Bowling Green, KY Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

Kentucky preempts local building and fire-code propane rules through 815 KAR 7:120 (Kentucky Building Code) and 815 KAR 10:060 (Kentucky Standards of Safety). The Standards of Safety incorporate NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code) for storage, handling, dispensing, and use of LP-gas; 815 KAR 10:070 separately licenses and regulates LP-gas dealers, transport, and bulk facilities. The Bowling Green Code of Ordinances reinforces local enforcement: Chapter XII (Fire Prevention), Section 12-1.02 makes the Fire Chief or designee responsible for enforcing the provisions of KRS Chapter 227 and the Kentucky Standards of Safety locally. Practical implications in Bowling Green: small portable cylinders (the typical 20-lb residential barbecue tank or smaller camping canisters) may be stored outdoors per NFPA 58 separation distances. Per NFPA 58 and the Kentucky Fire Marshal's safety guidance referenced by Bowling Green-area propane suppliers, residential ASME (stationary) tanks have minimum separation distances from buildings, property lines, and ignition sources that vary with tank size (e.g., 10 ft minimum for tanks 125-500 gallons water capacity from important buildings and the line of adjoining property that may be built upon). Indoor storage of cylinders larger than 1 lb LP-gas capacity is restricted under NFPA 58. Larger commercial installations and refilling stations require state licensing and BG Fire Department permitting. Propane grills on multi-family balconies are governed by the IFC (adopted within the Kentucky Standards of Safety) Chapter 61 - generally prohibited within 10 ft of combustible construction except in one- and two-family dwellings or fully sprinklered buildings, or for small LP-gas containers of 2.5 lb or less.