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Pitt County, NC Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Exemption source
Ordinance No. 3 § 9(B)
What is exempt
LP-gas storage/handling/transport equipment
Local storage limits set
None in this ordinance
Related code component adopted
Fuel and Gas Code (§ 5)

Summary

Pitt County's Building Codes Enforcement Ordinance does not regulate residential propane storage: Section 9 expressly exempts equipment for storing, handling, transporting and using liquefied petroleum gases for fuel from the ordinance, leaving LP-gas equipment to other applicable state standards.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Pitt County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The following activities are exempt from the provisions of this ordinance: ... B. Equipment for storing, handling, transporting and utilizing liquefied petroleum gases for fuel purposes.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Section 9 of the Building Codes Enforcement Ordinance (Ordinance No. § 62-3, residential accessory buildings 12 feet or under, and nonstructural repairs under $5,000. Because Section 3's scope otherwise reaches the installation and maintenance of piping and tubing for gas and fuel-burning systems, and Section 5 adopts the Fuel and Gas Code as part of the county's building code, the Section 9(B) carve-out means propane tanks and related fuel-storage equipment themselves fall outside this county ordinance's building-permit and inspection scheme even though gas piping generally does not.

This is a narrow exemption from local building-code jurisdiction, not a statement that propane is unregulated: other state standards, including the North Carolina Fire Prevention Code administered by the State Fire Marshal, continue to govern LP-gas tank siting and handling regardless of this county carve-out.

Violations & Fines

Because Section 9(B) equipment is outside this ordinance's scope, the misdemeanor and permit-revocation provisions of Sections 24 and 28 that apply to building-code violations do not reach LP-gas storage equipment itself; enforcement of gas equipment safety falls to the state fire code and its own penalty structure rather than to the Pitt County Inspections Department under this ordinance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pitt County set a limit on residential propane tank size?
Not in the Building Codes Enforcement Ordinance. Section 9(B) exempts equipment for storing, handling, transporting and utilizing liquefied petroleum gases for fuel purposes from the ordinance entirely, so no county building permit or size limit attaches to that equipment under this ordinance.
Why is propane equipment exempt from Pitt County's building code?
Section 9 carves out six categories of work from the ordinance's coverage, and LP-gas storage, handling, transport and use equipment is one of them, listed alongside farm buildings, small accessory structures and low-value repairs; the county chose not to regulate that equipment through this ordinance.
Who regulates propane tank safety in Pitt County if not the building code?
The county's building ordinance exempts LP-gas equipment from its own permit and inspection scheme under Section 9(B), leaving safety standards for such equipment to other applicable law, including the state fire code administered by the North Carolina State Fire Marshal's office.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Pitt County

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsFire Pits & Backyard FiresLight RestrictionsFireworksHeavy RestrictionsOutdoor BurningSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsFew RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSignificant Restrictions

All Pitt County rules

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