MSD requires grease trap cleaning every 90 days under Ordinance No. 8472 — Non-compliance can result in emergency shutdown orders
Licensed grease trap pumping truck servicing a commercial kitchen in St. Louis MO
MSD Ordinance No. 8472 • St. Louis Grease Trap Regulation

Grease trap cleaning for St. Louis restaurants — stay compliant, avoid shutdown orders

MSD requires cleaning every 90 days for every food service establishment in St. Louis City and County. We pump, document, and file everything. That's it.

Free quotes — we call back within 2 hours

MSD-approved hauler Licensed and insured
Waste manifests Proper disposal docs
FOG program Registration assistance

Is your grease trap compliant?

5 questions. 60 seconds. Find out your MSD compliance status.

90-day
Cleaning requirement
$150
Starting price
3-year
Records required
Same-week
Service available
How It Works

Three steps to full MSD compliance

Check Your Status

Take our 60-second quiz to find out if your grease trap is due for cleaning.

Get Your Quote

We'll call you within 2 hours with a no-obligation quote based on your trap size and type.

Stay Compliant

We clean, file manifests with MSD, and set up your recurring service schedule.

MSD-licensed technician pumping an in-ground grease interceptor at a St. Louis commercial kitchen
What We Do

We pump your grease trap, document it properly, and keep your kitchen running

An MSD-approved hauler comes to your property, pumps the trap or interceptor to 100% capacity, inspects for damage, and verifies that grease levels are within MSD limits. Every service includes a waste manifest documenting proper disposal at an approved facility.

  • Under-counter traps and large in-ground interceptors both serviced
  • Waste manifests provided with every visit — exactly what MSD inspectors look for
  • We track your 90-day schedule and remind you before your next service is due
  • We can help new establishments register with MSD's FOG program
  • Same-week appointments available throughout St. Louis City and County
Why This Matters

Grease trap cleaning is mandated by MSD. Not optional.

MSD Ordinance No. 8472 requires all food service establishments in St. Louis City and County to install grease control devices, register with the FOG program, and keep traps cleaned to within MSD capacity limits. The standard minimum is every 90 days — high-volume kitchens may need monthly service.

St. Louis has dual enforcement that catches many restaurant owners off guard. MSD handles sewer compliance, but the health department also reviews grease trap maintenance during their bi-annual food safety inspections. A violation with either authority means separate penalties.

Interior view of a commercial grease interceptor showing grease accumulation layers before pumping

Which businesses need grease traps?

  • Full-service restaurants
  • Fast food and fried food restaurants
  • Commercial kitchens and catering operations
  • School, hospital, and corporate cafeterias
  • Bakeries, delis, and bars that serve food
  • Hotels with food service
  • Grocery stores with food prep areas

No shortcuts allowed

MSD explicitly prohibits degreasers, enzymes, and similar substances that temporarily emulsify grease. These products do not eliminate grease — they push it downstream into the sewer system where it causes blockages and environmental violations. Using hot water to flush grease lines is also prohibited. Only mechanical cleaning by a licensed hauler counts.

Records you must keep

MSD requires 3 years of records on-site and available for inspection: service dates, cleaning descriptions, waste manifests from licensed haulers, repair records, and all correspondence with MSD. We provide every piece of documentation you need with each visit.

FOG program registration

All food service operations must register with MSD's FOG program by submitting a Sewer Use Customer Application and Food Service Operation Form. Grease trap design must be submitted to MSD for approval before installation. We can guide new establishments through the full registration process.

MSD Cleaning Frequency Requirements

Establishment TypeRequired Frequency
High-volume restaurants (fast food, fried food)Monthly
Standard restaurants and commercial kitchensEvery 90 days (quarterly)
Lower-volume food service (cafes, delis)Quarterly minimum
All establishments regardless of scheduleWhen 25% grease depth OR 60% capacity reached

Penalties for non-compliance

First FOG violationStarting at $1,000
Repeated violationsEscalating fines (substantially higher)
Failure to maintain grease trapEmergency shutdown orders
Causing sewer system damageFull financial liability for repairs
Significant non-compliancePublished publicly (40 CFR 403)
Health department violationSeparate fines + potential closure
Pricing

Grease trap cleaning costs in St. Louis

Pricing depends on trap type, size, and accessibility. Under-counter traps start at $150. In-ground interceptors run higher based on gallon capacity. Quarterly service contracts reduce per-visit costs significantly and include automatic scheduling so you never miss a 90-day window.

Emergency and same-day service is available throughout the metro for situations where grease levels have exceeded MSD limits and you need service before an inspection.

Under-counter trap (20-50 GPM) $150 - $300
In-ground interceptor (up to 1,000 gal) $350 - $600
Large interceptor (1,000-2,000 gal) $500 - $800
Emergency / same-day service $400 - $900
Quarterly service contract Custom quote
Quarterly contracts include automatic scheduling, waste manifests, and all compliance documentation. Call for a no-obligation quote.
Customer Reviews

What restaurant owners say

They set us up on quarterly service and we haven't thought about MSD compliance since. Manifests filed automatically every time.

A. Patel Restaurant Owner, The Hill

Our in-ground interceptor hadn't been cleaned in 6 months. They got us back under the 25% depth threshold in one visit and filed our manifest the same day.

L. Romero Kitchen Manager

We just opened and had no idea about the FOG program. They walked us through MSD registration, sized our trap, and got us on a cleaning schedule.

About Us

Locally owned. MSD-compliant.

We're a St. Louis-based grease trap service company focused exclusively on FOG compliance for restaurants and commercial kitchens. We know MSD's Ordinance No. 8472 inside and out, handle all manifest documentation, and set up recurring service schedules so you never miss a cleaning deadline. Every technician is licensed and our hauling meets all MSD disposal requirements.

Have questions? Call us at (314) 555-0187 — we answer the phone.

Coverage

Serving all of St. Louis City & County

MSD's jurisdiction covers all of St. Louis City and County for wastewater compliance. We service every neighborhood, municipality, and commercial district within that boundary.

City & Inner County

  • St. Louis City
  • Clayton
  • University City
  • Maplewood
  • Brentwood
  • Richmond Heights
  • Ladue
  • Creve Coeur

South & West County

  • Kirkwood
  • Webster Groves
  • Chesterfield
  • Ballwin
  • Wildwood
  • Fenton
  • Mehlville
  • Affton

North County & Outlying

  • Florissant
  • Maryland Heights
  • Hazelwood
  • Ferguson
  • South County
  • North County
  • St. Charles (adjacent)
  • Arnold
Questions

Grease trap cleaning FAQ

MSD requires grease trap cleaning at minimum every 90 days (quarterly) for standard restaurants and commercial kitchens. High-volume establishments like fast food and fried food restaurants may need monthly cleaning. Regardless of schedule, all establishments must clean when grease reaches 25% of trap depth or 60% total capacity, whichever comes first.
First FOG violations start at $1,000 with escalating fines for repeated violations. MSD can issue emergency shutdown orders for failure to maintain grease traps. If your grease discharge damages the sewer system, your establishment is financially liable for all repair costs. Significant non-compliance is published publicly under federal regulation 40 CFR 403.8(f)(2)(viii). The health department can impose separate penalties during their inspections.
No. MSD explicitly prohibits degreasers, enzymes, and similar substances that temporarily emulsify or suspend grease. These products do not eliminate grease — they push it downstream into the sewer system where it causes blockages and environmental violations. Using hot water to flush grease lines is also prohibited. Only mechanical cleaning by a licensed hauler satisfies MSD requirements.
MSD requires food service establishments to maintain records for a minimum of 3 years: service dates and cleaning descriptions, waste manifests from licensed haulers documenting proper disposal, repair and modification records for grease control equipment, inspection reports, and documentation of all interactions with MSD. Records must be available for inspection by MSD officials upon request. We provide all required documentation with every service.
Yes. All food service operations in St. Louis City and County must register with MSD's FOG program. Registration requires submitting a Sewer Use Customer Application and Food Service Operation Form. Grease trap design must also be submitted to MSD for review and approval before installation. We can help you navigate the registration process if you're a new establishment.
MSD requires a minimum 1,000-gallon gravity grease interceptor for each 950 lbs of grease capacity required. Sizing is based on the number of fixtures, type of establishment, and expected wastewater volume. Smaller operations may qualify for under-counter grease traps (20-50 GPM) at MSD's discretion. All grease trap designs must be submitted to MSD for approval before installation.
Both. MSD is the primary regulatory authority for grease trap compliance under Ordinance No. 8472, covering all of St. Louis City and County. However, the St. Louis County Department of Public Health and City Department of Health also evaluate grease trap maintenance during their bi-annual food safety inspections. Non-compliance with either authority results in separate penalties.
MSD conducts ongoing compliance checks at food service establishments. Inspectors will check grease levels (must be below 25% depth and 60% capacity), review your cleaning records for the past 3 years, verify waste manifests from licensed haulers, inspect the physical condition of your grease trap, and confirm your FOG program registration is current. Having a quarterly service contract with proper documentation is the best way to pass every time.

Don't risk an MSD shutdown order

Grease trap cleaning is required every 90 days under MSD Ordinance No. 8472. Schedule now and get your waste manifests and compliance documentation in order.

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