Brookhaven, NY Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Plan filing trigger
- Over 100 gal water capacity
- Approval authority
- Chief Fire Marshal
- Inspection exemption
- Aggregate capacity 200 gal or less
- Indoor/rooftop/balcony storage
- Prohibited
- Outdoor storage setback
- At least 25 feet from building
- Fine
- $500 to $1,000 per day
Summary
A fixed home propane tank over 100 gallons' water capacity needs Chief Fire Marshal approval before installation, under Town Code § 30-101. Outdoor cylinders must sit at least 25 feet from any building in a vented or fenced enclosure, and none may be stored inside, on the roof, or on the balcony of an occupied home, per § 30-103.
Plans for all new fixed liquefied petroleum gas installations in excess of 100 gallons' water capacity must be submitted to the Chief Fire Marshal's office for approval prior to installation. ... The installation of containers or tanks in excess of 100 gallons' water capacity shall require the issuance of written permission by the Chief Fire Marshal. ... No liquefied petroleum gas system which requires written permission of the Chief Fire Marshal shall be utilized until an inspection of the same has been made by the Division of Fire Prevention and an appropriate certificate of compliance has been issued, except when the total aggregate capacity is 200 gallons' water capacity or less.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4966897; v79 updated 2026-05-28; through 05-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
Article XVII of the Fire Prevention chapter regulates liquefied petroleum gas (LP-gas or propane) storage and use townwide. ' A(4) then requires inspection by the Division of Fire Prevention and a certificate of compliance before the system is used, except when the total aggregate capacity is 200 gallons' water capacity or less. That threshold structure covers the common in-ground or above-ground propane tanks Long Island homeowners use for heat or cooking where natural gas is unavailable. E bars keeping propane containers 'inside or on the roof or balcony of any occupied building or in or on any construction attached to an occupied building,' and requires that outdoor storage 'be outside the building, at least 25 feet from any building,' housed in 'a noncombustible top and bottom vented structure or surrounded by a substantial metal fence enclosure' secured against unauthorized access. F, but that exception is aimed at retail display, not home storage.
Violations & Fines
Installing a fixed propane system without the required Chief Fire Marshal approval, or storing containers inside, on a roof, balcony, or closer than 25 feet to a building, is enforced under Chapter 30's general penalty section, § 30-16: a fine of $500 to $1,000 per day, up to 15 days' imprisonment, or both, plus a matching civil penalty of $500 to $1,000 per day the violation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a propane tank inside my Brookhaven garage?
When does a home propane tank need Town approval in Brookhaven?
How far from my house must an outdoor propane tank sit?
What happens if I install an oversized propane tank without approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brookhaven
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Propane Storage in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Suffolk County handle propane storage.