Skagit County, WA Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SCC 14.34.150(6)(c)
- Applies to
- Above-ground LPG and heating oil tanks
- Where it applies
- Mapped special flood hazard areas only
- Civil penalty
- Up to $1,000/day per violation
- Related permit
- Floodplain project permit, SCC 14.34.100
Summary
In special flood hazard areas of unincorporated Skagit County, SCC 14.34.150(6)(c) requires every above-ground propane (LPG) and home heating oil tank to be adequately supported and anchored to the ground so floodwaters or floating debris cannot collapse, overturn, displace, or float it away.
All propane (LPG) and home heating oil tanks located above-ground shall be adequately supported and anchored to the ground in such a way that will prevent collapse, overturning, displacement or flotation resulting from floodwaters or waterborne debris.
Full Breakdown
150(6) sets anchoring standards for new construction and substantial improvements within a mapped special flood hazard area, and subsection (c) singles out fuel tanks: all propane (LPG) and home heating oil tanks located above-ground must be adequately supported and anchored to the ground in a way that prevents collapse, overturning, displacement, or flotation from floodwaters or waterborne debris. This sits alongside the chapter's broader anchoring rules, which require all new construction and substantial improvements to be anchored against flotation, collapse, or lateral movement, and require manufactured homes to sit on a permanent, anchored foundation with independent footings at least 12 inches below pre-development grade.
050, not to LP-gas storage county-wide; a propane tank on a lot outside a mapped flood zone is not reached by this section. 140 apply to the broader project the tank serves.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the SCC Chapter 14.34 anchoring requirement, including an unanchored above-ground propane or heating oil tank in a special flood hazard area, exposes the property owner to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per day per violation under SCC 14.09.330(2)(c). The Director may also issue a stop work or administrative order under SCC 14.09.220, and the property owner is jointly and severally liable for penalties and site restoration under SCC 14.09.120(4).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unincorporated Skagit County require propane tanks to be anchored?
Does this anchoring rule apply to every propane tank in unincorporated Skagit County?
What happens if a propane tank in a flood zone is not anchored?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Skagit County
Compare Skagit County to another location·View the Washington fire regulations overview
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