Minneapolis, MN Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit threshold
- 200 lbs of propane
- Enforcing agency
- Minneapolis Watershed Management Authority
- Registration exemption
- Residential buildings with 3 or fewer units
- Portable tank exemption
- Stored under 6 months, no permit
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor fine or jail time
Summary
Minneapolis requires a permit for any aboveground propane tank of 200 pounds or more, but exempts tanks stored under six months and small residential buildings from registration fees.
(a) No person(s) shall install, abandon, or remove any aboveground storage tank of two hundred (200) gallons (or pounds for propane) or more in size without first filing a tank installation, abandonment or removal application, paying the authority all permit fee(s) required by section 48.310, and obtaining the proper tank permit from the authority. ... (d) Liquid propane. Propane tanks used or stored at a single location for less than six (6) months shall be exempt from permitting requirements.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Under Chapter 48 of the city code, anyone installing, storing, or removing an aboveground propane tank of 200 pounds or more must file an application, pay a fee, and get a permit from the Minneapolis Watershed Management Authority before the tank goes in. Storage above that threshold also requires annual registration, though residential buildings with three or fewer dwelling units are exempt from the registration fee. Portable or seasonal tanks used or stored at one location for less than six months are exempt from both the permit and registration requirements. The authority can inspect any tank site before, during, and after installation.
Violations & Fines
Violating the tank permit and registration rules is a misdemeanor under § 1.30(a) -- fine or imprisonment up to the state maximum, each day a separate offense -- and the city may also add administrative enforcement under Chapter 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for my home propane tank?
Does a small residential building have to register its propane tank?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minneapolis
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