Grease Trap Regulations in Tennessee

Overview

Tennessee restaurants must follow rules for fats, oils, and grease (FOG). The state and your local utility both enforce them. The state framework comes from Tennessee's Water Quality Control Act (TCA §69-3-101 et seq.). Day-to-day enforcement is run by city water and sewer authorities.

The point of these rules is simple. Grease causes blockages. Blockages cause sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). FOG programs aim to keep grease out of the public sewer in the first place. That protects the city's collection system, your business, and the environment.

If you run a kitchen in Tennessee, the rules touch almost every part of your daily routine. They cover the equipment you install, how often you pump it, who hauls the waste away, and how long you keep the records. The rest of this page walks through each of those areas and what to expect from your local utility.

Governing Authorities

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) handles state water quality rules. It also offers technical help to cities setting up their own programs. But most enforcement happens at the city level.

Major city enforcement bodies include:

• Metropolitan Water Services (MWS) in Nashville. MWS runs a strict FOG program with regular inspections.
• The City of Memphis FOG Program. It currently tracks more than 3,000 food businesses.
• Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB). KUB runs a Grease Control Program the EPA has called a model program.
• Chattanooga's Department of Public Works. It inspects food businesses and enforces City Code Chapter 31.

If your facility causes a sewer overflow from grease, you may also face action under TDEC's NPDES program.

Key Requirements

The exact rules vary by city. But the common requirements across Tennessee look like this:

Grease Interceptor Installation and Sizing

• Any business that cooks, prepares, or serves food must install and maintain the right grease control equipment. The utility decides the type and size when you apply for a permit.
• If your kitchen has any automated dishwashing equipment (dishwasher, sanitizer, or glass washer), you must install a gravity grease interceptor.
• In Chattanooga, minimum interceptor sizes run from 500 gallons for limited-service restaurants up to 1,500 gallons for buffets and cafeterias.
• Size depends on the restaurant's size, location, menu, and the number of dishwashers, fryers, floor drains, and other kitchen equipment.

Cleaning and Maintenance Frequency

• Most kitchens pump every 30 to 90 days. Volume and trap size drive the schedule.
• Your utility inspector sets the schedule. Quarterly pumping is the minimum.
• Traps must be inspected and cleaned at set intervals based on on-site experience. As a rule, this means no less than monthly.
• Restaurants in FOG hot spot areas may need to pump more often than the minimum to protect the sewer system.

Waste Hauler and Manifest Requirements

• Nashville Metropolitan Code requires that grease trap waste be hauled and disposed of by licensed waste haulers registered with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
• Your hauler must give you a manifest and disposal records. You need to keep these for compliance.
• Across Tennessee, you should keep maintenance and pumping records for three years.

Best Management Practices

• Many cities require Best Management Practices (BMPs). These can be as simple as posting "no grease" signs above sinks. They also include keeping a regular cleaning schedule.
• Dry-wipe plates and cookware before washing. This cuts the FOG that goes down the drain.
• Use sink strainers to catch food debris.
• Put used cooking oil in recycling containers, not the drain.

Fines and Enforcement

Tennessee cities use escalating penalties for FOG violations. The point is to deter problems and recover the cost of damage.

Nashville (Metro Water Services)

Fines for non-compliance start at $50 per day. They can climb to $10,000 for severe or repeated violations. You may also lose your business license. The Wastewater Hearing Authority can assess civil penalties up to $10,000 per day.

The Department uses these civil penalties for violations of FOG policy, the Sewer Use Ordinance, and other Metro Codes. The penalties act as a deterrent and let the city recover any benefit a business gained from breaking the rules.

If your grease causes a public sewer blockage, the Metropolitan Government can also bill you for the cleanup.

Knoxville (KUB)

If you violate any KUB Wastewater Rule, permit condition, or compliance order, KUB can act. Civil penalties can reach $10,000 per offense. KUB can also shut off your water or sewer service.

Enforcement Process

For a first warning or one-off issue, the inspector hands you a Non-Compliance Notice (NCN) on site. The NCN sums up the findings, lists steps to fix the problem, names possible penalties, and gives you a contact.

If the problem gets worse, the next step is a Notice of Violation (NOV). The NOV comes by registered mail or in person. It includes more detail, inspector notes, and a timeline.

If your facility causes a sewer overflow from grease, you may also face action under state and federal law. This includes TDEC's NPDES program and EPA consent decrees. These cases can move beyond fines and into mandated upgrades, ongoing reporting, and outside oversight of your operations.

The fastest way to stay out of the enforcement chain is also the simplest. Pump on time, keep the manifests, and call your hauler sooner rather than later when you see grease building up faster than usual.

Major City FOG Programs

Nashville (Metro Water Services)

Metropolitan Water Services (MWS) runs a strict FOG program in Nashville. Nashville requires you to use licensed waste haulers registered with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) for grease trap cleaning. MWS also runs regular and random inspections of food businesses.

All future food business owners must attend a seminar to get a grease trap certification accepted by Metro Water Services. Nashville's program runs on a written enforcement response manual. Penalties escalate, and a Wastewater Hearing Authority decides on violations.

Memphis (MLGW and City FOG Program)

The City of Memphis FOG Program tracks more than 3,000 food businesses. Inspectors check that businesses are servicing and maintaining their grease equipment.

If your business handles grease often, send the FOG application to 2819 Frayser Blvd, Memphis, TN 38127. FOG must go into a grease trap that gets cleaned out and disposed of by a certified hauler. Memphis Light Gas and Water (MLGW) works with the city's FOG program on pretreatment.

Knoxville (Knoxville Utilities Board)

KUB's Grease Control Program (GCP) has been recognized as a model program by the EPA. In 2004, KUB signed a consent decree with the federal EPA, the state, the city of Knoxville, and the Tennessee Clean Water Network. The decree required KUB to cut and eventually end sanitary sewer overflows. The Grease Control Program started in 2005 and has done the most to fix the problem.

KUB requires new restaurants to install grease interceptors before opening. Older restaurants must add them. The interceptors sit between the restaurant and the sewer. They slow the flow so grease has time to cool and harden. KUB publishes detailed standards for both gravity interceptors and hydromechanical traps. Permit applications are online.

Chattanooga (Public Works Department)

Chattanooga's FOG Management Program was approved by the EPA and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The goal is to cut the grease entering the sewer system, which reduces overflows from blockages.

The Industrial Pretreatment Program inspects food businesses and takes enforcement action under the City Code, Chapter 31. Chattanooga sorts food businesses into four classes, each with a minimum interceptor size from 500 to 1,500 gallons.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I need to clean my grease trap or interceptor in Tennessee?

It depends on your city and your kitchen. Most rules require cleaning between monthly and quarterly. Most Tennessee utilities follow the industry "25% rule." That means you must clean the trap before grease and solids fill 25% of its capacity. Your local inspector sets your specific schedule based on your volume, equipment, and menu. Keep records of every pumping and cleaning for at least three years.

Do I need a licensed hauler to pump my grease trap?

Yes. Tennessee cities require waste haulers registered with TDEC. Your hauler must give you a manifest showing how much waste was removed and where it went. Pumping the trap yourself or using an unlicensed hauler can lead to large fines and enforcement. Licensed haulers also make sure the waste goes to an approved disposal site and give you the records inspectors will ask for.

What happens if my restaurant causes a sewer overflow due to grease?

The consequences are serious. You can be billed for all cleanup costs, including clearing public sewer lines and repairing damage. You can also face daily fines up to $10,000. The city may force you to install larger or extra grease equipment, submit a compliance plan, or face water and sewer shutoff. In bad cases, you can face action under state NPDES permits and federal law. The best protection is the right equipment and a steady cleaning schedule.

Find Grease Trap Service in Tennessee

We list 45 licensed grease trap service providers across Tennessee. They offer pumping, cleaning, maintenance, and emergency service for both under-sink traps and large outdoor interceptors. All listed providers know Tennessee's FOG rules and can help you stay compliant with TDEC and your local utility. Visit our Tennessee grease trap service directory to find providers in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and other cities.