Indio, CA Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential aboveground tanks
- Fully prohibited
- Permit required
- City storage permit
- Generator exemption
- ≤500 gal, non-residential zones only
- Governing section
- Indio Municipal Code § 93.11
Summary
Indio prohibits aboveground flammable and combustible gas storage tanks, including propane, in all residential zones and requires a City storage permit anywhere else they're allowed.
(A) No person shall install, keep, maintain, or fill any aboveground storage vessel for the purpose of storing flammable/combustible liquids or gases.
(B) They must obtain a valid storage permit from the City.
(C) This section does not apply to emergency back-up generators utilizing fuel tank systems of five hundred (500) gallons or less located within any Public Owned/Controlled Lands (PF and PP) or Resort Commercial (CR) land use zones.
(D) Flammable/combustible liquids or gases may be stored in aboveground tanks at governmental facilities, emergency power plants and any golf course maintenance area located within a Commercial Resort (CR), Public Owned/Controlled Lands (PF and PP), Public/Private Golf Course (PPGC), Country Club Open Space (COS), and Public Owned Open Space (POS) land use zone or any agricultural operations.
(E) All storage tanks shall be screened so as to preclude viewing of the same from adjacent residences, public rights-of-way and golf courses (public or private).
(F) At no time shall aboveground storage tanks be installed in Residential Very Low Density (RVLD), Residential Low Density (RLD), Residential Medium Density (RMD), Residential Medium High Density (RMHD), Office Professional (OP), Commercial General (CG), Watercourse (WC) and Natural Preserve (NPR) Zones.
(G) All aboveground tanks shall meet the requirements of the current adopted editions of the California Fire Code and the California Building Standards Codes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4796010; v13 updated 2026-02-04; through 02-04-2026).
Full Breakdown
Indio Municipal Code § 93.11(A) bars anyone from installing, keeping, maintaining, or filling an aboveground storage vessel for flammable or combustible liquids or gases without a City storage permit under § 93.11(B). Subsection (F) goes further and flatly bans aboveground tanks, the category that covers home propane and LP-gas storage vessels, in every residential zone (RVLD, RLD, RMD, RMHD), plus Office Professional, Commercial General, Watercourse, and Natural Preserve zones. A narrow exception in § 93.11(C) allows emergency backup generator tanks of 500 gallons or less, but only on public land or in Resort Commercial zones, not in a residential neighborhood.
Violations & Fines
Installing or keeping an unpermitted aboveground storage tank violates § 93.11 and is enforceable under Chapter 93's penalty schedule at § 93.99: fines up to $1,000 or a misdemeanor for repeat violations on the same site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a large propane tank at my Indio house?
Is a small backup generator tank allowed at home?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Indio
California rules heatmap·Compare Indio to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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