Fresno County, CA Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Installation standard
- NFPA 58 for all residential LP-gas containers
- Large-tank threshold
- 125 gallons or greater
- Buffer if near access
- 25 feet of fire-resistant hardscaping minimum
- Alternative
- Underground installation by approved means
- Governing section
- Fresno County Code § 15.60.560
Summary
Fresno County requires residential liquified propane storage tanks to be installed to NFPA 58 standards, and any tank of 125 gallons or more has to stay clear of the property's fire protection access unless site conditions leave no alternative. Tanks kept near access have to be buried or ringed with 25 feet of fire-resistant hardscaping.
A.Residential liquified propane storage containers shall be installed in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 58.B.Liquified propane storage containers 125 gallons and greater shall not be located in front of property fire protection access unless property characteristics do not allow for other location and:1.Installed underground by approved means or,2.Installed in compliant building and property line setback area with a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet of concrete or asphalt paving or other accepted flame-resistant hardscaping around the perimeter on the tank.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
60's wildfire protection standards, sets two requirements for residential liquified propane storage. Subsection A requires every residential LP-gas storage container to be installed in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standard 58, the industry code governing LP-gas storage, handling and use nationwide. Subsection B addresses larger tanks specifically: any container of 125 gallons or greater cannot be located in front of the property's fire protection access unless the property's own characteristics leave no other location available. Where a large tank has to sit near that access, the property owner has two compliant options: install the tank underground by an approved method, or install it within a compliant building and property-line setback area, surrounded by a minimum of twenty-five feet of concrete, asphalt paving, or other accepted flame-resistant hardscaping around the tank's perimeter.
550. The propane rule was adopted by Ordinance No. 23-001 on February 28, 2023, as part of the county's broader wildfire-hazard building standards for the unincorporated area.
Violations & Fines
Installing a residential propane tank that does not meet NFPA 58, or placing a 125-gallon-or-larger tank in front of fire protection access without the required underground installation or twenty-five-foot hardscaped buffer, is a building code violation under Chapter 15.60. The county can withhold building permit approval or final inspection sign-off until the tank's placement and installation are brought into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size propane tank triggers Fresno County's fire-access rule?
How far does the hardscaping buffer have to extend around a large propane tank?
Does Fresno County have its own propane installation standard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno County
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