Farmington Hills, MI Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

Propane and LPG storage in Farmington Hills follows the 2015 Michigan Fire Code Chapter 61 (Liquefied Petroleum Gases), which adopts NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code) by reference and is administered locally by the Farmington Hills Fire Department Fire Prevention Division (248-871-2820) and the Farmington Hills Building Department. The 2015 Michigan Building Code, 2015 Michigan Residential Code, and 2015 Michigan Fire Code were all adopted under the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, MCL 125.1502, which preempts local building/fire code amendments that conflict with the state baseline; Michigan has not yet moved to the 2018 or 2021 ICC cycles. Key NFPA 58 / Michigan Fire Code Chapter 61 rules as they apply in Farmington Hills: (1) propane cylinders used with residential gas grills (typically 20-lb DOT cylinders) must be located outdoors and at least 10 feet from any building openings (windows, doors, vents) and ventilation intakes when in storage or in use; (2) spare 20-lb cylinders should be stored upright outdoors, not in a basement or attached garage (basement storage is prohibited because propane is heavier than air and will accumulate in low areas); (3) for stationary residential LPG tanks (125-gallon nominal and larger commonly used for whole-home heating, swimming pool heaters, or generator fuel), NFPA 58 Table 6.4.1.1 sets minimum distances: 125-500 gallon water capacity tanks must be 10 feet from any important building, line of adjoining property that may be built on, or sources of ignition; 501-2,000 gallon tanks must be 25 feet. A Farmington Hills Building Department permit is required for installation under the 2015 Michigan Mechanical Code. (4) Outdoor grills must be operated and stored outdoors at single-family homes; for multi-family properties, the Michigan Fire Code restricts outdoor grilling on combustible balconies above the first story (the city's official guidance is to consult the Fire Prevention Division for property-specific rules). Bulk LPG dispensing, retail propane exchange cages, and commercial installations require state-level Bureau of Fire Services licensing under PA 207 of 1941 (the Michigan Fire Prevention Code) and local permitting through the Farmington Hills Fire Marshal. Note that Michigan LPG safety oversight is centralized at LARA Bureau of Fire Services rather than at the Department of Agriculture as in some other states.