diff --git a/data_types/src/lib.rs b/data_types/src/lib.rs
index c4d92c92be..8ffb8859ab 100644
--- a/data_types/src/lib.rs
+++ b/data_types/src/lib.rs
@@ -438,10 +438,7 @@ pub struct Namespace {
     pub id: NamespaceId,
     /// The unique name of the namespace
     pub name: String,
-    /// The retention duration as a string. 'inf' or not present represents infinite duration (i.e.
-    /// never drop data).
     #[sqlx(default)]
-    pub retention_duration: Option<String>,
     /// The retention period in ns. None represents infinite duration (i.e. never drop data).
     pub retention_period_ns: Option<i64>,
     /// The topic that writes to this namespace will land in
diff --git a/iox_catalog/migrations/20221111133939_drop_retention_duration.sql b/iox_catalog/migrations/20221111133939_drop_retention_duration.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ece48e7177
--- /dev/null
+++ b/iox_catalog/migrations/20221111133939_drop_retention_duration.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ALTER TABLE namespace DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS retention_duration;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/iox_catalog/src/mem.rs b/iox_catalog/src/mem.rs
index 390c9293a1..e7c97d0b40 100644
--- a/iox_catalog/src/mem.rs
+++ b/iox_catalog/src/mem.rs
@@ -301,7 +301,6 @@ impl NamespaceRepo for MemTxn {
             name: name.to_string(),
             topic_id,
             query_pool_id,
-            retention_duration: Some("inf".to_string()), // temporary until the field retention_durantion is removed in the catalgo table in next PR
             max_tables: DEFAULT_MAX_TABLES,
             max_columns_per_table: DEFAULT_MAX_COLUMNS_PER_TABLE,
             retention_period_ns: DEFAULT_RETENTION_PERIOD,
diff --git a/router/src/dml_handlers/ns_autocreation.rs b/router/src/dml_handlers/ns_autocreation.rs
index 186baf0f3b..eea205001a 100644
--- a/router/src/dml_handlers/ns_autocreation.rs
+++ b/router/src/dml_handlers/ns_autocreation.rs
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ pub struct NamespaceAutocreation<C, T> {
 
     topic_id: TopicId,
     query_id: QueryPoolId,
-    retention: String,
     _input: PhantomData<T>,
 }
 
@@ -165,7 +164,6 @@ mod tests {
             cache,
             TopicId::new(42),
             QueryPoolId::new(42),
-            "inf".to_owned(),
         );
 
         // Drive the code under test
@@ -201,7 +199,6 @@ mod tests {
             cache,
             TopicId::new(42),
             QueryPoolId::new(42),
-            "inf".to_owned(),
         );
 
         creator
diff --git a/router/src/namespace_resolver/ns_autocreation.rs b/router/src/namespace_resolver/ns_autocreation.rs
index eaa67442d5..f1e2e33f8e 100644
--- a/router/src/namespace_resolver/ns_autocreation.rs
+++ b/router/src/namespace_resolver/ns_autocreation.rs
@@ -200,7 +200,6 @@ mod tests {
             Namespace {
                 id: NamespaceId::new(1),
                 name: ns.to_string(),
-                retention_duration: Some("inf".to_owned()),
                 topic_id: TopicId::new(42),
                 query_pool_id: QueryPoolId::new(42),
                 max_tables: iox_catalog::DEFAULT_MAX_TABLES,