Little Rock, AR Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 12-5, Little Rock Code
- Rule
- Aboveground LP-gas tanks banned in fire districts
- Grandfather clause
- Pre-1990 compliant tanks exempted
- Farm/industrial exemption
- 150 ft from property lines, 5+ acres
- Max fine
- $1,000 plus $500/day continuing violation
Summary
Little Rock bans aboveground liquefied petroleum gas storage tanks in the city's designated fire districts, though tanks installed before the 1990 ordinance and compliant with state LP-gas equipment rules are grandfathered in.
The storage of liquefied petroleum gases in aboveground tanks is prohibited in any of the designated fire districts of the city provided that this prohibition shall not apply to tanks existing upon the passage of this section which are installed in compliance with the requirements of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code and the State Code, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Container and Equipment.(c)Nothing in this section shall prohibit the use of Class II liquids in outside aboveground tanks having capacities of less than six hundred (600) gallons for temporary use. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the storage of fuels for farm, factory or industrial use, fleet servicing of private vehicles on sites five (5) acres or more in size with tanks located a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) feet from common property lines or adjacent rights-of-way. (Ord. No. 15,854, §§ 1—3, 4-17-90)
Editor's note— Nonamendatory Ord. No. 15,854, §§ 1—3, adopted Apr. 17, 1990, has been codified herein by the editor as § 12-5.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 83).
Full Breakdown
Little Rock's fire code (Sec. 12-5) bars anyone from storing liquefied petroleum gas in aboveground tanks within the city's designated fire districts, unless the tank predates the 1990 ordinance and meets Arkansas Fire Prevention Code and state LP-gas container standards. The same section requires aboveground tanks for Class I and Class II flammable and combustible liquids to meet Arkansas Fire Prevention Code or NFPA 30 standards, and lets the fire chief order removal of any tank found to be a safety hazard. Farm, industrial, and fleet-servicing tanks on five-plus-acre sites are exempt if kept 150 feet from property lines.
Violations & Fines
Violating the fire-district LP-gas storage ban carries a fine up to $1,000 under the city's general penalty section, plus up to $500 per day the violation continues; the fire chief can also order a noncompliant tank removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a propane tank at my Little Rock home?
Is there a size limit for small propane tanks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Little Rock
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