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Gwinnett County, GA Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing standard
State LP-gas rules, ch. 120-3-16
Applies to
Bulk propane storage, unincorporated county
Enforcing agency
Fire Marshal's Office
First-offense fine
$250 minimum
Maximum daily fine
$1,000
Jail exposure
Up to 60 days
Appeal path
Written appeal plus fee to board of appeals

Summary

Anyone storing liquefied petroleum gas in bulk in unincorporated Gwinnett County must comply with both the county zoning resolution and the state fire safety commissioner's LP-gas rules under Georgia Rules and Regulations chapter 120-3-16. The county fire marshal's office enforces the requirement as part of the fire code, and violators face fines starting at $250 for a first offense and up to $1,000 per day thereafter.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Gwinnett County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Bulk storage of liquefied petroleum gas shall comply with the county zoning resolution, as amended, as well as rules promulgated by the safety fire commissioner of the state, as they may be amended, entitled Rules of the Safety Fire Commissioner, chapter 120-3-16, "Rules and Regulations for Liquefied Petroleum Gasses."

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9).

Full Breakdown

Section 42-26 of the Gwinnett County Code folds bulk LP-gas storage into the state's own safety rules rather than setting county-specific tank sizes or setback numbers: any bulk propane storage must comply with the county zoning resolution and with the Rules and Regulations for Liquefied Petroleum Gasses issued by the state safety fire commissioner, chapter 120-3-16. §§ 25-2-4 and 25-2-12 (§ 42-19) and which the code states prevails over other local codes on matters of life safety (§ 42-20). The fire code is enforced by the county department of fire and emergency services or by county or municipal police officers (§ 42-21), with technical review and inspection handled by the fire prevention section under the fire marshal, who is appointed by the chief of fire and emergency services (§ 42-23).

A property owner who cannot meet the LP-gas storage standard as written is not without recourse: § 42-27 lets a committee of the fire marshal, assistant fire marshal, and fire planning manager approve an equivalent alternative design if the applicant submits technical documentation proving it is just as safe, and § 42-28 lets anyone appeal a fire marshal decision in writing, with a fee set by the county's land development and other services fee schedule, ultimately to the board of construction adjustments and appeals. Because the rule incorporates a state regulation by reference, installers and inspectors both look to the chapter 120-3-16 state text, not a locally drafted tank-distance table, to size and place bulk containers.

Violations & Fines

A violation of the LP-gas storage rule is enforced under § 42-22's fire-code penalty: a minimum $250 fine for a first offense and a minimum $500 fine for each later offense, capped at $1,000 per day, imprisonment up to 60 days, or both. Each day a noncompliant storage setup continues counts as a separate violation. The fire marshal can also order work to stop immediately and can revoke a permit obtained through a false statement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Gwinnett County set its own tank-size rules for propane storage?
No. Section 42-26 sends bulk LP-gas storage straight to the county zoning resolution and to the state fire safety commissioner's Rules and Regulations for Liquefied Petroleum Gasses, chapter 120-3-16, rather than writing separate county distance or capacity tables of its own.
Who enforces the LP-gas storage rule in Gwinnett County?
The county department of fire and emergency services enforces it through the fire prevention section, along with county or municipal police officers under § 42-21. Inspections and plan review run through the fire marshal's office before bulk storage installations are approved.
What happens if a bulk propane installation does not meet the standard?
It is a fire-code violation under § 42-22, carrying a minimum $250 fine for a first offense, $500 for later offenses, up to $1,000 per day, up to 60 days in jail, or both. The fire marshal can also issue a stop-work order until the installation is brought into compliance.
Can I ask for an exception to the standard LP-gas storage requirements?
Yes. Section 42-27 lets a committee of the fire marshal, assistant fire marshal, and fire planning manager approve an alternative system if you submit technical documentation showing it is equally safe, and § 42-28 lays out a written appeal process, with a fee, up through the board of construction adjustments and appeals.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Gwinnett County

All Gwinnett County rules

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