Issaquah, WA Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Capacity cap
- 2,000 gallons water capacity per installation
- What is capped
- Aggregate capacity of any one installation
- Who can alter the limit
- The fire code official, in particular installations
- Factors weighed
- Topography, occupancy, proximity to buildings, tank size, fire protection
- Governing section
- IMC 16.06.215, amending IFC Section 6104.2
- Penalty
- IMC 16.06.240: up to $1,000 fine or 90 days
Summary
In Issaquah, the aggregate capacity of any one liquefied petroleum gas installation cannot exceed 2,000 gallons water capacity under IMC 16.06.215, which amends International Fire Code Section 6104.2. The fire code official can alter that limit for a particular installation after weighing site and fire protection factors the section lists.
6104.2 Maximum Capacity. Within the limits established by law restricting the storage of liquefied petroleum gas for the protection of heavily populated or congested commercial areas, the aggregate capacity of any one installation shall not exceed 2,000 gallons water capacity, except that in particular installations this capacity limit may be altered at the discretion of the fire code official after consideration of special features such as topographical conditions, nature of occupancy and proximity to buildings, capacity of proposed tanks, degree of private fire protection to be provided, and facilities of the local fire department. The storage of liquefied petroleum gas shall conform to the provisions of other city ordinances that may apply.
Full Breakdown
Issaquah adopts the 2021 International Fire Code in IMC 16.06.010 and rewrites IFC Section 6104.2, Maximum capacity, in IMC 16.06.215. The city rule sets a hard number: the aggregate capacity of any one installation shall not exceed 2,000 gallons water capacity. Water capacity is the container's rated volume if it were filled with water, the measure the fire code uses for LP-gas tanks, and the limit counts every container in a single installation together rather than tank by tank.
The limit is written to apply within the limits established by law restricting the storage of liquefied petroleum gas for the protection of heavily populated or congested commercial areas. The text does not itself map those areas, so an owner who wants to know whether a property falls inside one has to ask the city.
The cap is not absolute. The fire code official can alter the capacity limit at his or her discretion in particular installations, after considering these printed factors: topographical conditions, nature of occupancy, proximity to buildings, capacity of proposed tanks, degree of private fire protection to be provided, and facilities of the local fire department. In practice that makes the decision site specific, and an applicant seeking a larger installation is asking the fire code official to weigh how close the tanks are to buildings and how much on-site protection will be provided.
The section closes by tying LP-gas storage to the rest of the city code: the storage of liquefied petroleum gas shall conform to the provisions of other city ordinances that may apply. Installation standards sit elsewhere. IMC 16.04.020 states that the standards for liquefied petroleum gas installations under the residential code are regulated under 2020 NFPA 58, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, and 2021 NFPA 54, the National Fuel Gas Code. The 2,000 gallon figure is a ceiling on any one installation, set separately from those installation standards.
Violations & Fines
A violation of chapter 16.06 with no specific penalty is a misdemeanor under IMC 16.06.240, punishable on conviction by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both, and every day or portion of a day during which the violation continues is a separate offense. Under IMC 16.06.230, the Fire Code Official and designated Fire Department personnel approved by the City Administrator can issue infractions for violations of the International Fire Code, and criminal violations can be enforced by any regular or reserve police officer of the Police Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much LP-gas can be stored at one Issaquah installation?
Who can approve more than 2,000 gallons?
Does this section say which areas are restricted?
Do other city rules apply to LP-gas storage?
What happens if a tank installation exceeds the limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Issaquah
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