New York Grease Trap Regulations (2026)

By the GreaseTrapFinder Editorial Team · Updated June 11, 2026 · All citations link to official sources

Everything a New York 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.

New York Requirements at a Glance

Cleaning frequencySet locally; New York City's standard (followed by most jurisdictions) is to clean before accumulated FOG and solids exceed 25% of the interceptor's total liquid depth — in practice every 30–90 days for commercial kitchens.
State regulatorNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
Governing regulation6 NYCRR Part 364 (Waste Transporter Permits); 6 NYCRR Part 360; Environmental Conservation Law Article 27
Manifest requiredYes — written proof of collection at every pickup; Part 364 transporters must document generator, pickup location, receiving facility, waste type/quantity, and shipment date per load (6 NYCRR 364-5.2) (source)
Licensed hauler requiredYes — NYSDEC Part 364 Waste Transporter Permit statewide; in NYC, haulers additionally need a Business Integrity Commission (BIC) Trade Waste Removal License — check any NYC hauler against the BIC approved-companies list (source)
Record retentiontransporters must keep records at least 3 years under 6 NYCRR Part 364; keep your own copies of every collection record at least as long (source)
PenaltiesNYC DEP penalties run up to $10,000 per day per violation — and using an unlicensed hauler is a separate violation on top of any discharge offense. (source)

Who Regulates Grease Traps in New York

At the state level, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is 6 NYCRR Part 364 (Waste Transporter Permits); 6 NYCRR Part 360; Environmental Conservation Law Article 27. 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 York requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under NYSDEC Part 364 Waste Transporter Permit statewide; in NYC, haulers additionally need a Business Integrity Commission (BIC) Trade Waste Removal License — check any NYC hauler against the BIC approved-companies list. (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

City Programs in New York

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

New York City

Buffalo (Erie County)

Worth Knowing in New York

New York City runs a dual-agency system unique in the country: DEP regulates the interceptors themselves while the Business Integrity Commission — created to push organized crime out of the carting industry — independently licenses every grease hauler in the five boroughs. Verify any NYC hauler on the BIC approved-companies list before signing; using an unlicensed one is itself a violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often must grease traps be cleaned in New York?

Set locally; New York City's standard (followed by most jurisdictions) is to clean before accumulated FOG and solids exceed 25% of the interceptor's total liquid depth — in practice every 30–90 days for commercial kitchens. 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 York?

Yes. Get a signed manifest (written proof of collection at every pickup; Part 364 transporters must document generator, pickup location, receiving facility, waste type/quantity, and shipment date per load (6 NYCRR 364-5.2)) from the hauler at every service and keep it transporters must keep records at least 3 years under 6 NYCRR Part 364; keep your own copies of every collection record at least as long. It's the document inspectors ask for first.

What are the penalties for grease trap violations in New York?

NYC DEP penalties run up to $10,000 per day per violation — and using an unlicensed hauler is a separate violation on top of any discharge offense. 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 New York?

No — use a licensed/registered hauler (NYSDEC Part 364 Waste Transporter Permit statewide; in NYC, haulers additionally need a Business Integrity Commission (BIC) Trade Waste Removal License — check any NYC hauler against the BIC approved-companies list). 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 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and your local FOG program.

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