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Deleting RDS Option Group Error

This runbook describes how to resolve an issue deleting AWS RDS option groups when using our RDS module.

Problem Description

When a user attempts to delete an option group that was created alongside an RDS instance, they encounter an error stating that the option group is still in use.

This issue manifests in the following scenarios.

Scenario 1: Deleting Option Group Before RDS Instance

When attempting to delete the aws_db_option_group resource before removing the RDS instance, the deletion fails because the option group is actively being used by the database (as expected).

Scenario 2: Deleting Option Group After RDS Instance

Even when the RDS instance is deleted first, attempting to delete the aws_db_option_group resource fails. This occurs because AWS automatically creates snapshots when an RDS instance is deleted, and these snapshots retain a reference to the original option group.

Resolution Steps

For Scenario 1:

  • Modify the Database Configuration

    • Go to the AWS RDS console and locate the option group that is experiencing the deletion issue. Find the database that is using this option group and click ‘Modify’.

  • Change the Option Group

    • Scroll down to the ‘Option group’ section and change the option group from the users custom option group to the ‘default’ option group.

  • Apply Changes Immediately

    • When prompted for when to apply the changes, select ‘Apply immediately’. This ensures the change takes effect without waiting for the next maintenance window.

  • Complete the Deletion

    • Once the modification is complete and the database is no longer using the users custom option group, they can delete the aws_db_option_group resource via a PR.

For Scenario 2:

  • Identify Snapshots

    • Before attempting to delete the option group, go to the AWS RDS console, search for the users option group, and identify any snapshots that may be referencing it.

  • Delete the Referenced Snapshots

    • If any snapshots are found to be referencing the option group, they must be deleted before the option group can be removed.

  • Complete the Deletion

    • Once all references to the option group have been removed for the user, they can delete the aws_db_option_group resource via a PR.
This page was last reviewed on 1 October 2025. It needs to be reviewed again on 1 April 2026 by the page owner #cloud-platform .
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