rapids
- Program: City of Grand Rapids Environmental Services — Industrial Pretreatment Program
- Ordinance: Grand Rapids City Ordinance
- Permit: All non-domestic users must complete a non-domestic user survey; significant industrial users need a wastewater discharge permit
Worth Knowing in Michigan
Michigan treats grease trap waste as a distinct legal category — "food establishment septage" under Part 117 — with its own tracking and (for land application) blending limits, separate from ordinary septage. EGLE licenses haulers per vehicle, with county health departments helping administer. Cleaning frequency itself is left to Detroit, Grand Rapids, and other local pretreatment programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must grease traps be cleaned in Michigan?
State law sets no universal cleaning interval — that's governed by local municipal pretreatment programs. State rules focus on the waste side: licensed haulers must track food establishment septage separately, and if it's land-applied it must be blended no richer than 1 part FES to 3 parts domestic septage. 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 Michigan?
Yes. Get a signed manifest (licensed servicers keep pumping/disposal records and submit annual septage volume logs to EGLE (MCL 324.11703(5))) from the hauler at every service and keep it 5 years — septage application records under federal 40 CFR Part 503 (adopted by reference), plus Part 117 records available to EGLE. It's the document inspectors ask for first.
What are the penalties for grease trap violations in Michigan?
Failing to submit information required by Part 117 is a misdemeanor, and EGLE may revoke a hauler's license for noncompliance. City pretreatment programs (Detroit, Grand Rapids) add their own enforcement. 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 Michigan?
No — use a licensed/registered hauler (EGLE Septage Waste Program per-vehicle license (Part 117 NREPA) — anyone removing/transporting grease trap (food establishment) septage needs it). If your hauler dumps illegally, the paper trail you kept is your protection. Verify registration on the official lookup linked above.
Next Steps
- Find grease trap cleaning companies in Michigan
- Run the Michigan-adapted compliance checklist
- Put manifests and pricing in writing (free template)
Official Sources
- https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/drinking-water-and-environmental-health/septage
- https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-324-11701
- https://law.justia.com/codes/michigan/2022/chapter-324/statute-act-451-of-1994/article-ii/division-451-1994-ii-3/division-451-1994-ii-3-117/section-324-11701/
- https://detroitmi.gov/departments/water-and-sewerage-department/dwsd-resources/fats-oil-and-greases
- https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/departments/environmental-services/industrial-pretreatment-program/
This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) — Septage Waste Program and your local FOG program.
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