Commercial Grease Trap Pumping
Grease trap pumping in Ocala and Marion County keeps a restaurant’s grease interceptor from passing fats, oils and food solids into its septic system or the sewer. Restaurants, cafeterias and other food businesses can use the form for free, no-obligation quotes from independent local pumping companies.
Get a Free Quote Call (727) 300-6656Florida Septic Works connects Ocala and Marion County homeowners with independent local septic companies for free, no-obligation quotes. Florida Septic Works is a referral service, not a septic tank contractor; the work is done by independent DEP-registered septic tank contractors, who quote, contract and do the job.
Restaurants and other food businesses can request quotes the same way.
What’s included in grease trap pumping
- The contractor opens the interceptor through its access lid and removes the grease layer, liquid and settled solids.
- Inlet and outlet fittings and baffles are checked for blockage or damage.
- The lid is resealed and secured.
- The waste is hauled under a DEP septage disposal service permit and discharged at an approved facility, never spread on land.
- The hauler logs the date, address, business, gallons and treatment facility, records kept for five years (Rule 62-6.010(7)(b)); ask for a service record.
Florida rules for grease interceptors
Florida law counts a grease interceptor as part of an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system, alongside septic tanks, drain fields and pumps beyond the building sewer (s. 489.551(3)). Under Rule 62-6.010(1), no grease interceptor can be cleaned or have its contents removed until the service person holds an annual DEP operating permit, the septage disposal service permit, which covers liquid waste associated with food operations. The permit number must be on the truck in permanent letters at least 3 inches tall; magnetic signs do not count (Rule 62-6.010(3)).
Disposal is regulated by Rule 62-6.010(7): contents go to a site and method approved by DEP, untreated food establishment sludges must not be applied to the land, and food establishment sludge may be taken to permitted domestic wastewater treatment plants. Ask any company quoting the job for its DEP septic tank contractor registration number (check it on DEP’s active-contractor search), its septage permit number, proof of insurance and a written quote.
On sewer? Ocala and Marion County utility FOG (fats, oils and grease) programs for restaurants on sewer were not researched for this page. Check with your utility for its interceptor and pumping rules.
Prefer to talk it through? Call Call (727) 300-6656 or request a free quote.
Restaurants on septic in Marion County
A food business outside the sewer areas may run on septic, and grease that gets past the interceptor ends up in the tank and drain field. On the county’s sandy ridges, such as Candler sand, effluent moves fast toward the aquifer; on flatwoods soils such as Blichton and Pomona, the seasonal water table can sit within about 6–12 inches of the surface. And 54% of Ocala’s 51.64 inches of yearly rain falls June through September. After hurricane flooding, UF/IFAS advises not to pump a septic tank until floodwaters recede.
The permit rule matters here too. DEP has permitted septic systems in Marion since July 1, 2025, and the Silver Springs and Rainbow Springs BMAP applies to all existing systems in its area: a repair, modification or replacement permit requires an ENR (nitrogen-reducing) system unless sewer is planned and funded. That makes keeping grease out of the tank and drain field worth planning for. Most of Marion County is inside the BMAP; confirm your parcel on DEP’s BMAP map and see the septic permits guide.
Grease trap pumping cost
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Grease trap pumping | ask for a written quote (no reliable published Florida figure) |
| Septic pumping, 1,500 gal | $345–$600 |
| DEP fees (government, Rule 62-6.030) | permit (new, repair, modification) $55; $5 surcharge |
Typical ranges from Fixr (Jan 2025), HomeAdvisor (June 2026), homeyou Ocala (Sept 2026) and Florida Realtors (Sept 2026) — estimates, not quotes.
Other septic prices are on the septic cost hub.
Need a written grease trap quote? Call Call (727) 300-6656 or request a free quote.
Signs your grease trap needs pumping
- Kitchen sinks and floor drains run slowly.
- Grease odors around the interceptor lid or the kitchen.
- Backups at the lowest drains during busy service.
- The last service date is unknown or overdue.
For an urgent backup, see emergency septic service.
Service Areas in Marion County
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Frequently asked questions
Does a grease trap pumper need a permit in Florida?
Yes. Rule 62-6.010(1) says no septic tank, grease interceptor or similar tank can be cleaned or emptied until the service person has an annual operating permit from DEP, and that septage disposal service permit covers liquid waste from food operations. Pumping companies also need DEP septic tank contractor registration. Ask for both numbers.
Where does grease trap waste go?
It must go to a site and disposal method approved by DEP. Florida’s rule says untreated domestic septage and food establishment sludges must not be applied to the land, and food establishment sludge may be taken to permitted domestic wastewater treatment plants. Haulers keep a log of each load, including where it was discharged, for five years.
How often should a restaurant’s grease trap be pumped?
No single schedule was found for Ocala restaurants. On sewer, your utility may set rules for grease interceptors, so check with your utility. On septic, the right interval depends on the interceptor size and how much grease the kitchen produces; ask the pumping company to recommend a schedule and put it in the written quote.
How much does grease trap pumping cost in Ocala?
There is no reliable published Florida figure for grease trap pumping, so ask for a written quote. Interceptor size, access, how often it is serviced and disposal charges all affect the price. Comparing two or three written quotes that list the same scope is the most useful way to judge cost.
Get a free grease trap pumping quote
Tell us the business type and interceptor size, and independent local companies can follow up with a written quote. We usually reply the same day.
Tank due, slow drains or a soggy drain field? Get a clear septic quote.
Free, no-pressure quotes across Ocala, Belleview, Dunnellon, Silver Springs, Summerfield and Marion County.