Hillsborough County, FL Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard placement
- Not permitted
- Max rear yard projection
- 5 feet
- Max side yard projection
- 3 ft or 50%, stricter
- Classified as
- Mechanical equipment
Summary
Hillsborough County treats residential propane tanks as mechanical equipment under its Land Development Code: they cannot sit in a required front yard, and can project only limited distances into required side and rear yards.
Mechanical equipment, such as air conditioning units, pumps, heating equipment, propane tanks, electrical generators and similar installations, may not project into the required front yard(s), but may project five feet into the required rear yard(s), and three feet or no more than 50 percent of the required side yard(s), whichever is more restrictive.
4. Covered patios, as defined in Article XII, may intrude no more than 13 feet into the required rear yard and shall not intrude into the required side or front yards except as listed below. In no case shall the permitted intrusion of the covered patio reduce the yard provided to less than ten feet.
Supp. No. 54 VI-17 § 6.01.03 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE
Figure 6.2, Location of Accessory Structures in Front Yards
5. For through lots, a covered patio may intrude 13 feet into the required front yard which functions as a rear yard and has no access to a street. In no case shall the permitted intrusion of the covered patio reduce the yard provided to less than ten feet.
6. Patios enclosed by a screen-meshed structure without a solid roof that is attached to the primary building may intrude into required rear and side yards provided a minimum setback of three feet is provided. Such patios shall not intrude into
Full Breakdown
Sec. 6.01.03.I.3 classifies propane tanks with air conditioning units, pumps, heating equipment and generators as mechanical equipment. Such equipment cannot project into a required front yard at all. It can project up to 5 feet into a required rear yard, and up to 3 feet or 50 percent of the required side yard, whichever is more restrictive. The rule governs placement relative to yard setback lines, not tank capacity or fire-safety clearance, which fall under the Florida Fire Prevention Code and NFPA 58.
Violations & Fines
Installing a propane tank in a required front yard, or beyond the permitted rear/side yard intrusion, is a zoning violation; the county can require the tank relocated to a compliant location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put my propane tank in the front yard in Hillsborough County?
Does this section limit how large a propane tank I can have?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hillsborough County
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