Mount Vernon, NY Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Containers under 125 gal
- No aboveground setback required
- 125-500 gal containers
- 10 ft from buildings/lot lines
- 501-2,000 gal containers
- 25 ft from buildings/lot lines
- Multi-tank site (501+ gal total)
- Rules apply to combined capacity
- Vegetation clearance
- 10 ft around every container
Summary
Mount Vernon's Liquefied Petroleum Gases chapter fixes minimum setback distances for every propane container based on its water capacity, keyed to the nearest building and the adjoining lot line. Bigger tanks need more clearance, and containers must also be spaced apart from each other.
§ 162-5. Location of containers and regulating equipment. A. Each individual container shall be located with respect to the nearest building or group of buildings or lot line of adjoining property which may be built upon in accordance with Table 1: Table 1 Minimum Distances Water Capacity per Container (gallons) Underground Containers (feet) Aboveground Containers (feet) Between Aboveground Containers (feet) Less than 125 10 None None 125 to 250 10 10 None 251 to 500 10 10 3 501 to 2,000 25 25 3 ... If the aggregate water capacity of a multicontainer installation at a consumer site is 501 gallons or greater, the minimum distance shall comply with the appropriate portion of this table, applying the aggregate capacity rather than the capacity per container... F. Readily ignitable material, such as weeds and long dry grass, shall be removed within 10 feet of any container.
Full Breakdown
City Code § 162-5A requires every individual LP-gas container to sit a minimum distance from the nearest building, group of buildings, or lot line of adjoining property that could be built on, set by Table 1 according to water capacity. Containers under 125 gallons need no aboveground clearance at all, but underground containers still need 10 feet. Containers of 125 to 500 gallons need 10 feet from buildings and lot lines aboveground, with 3 feet required between containers over 250 gallons. Containers of 501 to 2,000 gallons need 25 feet from buildings and lot lines, both underground and aboveground, plus 3 feet between containers.
Larger installations scale up further: 50 feet for 2,001 to 30,000 gallons, with 5 feet between containers. If a homeowner or business has several containers on one site totaling 501 gallons or more, § 162-5A requires the distance rules to apply to the combined capacity, not each tank separately, and separate installations must be at least 25 feet apart. Section 162-5F requires clearing readily ignitable material, such as weeds and long dry grass, within 10 feet of any container. Section 162-1 separately requires all LP gas to be effectively odorized so a leak is detectable by smell, and § 162-2 requires container valves, regulators and connectors to carry Underwriters' Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized listing before installation.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 162 carries no chapter-specific fine, so the general Code penalty in § 1-4 applies: a fine of up to $250 or up to 15 days in jail for an individual, or up to $500 for a corporation, with each day a violation continues chargeable separately. The City can also bring a court action to compel compliance or enjoin an unsafe installation regardless of any fine paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a home propane tank be from my house in Mount Vernon?
Do multiple small propane tanks on one property get treated separately?
Does Mount Vernon require anything besides distance for propane tanks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mount Vernon
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