Florida's Grease Hauler License Rule (62-705): What It Means for Restaurants

Florida’s grease-waste rules have changed twice in four years. The 2022 statute changed what happens at every pump-out. The 2025 rule amendment changed who is allowed to do it.

2022: F.S. 403.0741

The Legislature created section 403.0741 in 2022, effective July 1, 2022. For restaurants, three provisions matter:

• No return. A hauler may not return grease waste or gray water to your trap or interceptor, and must take it to a permitted disposal facility.
• Manifests. Every removal is documented on a service manifest: names of the restaurant, hauler and disposal facility, the unit’s condition, confirmation it was cleaned with nothing returned, the volume removed, and the disposal ticket number. Both parties sign, and both keep it for a year.
• Fines. Up to $250 for each failure to clean a trap or interceptor, and up to $100 for each manifest failure. Unlawful disposal starts at $2,500 for the hauler.

Local governments can adopt stricter rules. St. Petersburg has said it is revising its grease ordinance to reflect the statute.

2025: hauler licensing under F.A.C. 62-705

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Chapter 62-705 sets out how grease waste haulers are licensed. Rule 62-705.300 was amended effective December 7, 2025. Under it:

• Haulers apply on DEP’s Form 62-705.300(2) to get or renew a grease waste hauler license.
• Existing haulers had 180 days from the rule’s effective date to apply.
• Renewals are due by March 1 each year.
• New haulers apply at least 30 days before they start removing grease waste.

What restaurants should do

1. Ask for the license. Add the hauler’s DEP license to the questions you already ask about City or County registration.
2. Check the manifest every time. If it’s missing the volume, the condition or the disposal ticket number, it isn’t complete.
3. Keep manifests for the longest period that applies to you: one year statewide, three in Pinellas County, Pasco County and Temple Terrace.

More in registered grease haulers in Tampa and grease trap records and manifests.

Summarised from F.S. 403.0741 and F.A.C. 62-705. Check the current text on the Florida Senate and Florida Administrative Code sites before relying on any detail.