Pasco, WA Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

Propane storage in Pasco is governed by the International Fire Code (IFC) Chapter 61, adopted and amended through Pasco Municipal Code Chapter 16.65, rather than by a stand-alone city ordinance. The IFC and the National Fire Protection Association LP-Gas Code (NFPA 58) set the framework: small cylinders for household grills and portable heaters are allowed within size limits, while larger stationary tanks require proper siting, clearance from buildings and property lines, protection from vehicle impact, and in many cases a fire-department permit and inspection. For multi-family residential buildings, the IFC restricts LP-gas cooking devices and their containers on combustible balconies and within a set distance of combustible construction, which is why apartment and condo residents are often barred from storing larger propane cylinders on balconies. One- and two-family homes and fully sprinklered buildings have exceptions. The exact thresholds (container water capacity, aggregate storage quantities, and required clearances) are those of the adopted IFC edition; Pasco enforces those figures rather than substituting its own. Commercial propane storage, dispensing, and bulk plants require fire-code permits. Residents storing propane should keep cylinders upright, outdoors, away from heat and ignition sources, and out of enclosed living spaces. Because Pasco amends the IFC through Chapter 16.65, residents and businesses with significant LP-gas storage should confirm current permit thresholds and clearances with the Pasco Fire Department before installing tanks.