Bellevue, WA Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Storage cap
- 2,000 gallons water capacity per site
- Waiver authority
- Fire chief, case by case
- Zoning limit
- LI and GC districts only
- Governing code
- BCC 23.11.6104.2 (IFC §6104.2)
- Last amended
- Ordinance 6782, 2024
- Enforcement
- Fire Marshal, BCC 23.11.112.1
Summary
Bellevue's amended Fire Code caps aggregate liquefied petroleum gas storage at any single installation at 2,000 gallons of water capacity. The fire chief can raise that ceiling case by case after weighing topography, occupancy type, tank size, private fire protection and fire department access. Bulk LP-gas storage is also confined to land zoned Light Industrial (LI) or General Commercial (GC) on the city's official zoning map.
6104.2 Maximum Capacity. Within the limits established by law restricting the storage of liquefied petroleum gas for the protection of heavily populated or congested commercial areas, the aggregate capacity of any one installation shall not exceed 2,000 gallons water capacity, except that in particular installations this capacity limit may be altered at the discretion of the chief after consideration of special features such as topographical conditions, nature of occupancy and proximity to buildings, capacity of proposed tanks, degree of private fire protection to be provided, and facilities of the local fire department. The storage of liquefied petroleum gas shall conform to the provisions of the local zoning ordinance. Districts for which this prohibition applies includes areas zoned as other than LI (Light Industrial) and GC (General Commercial) as defined in the City of Bellevue Land Use Code and designated on the City's official zoning map.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 6929, passed July 14, 2026).
Full Breakdown
2, with the current text last revised by Ordinance 6782 in 2024 as part of the city's fire-code adoption cycle. The rule sets a hard number for how much liquefied petroleum gas one installation can hold: 2,000 gallons of water capacity in aggregate, whether the propane sits in a single tank or is split across several vessels serving the same site. That ceiling is not absolute. The fire chief retains discretion to permit a larger installation after reviewing site-specific factors named in the code: the topography around the tanks, the nature of the occupancy being served, the capacity of the tanks proposed, how much private fire protection is already in place, and what resources the Bellevue Fire Department can bring if there is an incident.
The section also ties LP-gas storage directly to the city's zoning map: bulk storage covered by this capacity rule is confined to parcels zoned Light Industrial (LI) or General Commercial (GC), so a residential or other commercial property cannot rely on this section to site a large bulk tank. Smaller residential propane tanks for grills, patio heaters or backup generators sit well under the 2,000-gallon threshold and are addressed elsewhere in the adopted Fire Code rather than under this bulk-storage limit.
Violations & Fines
Fire Code violations in Bellevue, including exceeding the LP-gas storage limit without the chief's authorization, are enforced under BCC 23.11.112.1. The Fire Marshal can pursue a violation either as a misdemeanor prosecuted in municipal court or as a civil violation under Chapter 1.18 BCC carrying a monetary penalty, and the city may recover its enforcement costs from the responsible property owner or business. Imposing one penalty does not excuse a continuing violation from further enforcement action.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much propane can I store at one Bellevue property?
Where in Bellevue can bulk propane be stored?
What happens if a Bellevue property exceeds the propane storage limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellevue
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How other cities in King County handle propane storage.