New Mexico Grease Trap Regulations (2026)
Everything a New Mexico 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.
New Mexico Requirements at a Glance
| Cleaning frequency | State rule requires maintenance per manufacturer specs but sets no statewide interval — cities fill it in. Albuquerque (ABCWUA) uses the 25% rule; Las Cruces requires cleaning at least every 90 days. |
| State regulator | New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Liquid Waste Program |
| Governing regulation | 20.7.3 NMAC (Liquid Waste Disposal Regulations) — §20.7.3.305 requires grease interceptors where wastes contain excessive grease and a maintenance contract in effect at all times; §20.7.3.306 sets 3-year record retention |
| Manifest required | Yes — on-site manifest for each load received/transported, per NMED discharge permit conditions tied to 20.7.3 NMAC (source) |
| Licensed hauler required | Yes — NMED Liquid Waste Program Septage Pumper License — authorizes pumping/transport/disposal of grease trap waste ($30/vehicle annual) (source) |
| Record retention | 3 years — invoices and disposal records for each pumping event (20.7.3.306 NMAC) (source) |
Who Regulates Grease Traps in New Mexico
At the state level, New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Liquid Waste Program (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is 20.7.3 NMAC (Liquid Waste Disposal Regulations) — §20.7.3.305 requires grease interceptors where wastes contain excessive grease and a maintenance contract in effect at all times; §20.7.3.306 sets 3-year record retention. 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
New Mexico requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under NMED Liquid Waste Program Septage Pumper License — authorizes pumping/transport/disposal of grease trap waste ($30/vehicle annual). (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 (on-site manifest for each load received/transported, per NMED discharge permit conditions tied to 20.7.3 NMAC) at every service — date, volume removed, hauler license, disposal facility. (source)
- Keep records 3 years — invoices and disposal records for each pumping event (20.7.3.306 NMAC). (source)
- Track everything in one place: free maintenance log and cleaning schedule template.
City Programs in New Mexico
Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:
Albuquerque
- Program: Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority FOGS Program
- Ordinance: ABCWUA Sewer Use and Wastewater Control Ordinance (amended 2005, 2021)
- Cleaning frequency: Pump-out when grease and solids reach 25% of liquid depth; no fixed calendar interval unless the 25% threshold is hit
- Permit: Register with ABCWUA and get interceptor installation approval; ongoing compliance inspections
Las Cruces
- Program: Las Cruces Utilities Pollution Prevention Program
- Ordinance: Las Cruces FOG Ordinance 2489; Municipal Code §28-186 et seq.
- Cleaning frequency: At least every 90 days
- Permit: Grease interceptor installation permit required; pump-out extension applications available
Worth Knowing in New Mexico
New Mexico's state rule (20.7.3 NMAC) does something a bit unusual — it requires food establishments to keep a grease interceptor maintenance contract in effect at all times, not just to clean on a schedule. Cleaning frequency itself is left to local utilities, and statewide septage pumpers must be NMED-licensed and carry per-load manifests. Albuquerque renamed its program "FOGS" (adding Solids) in its 2021 update.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must grease traps be cleaned in New Mexico?
State rule requires maintenance per manufacturer specs but sets no statewide interval — cities fill it in. Albuquerque (ABCWUA) uses the 25% rule; Las Cruces requires cleaning at least every 90 days. 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 New Mexico?
Yes. Get a signed manifest (on-site manifest for each load received/transported, per NMED discharge permit conditions tied to 20.7.3 NMAC) from the hauler at every service and keep it 3 years — invoices and disposal records for each pumping event (20.7.3.306 NMAC). It's the document inspectors ask for first.
Can anyone pump my grease trap in New Mexico?
No — use a licensed/registered hauler (NMED Liquid Waste Program Septage Pumper License — authorizes pumping/transport/disposal of grease trap waste ($30/vehicle annual)). 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 New Mexico?
In most New Mexico 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 New Mexico
- Run the New Mexico-adapted compliance checklist
- Put manifests and pricing in writing (free template)
Official Sources
- https://www.srca.nm.gov/parts/title20/20.007.0003.html
- https://www.env.nm.gov/septic/laws-and-regulations/
- https://www.env.nm.gov/gwqb/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2021/02/28-DP-452-DraftDP-20210201.pdf
- https://www.abcwua.org/sewer-system-fats-oils-and-grease-fog/
- https://lascruces.gov/property/utilities/about-lcu/regulatory-compliance/pollution-prevention/
This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Liquid Waste Program and your local FOG program.
New Mexico Grease Trap Costs & Rules by City
City-level pricing, cleaning frequency and permit requirements:
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