Mariposa County, CA Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

Many Mariposa County homes rely on propane (LP-gas) for heating, cooking, and generators because the county is rural and unincorporated. There is no county-specific propane ordinance; instead, storage and use are governed by the California Fire Code Chapter 61 (Liquefied Petroleum Gases) and the referenced standard NFPA 58, enforced through county fire and building officials. Under these rules, LP-gas containers must not be used or stored in a basement, pit, or similar location where heavier-than-air gas could collect, and not in an above-grade underfloor space or basement unless approved ventilation is provided. Portable cylinders must be kept outdoors, upright, secured, and away from ignition sources and building openings. Typical clearance rules require at least 5 feet between a cylinder and a building opening served by two exits, and at least 10 feet from an opening where the building has only a single exit, with larger separation distances and setbacks applying as tank capacity increases. Stationary tanks (such as a household 250- or 500-gallon ASME tank) must meet minimum distances from buildings, property lines, and sources of ignition set by the Fire Code and NFPA 58 tables, and installations are typically done by licensed propane suppliers. Because the county is in a high fire-hazard area, keeping tanks and the area around them clear of vegetation also supports defensible-space compliance under PRC 4291.