Hendersonville, TN Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

Tennessee preempts most local LP-gas regulation through the Liquefied Petroleum Safety Act of Tennessee (TCA Title 68, Chapter 135) and Tennessee Rules 0780-02-17, which adopt NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code) as the Tennessee LP-Gas Code. The State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) within the Department of Commerce and Insurance licenses LP-gas dealers, transporters, installers, and bulk facilities; TCA 68-135-108 governs container marking and restrictions on use of another owner's containers. Locally, the Hendersonville Fire Department enforces Chapter 61 (Liquefied Petroleum Gases) of the 2021 International Fire Code adopted under Title 7 of the Hendersonville Municipal Code effective July 1, 2025 (the prior adopted edition was the 2018 IFC effective June 13, 2017). Practical implications in Hendersonville: residential ASME stationary tanks have NFPA 58 separation distances that scale with tank size - for example, a tank of 125 to 500 gallons water capacity requires a minimum 10-ft separation from important buildings and from the line of adjoining property that may be built upon. Where a single LP-gas container exceeds 2,000 gallons water capacity, or the aggregate water capacity of LP-gas containers on the site exceeds 4,000 gallons, the installer must submit construction documents under NFPA 58 and the Tennessee LP-Gas Code. Per IFC Chapter 61 Section 6104.2 and NFPA 58, LP-gas containers larger than 2.5 lb water capacity may not be located or used on combustible balconies of multi-family buildings (1- and 2-family dwellings and fully sprinklered buildings are exempt); the standard 20-lb barbecue cylinder is therefore generally prohibited on apartment balconies. Indoor use of LP-gas cylinders larger than 1 lb is restricted under the IFC and NFPA 58. The Hendersonville Fire Marshal's Office (615-822-1119) reviews larger installations and refilling stations through the City's permit process; the Fire Prevention Bureau also issues Hood Suppression, Paint Booth, and Clean Agent permits and Fire Sprinkler permits relevant to commercial LP-gas connected systems.