Nevada Grease Trap Regulations (2026)
Everything a Nevada 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.
Nevada Requirements at a Glance
| Cleaning frequency | No statewide numeric interval — state rule (NAC 446.430) only requires traps be accessible for cleaning. Schedules are set locally through industrial-user permits: Clark County Water Reclamation District for the Las Vegas metro, Reno Environmental Control for Washoe County. |
| State regulator | Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), Bureau of Water Pollution Control (food-establishment authority moved to the Nevada Dept. of Agriculture July 2025) |
| Governing regulation | NAC 446.430 (grease traps and interceptors), under NRS 439 and 446 — interceptors are the preferred method; traps allowed only when an interceptor is impractical |
Who Regulates Grease Traps in Nevada
At the state level, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), Bureau of Water Pollution Control (food-establishment authority moved to the Nevada Dept. of Agriculture July 2025) (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is NAC 446.430 (grease traps and interceptors), under NRS 439 and 446 — interceptors are the preferred method; traps allowed only when an interceptor is impractical. 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.
City Programs in Nevada
Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:
Las Vegas
- Program: City of Las Vegas Environmental Division industrial pretreatment program
- Ordinance: Las Vegas Municipal Code Title 14, Ch. 14.17; Clark County Standard Design P-104
- Permit: Industrial User Waste Discharge Permit required; food establishments need a grease interceptor (minimum 500 gallons per the Southern Nevada standard); maintenance records kept on premises
Reno
- Program: City of Reno Environmental Control Section pretreatment program
- Ordinance: Reno Municipal Code 12.16
- Permit: Waste Discharge Permit required; minimum 750-gallon interceptor; all scullery, dishwasher, and grease-bearing floor drains must route through an approved interceptor
Worth Knowing in Nevada
Nevada runs a two-tier system: the state rule (NAC 446.430) says interceptors are preferred over traps and must be accessible, while the actual cleaning schedules, permit conditions, and fines come from local pretreatment authorities (Clark County Water Reclamation District for Las Vegas; Reno Environmental Control for Washoe County). Note: food-establishment inspection authority shifted from Public Health to the Nevada Department of Agriculture on July 1, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must grease traps be cleaned in Nevada?
No statewide numeric interval — state rule (NAC 446.430) only requires traps be accessible for cleaning. Schedules are set locally through industrial-user permits: Clark County Water Reclamation District for the Las Vegas metro, Reno Environmental Control for Washoe County. 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 permit for a grease trap in Nevada?
In most Nevada 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 Nevada
- Run the Nevada-adapted compliance checklist
- Put manifests and pricing in writing (free template)
Official Sources
- https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nac/NAC-446.html
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/nevada/NAC-446-430
- https://ndep.nv.gov/water/water-pollution-control/resources/statutes-regulations
- https://library.municode.com/nv/las_vegas/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT14PUSE_CH14.17WACOTR_14.17.005GEPR
- https://www.reno.gov/government/departments/utility-services/environmental-control
This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), Bureau of Water Pollution Control (food-establishment authority moved to the Nevada Dept. of Agriculture July 2025) and your local FOG program.
Nevada Grease Trap Costs & Rules by City
City-level pricing, cleaning frequency and permit requirements:
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