Minnesota Grease Trap Regulations (2026)

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

Everything a Minnesota 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.

Minnesota Requirements at a Glance

Cleaning frequency	No statewide mandatory interval — set by local municipalities. MPCA guidance requires grease trap waste to be hauled by an MPCA-licensed hauler and directs businesses to follow local ordinances; Minneapolis requires traps stay under 25% capacity.
State regulator	Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
Governing regulation	Minnesota Rules Chapter 7083 (SSTS credentialing — licenses grease trap and septage pumpers); MPCA guidance wq-wwists4-20 (Septage and Restaurant Grease Trap Waste Management Guidelines)
Manifest required	Yes — Daily Haul Record — date pumped, source, volume, and receiving wastewater facility for each load (Minn. R. ch. 7083) (source)
Licensed hauler required	Yes — MPCA SSTS license (Minnesota Rules Chapter 7083) — anyone pumping grease trap or septage waste must be licensed and keep records of each pump-out (source)
Penalties	The MPCA may fine or sanction anyone conducting grease trap/SSTS pumping without the required license or certification. Specific fine amounts for restaurant FOG violations are set locally. (source)

Who Regulates Grease Traps in Minnesota

At the state level, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is Minnesota Rules Chapter 7083 (SSTS credentialing — licenses grease trap and septage pumpers); MPCA guidance wq-wwists4-20 (Septage and Restaurant Grease Trap Waste Management Guidelines). 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

Minnesota requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under MPCA SSTS license (Minnesota Rules Chapter 7083) — anyone pumping grease trap or septage waste must be licensed and keep records of each pump-out. (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 (Daily Haul Record — date pumped, source, volume, and receiving wastewater facility for each load (Minn. R. ch. 7083)) 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 Minnesota

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

Minneapolis

Program: City of Minneapolis FOG Control Program (Minneapolis Public Works)
Ordinance: Minneapolis Code of Ordinances §511.300
Cleaning frequency: Traps must not exceed 25% capacity (combined FOG and solids); maintained per manufacturer specs — no fixed calendar interval in the ordinance
Permit: FSEs must participate in the FOG control program

Saint Paul

Program: City of Saint Paul sewer utility, with regional oversight by Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES)
Permit: Grease interceptors require a plumbing/building permit from the Department of Safety and Inspections (licensed contractors only)

Worth Knowing in Minnesota

Minnesota's structure is mostly local: the MPCA sets hauler licensing under Minn. R. ch. 7083 and publishes grease-waste guidelines, but cities set their own cleaning intervals and permits. In the Twin Cities metro, the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services provides regional oversight of FOG discharged into the interceptor sewer system, and restaurant grease waste must go to an approved facility via an MPCA-licensed hauler.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often must grease traps be cleaned in Minnesota?

No statewide mandatory interval — set by local municipalities. MPCA guidance requires grease trap waste to be hauled by an MPCA-licensed hauler and directs businesses to follow local ordinances; Minneapolis requires traps stay under 25% capacity. 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 Minnesota?

Yes. Get a signed manifest (Daily Haul Record — date pumped, source, volume, and receiving wastewater facility for each load (Minn. R. ch. 7083)) 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 Minnesota?

The MPCA may fine or sanction anyone conducting grease trap/SSTS pumping without the required license or certification. Specific fine amounts for restaurant FOG violations are set locally. 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 Minnesota?

No — use a licensed/registered hauler (MPCA SSTS license (Minnesota Rules Chapter 7083) — anyone pumping grease trap or septage waste must be licensed and keep records of each pump-out). 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 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and your local FOG program.

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