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Lake County, CA Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing standard
NFPA Standard 58
Section
Lake County Code Sec. 5-6.17
Parallel rule
Fuel oil tanks follow NFPA 31 (Sec. 5-6.18)
Zoning siting rule
Art. 42, Sec. 42.9(g) tank placement
Max penalty
$500 fine and/or 6 months jail

Summary

Lake County requires every liquefied petroleum gas installation in the unincorporated area to meet NFPA Standard 58, the national safety code for LP-gas storage and handling. The rule sits in the same building-regulations chapter that governs fuel oil tanks and applies on top of the adopted California Fire and Building Codes.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Lake County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

6.1.7 [6.17] All liquefied petroleum gas installations shall comply with the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) Standard 58 for the storage and handling of LP Gas.

Full Breakdown

Sec. 17]') states that 'All liquefied petroleum gas installations shall comply with the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) Standard 58 for the storage and handling of LP Gas,' incorporating that national standard's siting, container spacing and installation rules by reference into county law. The neighboring Sec. 18 applies the parallel NFPA Standard 31 to fuel oil tanks and appliance installations, showing the county's consistent approach of adopting national fuel-storage safety standards rather than writing its own numeric limits. LP-gas installations remain subject to the county's other adopted codes as well, including the 2022 California Fire Code adopted at Sec.

5-4F and the 2022 California Building Code adopted at Sec. 5-4A, both enforced through the same building permit and inspection process run by the Building and Safety Division. The Lake County Zoning Ordinance separately addresses where a residential propane tank can sit on the lot: Article 42, Sec. 9(g) allows propane tanks in a front yard or other required yard area 'provided that they are located consistent with the Uniform Fire Code and the Uniform Building Code,' and allows them to be screened from view when placed in a front yard.

Violations & Fines

An LP-gas installation that does not comply with NFPA Standard 58, or with the Fire and Building Codes adopted elsewhere in Chapter 5, is enforced through the same Sec. 5-14 noncompliance process as any other Chapter 5 violation, with 30 days to correct after notice. The chapter-wide penalty at Sec. 5-14.7 makes the underlying violation an infraction with a fine up to $100, or a misdemeanor with a fine up to $500 and up to six months in County Jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What standard governs propane tank installation in Lake County?
Sec. 5-6.17 of the Lake County Code requires all liquefied petroleum gas installations to comply with NFPA Standard 58, the national code for LP-gas storage and handling.
Can I put my propane tank in my front yard?
The Zoning Ordinance, Article 42, Sec. 42.9(g), allows propane tanks in a front or other required yard provided they are located consistent with the Uniform Fire Code and Uniform Building Code, and they may be screened from view there.
Does the same rule cover home heating oil tanks?
Fuel oil tanks and appliance installations follow a parallel standard, Sec. 5-6.18, which requires compliance with NFPA Standard 31 for oil-burning equipment rather than NFPA 58.
What happens if my LP-gas setup doesn't meet code?
It's enforced like any other Chapter 5 violation: the Chief Building Official can issue a noncompliance notice under Sec. 5-14 with 30 days to fix it, and Sec. 5-14.7 sets penalties up to a $500 fine and six months in jail.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lake County

All Lake County rules

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