Mississippi Grease Trap Regulations (2026)
Everything a Mississippi restaurant or commercial kitchen needs to know about grease trap requirements: who regulates it, how often you must clean, what permits and registration you need, 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.
Mississippi Requirements at a Glance
| Cleaning frequency | Grease interceptors must be fully pumped at least every 90 days (or more often to meet the local FOG program); under-sink grease traps need more frequent service, with weekly cleaning recommended. |
| State regulator | Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ); hauler licensing via MS State Dept. of Health |
| Governing regulation | Miss. Code Ann. §41-67-1 et seq. (On-Site Wastewater Disposal Law); MDEQ Administrative Code Title 11, Part 6 (Water Regulations) |
| Manifest required | Yes — waste manifest / disposal ticket (hauler, generator, waste type, volume) — format set by the local authority, e.g. Harrison County Utility Authority's 2021 grease regulation (source) |
| Licensed hauler required | Yes — MS State Department of Health Certified Pumper license — required to clean, pump, and dispose of grease trap waste statewide (1-day course, written exam, MSDH truck inspection with certification number displayed) (source) |
| Penalties | Violations of the state On-Site Wastewater Disposal Law (§41-67-28) carry civil and administrative penalties, and local ordinance violations can bring fines and interruption of water and sewer service. Specific per-day amounts are set locally. (source) |
Who Regulates Grease Traps in Mississippi
At the state level, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ); hauler licensing via MS State Dept. of Health (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is Miss. Code Ann. §41-67-1 et seq. (On-Site Wastewater Disposal Law); MDEQ Administrative Code Title 11, Part 6 (Water Regulations). 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
Mississippi requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under MS State Department of Health Certified Pumper license — required to clean, pump, and dispose of grease trap waste statewide (1-day course, written exam, MSDH truck inspection with certification number displayed). (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 (waste manifest / disposal ticket (hauler, generator, waste type, volume) — format set by the local authority, e.g. Harrison County Utility Authority's 2021 grease regulation) 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 Mississippi
Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:
Jackson
- Program: City of Jackson FOG Control Program (Public Works)
- Ordinance: City of Jackson FOG Control Program; Municode Ch. 122, Art. IV
- Cleaning frequency: Interceptors: at least every 90 days; traps: weekly recommended
- Permit: Install approved grease control equipment; periodic inspections and employee training records required
- Fines: Possible water/sewer service interruption and monetary fines (amounts not published)
Gulfport
- Program: City of Gulfport Grease Trap Program (also served by Harrison County Utility Authority)
- Ordinance: Gulfport Code of Ordinances Ch. 11, Art. VI (§§11-155 permits, 11-156 manifests)
- Cleaning frequency: 90-day minimum per Mississippi FOG standards
- Permit: Grease trap permits required; haulers must meet vehicle and licensing requirements under Article VI
- Fines: Enforcement provisions in Article VI (amounts not confirmed)
Worth Knowing in Mississippi
A Mississippi quirk worth knowing: the grease hauler license is run by the Department of Health (MSDH Certified Pumper program), not the environmental agency — every pump truck is MSDH-inspected and must display its certification number. On the coast, Gulfport is also covered by the Harrison County Utility Authority, which issued its own standalone grease regulation in 2021 on top of the city ordinance. Jackson's program is partly driven by an EPA sewer consent order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must grease traps be cleaned in Mississippi?
Grease interceptors must be fully pumped at least every 90 days (or more often to meet the local FOG program); under-sink grease traps need more frequent service, with weekly cleaning recommended. 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 Mississippi?
Yes. Get a signed manifest (waste manifest / disposal ticket (hauler, generator, waste type, volume) — format set by the local authority, e.g. Harrison County Utility Authority's 2021 grease regulation) 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 Mississippi?
Violations of the state On-Site Wastewater Disposal Law (§41-67-28) carry civil and administrative penalties, and local ordinance violations can bring fines and interruption of water and sewer service. Specific per-day amounts 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 Mississippi?
No — use a licensed/registered hauler (MS State Department of Health Certified Pumper license — required to clean, pump, and dispose of grease trap waste statewide (1-day course, written exam, MSDH truck inspection with certification number displayed)). If your hauler dumps illegally, the paper trail you kept is your protection. Verify registration on the official lookup linked above.
Do I need a permit for a grease trap in Mississippi?
In most Mississippi cities, yes — food service establishments must register with, or get a permit from, the local FOG / pretreatment program before discharging grease trap waste to the sewer. The exact permit and registration requirements vary by city; the major-city programs are listed above, and your local sewer authority has the specifics for your address.
Next Steps
- Find grease trap cleaning companies in Mississippi
- Run the Mississippi-adapted compliance checklist
- Put manifests and pricing in writing (free template)
Official Sources
- https://www.jacksonms.gov/grease-control/
- https://msdh.ms.gov/page/30,0,78,606.html
- https://apps.msdh.ms.gov/wastewater/installersearch.asp
- https://hcua-ms.us/documents/614/G__Grease_Trap_Regulations_12-2021.pdf
- https://library.municode.com/ms/gulfport/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH11WASE_ARTVIGRTR
- https://www.mdeq.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Administrative-Code-Part-6-Water-Regulations.pdf
This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ); hauler licensing via MS State Dept. of Health and your local FOG program.
Mississippi Grease Trap Costs & Rules by City
City-level pricing, cleaning frequency and permit requirements:
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