Bristol, CT Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Bulk threshold
- 1,000 gallons or more
- Approving official
- City fire marshal
- Extra review, Fire Districts 1-2
- Planner, building official, fire and police chiefs
- Zoning step
- Certificate of zoning compliance required
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, separate offense every 10 days
Summary
In the City of Bristol, Connecticut, bulk liquid propane storage, meaning any container of 1,000 gallons or more, requires City Fire Marshal approval under City Code § 7-9, plus zoning compliance and, in Fire Districts 1 and 2, sign-off from the city planner, building official, fire chief and police chief.
"Bulk storage" shall mean any container that has a capacity that equals or exceeds one thousand (1,000) gallons. ... (b)The city fire marshal may approve the bulk storage of liquid propane in the "outer fire limits" provided that there is verification that the bulk storage tank plans meet all of the following:(1)The proposed placement and use of the liquid propane storage tank meets all state and federal requirements.(2)The applicant has obtained a certificate of zoning compliance for the use or proposed use of the premises on which the liquid propane tank is to be placed.
Full Breakdown
Section 7-9 of Bristol's fire prevention chapter regulates bulk storage of liquid propane, defined under National Fire Protection Association Definition Number 58 and Connecticut General Statutes § 29-331. "Bulk storage" is any container with a capacity of 1,000 gallons or more; smaller residential propane tanks fall outside this section. In the outer fire limits, subsection (b) lets the city fire marshal approve a bulk propane tank only after verifying the placement meets all state and federal requirements, the applicant has obtained a certificate of zoning compliance, the manufacturer's installation instructions will be followed, the tank is protected against accidental collision, its fittings are secured against unauthorized use, and any outdoor tank is screened to minimize noise and fumes affecting neighboring property.
Inside the more built-up Fire District No. 1 and Fire District No. 2, subsection (c) raises the bar: the same safety criteria apply, but the application also needs the consent of the city planner, building official, fire chief and police chief, all reviewing before the fire marshal grants approval. Subsection (d) makes clear these requirements are additive; they do not limit the authority of the building official, fire marshal, or any other city official to enforce any other applicable law. Violations of the fire prevention chapter fall under § 7-14, which makes noncompliance a misdemeanor punishable under § 1-11 of the City Ordinances, with each ten days a prohibited condition continues counted as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Placing or operating a bulk propane tank without fire marshal approval and the required zoning certificate violates § 7-9 and is punishable as a misdemeanor under § 7-14 and § 1-11 of the City Ordinances. Each ten-day period the noncompliant tank remains in place counts as a separate offense, and the fire marshal retains authority to order corrective action regardless of any penalty already imposed.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what size does propane storage need fire marshal approval in Bristol?
What extra approval applies inside Fire District 1 or 2?
What happens if a propane tank is installed without approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bristol
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