Corpus Christi, TX Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

Chapter 6 of the International Fire Code, adopted by the city with local amendments at Code of Ordinances Sec. 18-1, governs how much liquefied petroleum gas a property can keep on site. 1 puts all LP-gas storage, handling, transportation and equipment installation under this chapter and NFPA 58, subject to the fire official's approval. 1 requires the equipment itself to meet the International Fuel Gas Code and NFPA 58 unless the local chapter says otherwise. 2: within the limits established by law for protecting heavily populated or congested areas, no single LP-gas installation in Corpus Christi may hold more than a water capacity of 2,000 gallons, and no storage container at all may be installed, erected, or used above 150 water gallons, except in five listed situations.

Those exceptions cover installations accessory to service stations permitted under the zoning ordinance (up to 2,000 gallons), installations accessory to permitted industrial uses in industrial-zoned areas (up to 2,000 gallons, which the Fire Official may raise to as much as 8,000 gallons after weighing topography, occupancy, building proximity, tank capacity, private fire protection, and fire department access), installations in the heavy industry zoning district, containers used strictly for transportation, and any container over 150 gallons that first gets written approval from the Director of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Division of the Railroad Commission of Texas.

In practice this means a typical residential or small commercial LP-gas tank in the city cannot legally exceed 150 water gallons without qualifying for one of those exceptions and securing prior sign-off.