Tennessee Grease Trap Regulations (2026)
Everything a Tennessee 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.
Tennessee Requirements at a Glance
| Cleaning frequency | No single statewide interval. TDEC guidance points to the 25% rule; individual sewer authorities set enforceable schedules — Nashville requires grease traps serviced at least every 30 days and interceptors at least every 90 days. |
| State regulator | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Water Resources |
| Governing regulation | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-40 (Water Pollution Control / Pretreatment); local POTWs adopt sewer-use ordinances under Tenn. Code Ann. §68-221-201 et seq. |
| Manifest required | Yes — hauler manifest (TDEC Appendix A format) — date pumped, volume removed, approved disposal facility; signed copy kept by the establishment (source) |
| Licensed hauler required | Yes — TDEC septic tank pumper / liquid waste hauler registration; pumper vehicles must display a department-issued sticker (source) |
Who Regulates Grease Traps in Tennessee
At the state level, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Water Resources (program page) oversees FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge; the governing rule is Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-40 (Water Pollution Control / Pretreatment); local POTWs adopt sewer-use ordinances under Tenn. Code Ann. §68-221-201 et seq.. 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
Tennessee requires grease trap waste to be transported by licensed/registered haulers under TDEC septic tank pumper / liquid waste hauler registration; pumper vehicles must display a department-issued sticker. (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 (hauler manifest (TDEC Appendix A format) — date pumped, volume removed, approved disposal facility; signed copy kept by the establishment) 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 Tennessee
Cities run their own FOG programs and often set stricter rules than the state:
Nashville
- Program: Metro Water Services Grease Management Program
- Ordinance: Nashville–Davidson County Sewer Use Ordinance; MWS Grease Management Policy (2025)
- Cleaning frequency: Grease traps: at least every 30 days; interceptors: at least every 90 days; or at 25% of capacity, whichever is sooner
- Permit: Sewer Discharge Compliance Application + annual Grease Interceptor Certification (Form A) or Grease Trap Certification (Form B)
Memphis
- Program: City of Memphis Fats, Oil and Grease Management Program
- Ordinance: Memphis City Code Chapter 13-26
- Permit: FOG application required; use of a certified grease waste hauler is required
Worth Knowing in Tennessee
Tennessee sets no statewide cleaning interval by rule — it's delegated to each POTW's sewer-use ordinance under TDEC pretreatment standards. Nashville's Metro Water Services is one of the strictest programs in the state, with a 30-day trap interval and annual Form A/B certifications, and the signed TDEC-format manifest is the key document tying your kitchen to lawful disposal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must grease traps be cleaned in Tennessee?
No single statewide interval. TDEC guidance points to the 25% rule; individual sewer authorities set enforceable schedules — Nashville requires grease traps serviced at least every 30 days and interceptors 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 Tennessee?
Yes. Get a signed manifest (hauler manifest (TDEC Appendix A format) — date pumped, volume removed, approved disposal facility; signed copy kept by the establishment) from the hauler at every service and keep it at least 3 years. It's the document inspectors ask for first.
Can anyone pump my grease trap in Tennessee?
No — use a licensed/registered hauler (TDEC septic tank pumper / liquid waste hauler registration; pumper vehicles must display a department-issued sticker). If your hauler dumps illegally, the paper trail you kept is your protection. Verify registration on the official lookup linked above.
Next Steps
- Find grease trap cleaning companies in Tennessee
- Run the Tennessee-adapted compliance checklist
- Put manifests and pricing in writing (free template)
Official Sources
- https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/environment/water/documents/GuidanceDoc.pdf
- https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/0400/0400-40/0400-40-05.20220515.pdf
- https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/environment/water/documents/APPENDICES.pdf
- https://www.tn.gov/environment/permit-permits/water-permits1/septic-systems-permits/ssp/permit-water-septic-system-related-permits.html
- https://dataviewers.tdec.tn.gov/dataviewers/f?p=9034%3A34001
- https://www.nashville.gov/departments/water/environmental-compliance/grease-management
- https://www.memphisstormwater.com/fats-oils-grease
This guide summarizes official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change — confirm requirements with Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Water Resources and your local FOG program.
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