Anne Arundel County, MD Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger threshold
- 100 lbs water capacity (~10-gal LP)
- Requirement
- Permanent placard, 24-hr emergency phone number
- Readability
- Legible from 100 feet, 2-inch lettering
- Enforcement
- Fire Marshal Division, Class D civil offense
- First-violation fine
- $125 (up to $1,000 for repeats)
Summary
Anne Arundel County requires propane containers holding 100 pounds or more of water capacity to carry a permanent placard listing a 24-hour emergency phone number, readable from 100 feet, under the county's Fire Prevention Code.
Every container with an aggregate water capacity of 100 pounds or more (10 gallon lp-gas capacity, 43 1/2 lb cylinder) shall bear a placard or other suitable permanent sign that displays 24-hour emergency telephone number(s) of the gas supplier or a qualified representative capable of responding at any time in the event of an emergency involving the container. The sign or placard shall be designed so as to be capable of being read at a distance of not less than 100 feet, but in no case shall contain lettering less than 2 inches in height with a 3/8 inch wide stroke.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-93: County Code is current through May, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Anne Arundel County adopts NFPA 1, the Uniform Fire Code, as its Fire Prevention Code under § 15-3-104, then amends it with local additions. One amendment adds § 69.2.1.4.6, requiring any LP-gas container with 100 pounds or more of water capacity, about a 10-gallon tank, 43.5-pound cylinder, and up, to carry a permanent placard with a 24-hour emergency phone number for the gas supplier, legible from 100 feet in at least 2-inch lettering. It covers the 100-gallon-plus residential tanks common for home heating throughout the unincorporated county, including Glen Burnie and Severna Park; small 20-pound grill cylinders fall below the threshold.
Violations & Fines
Missing or noncompliant placards are enforced as a Class D civil offense under § 15-5-102(f): $125 for a first violation, $500 for a second, and $1,000 for a third or later violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to a small 20-pound BBQ propane cylinder?
Does this rule apply in Glen Burnie or Severna Park?
Who enforces this requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
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