Norwalk, CT Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

Norwalk's Building Zone Regulations address propane storage inside the use table for Industrial Zone No. 1 (Code § 118-700). Under § 118-700B(1)(n), a property owner may operate propane gas storage of 30,000 gallons or less, natural gas storage of 30,000 cubic feet or less, and oil or petroleum storage of 20,000 gallons or less as a by-right principal use, with no discretionary review beyond an ordinary zoning permit. Cross the 30,000-gallon propane line (or the matching natural gas and 20,000-gallon petroleum thresholds) and the use converts to a Special Permit use under § 118-700B(2)(c), reviewed by the Zoning Commission under the standards of § 118-1450, Special Permits, and the Schedule Limiting Height and Bulk of Buildings, Commercial and Industrial.

Any storage facility with 20,000 square feet or more of floor area, or one requiring 50 or more parking spaces, additionally triggers site plan review under § 118-1451. These thresholds are written specifically into the Industrial Zone No. 1 table; the code does not carry a parallel by-right propane allowance for business, residential or other industrial zones, so a proposed facility outside Industrial Zone No. 1 is evaluated under that district's own use list rather than this 30,000-gallon figure.