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Pottstown, PA Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

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

Key Facts

Trigger size
499 gallons or more
Pad requirement
Poured, wire-reinforced concrete
Fence requirement
Height set by tank size
Signage required
'PROPANE, DANGER, NO SMOKING'
Governing section
§ 3404.3.2.4, Ch. 7

Summary

Pottstown's Fire Code amendments set installation standards for propane and other aboveground storage tanks holding 499 gallons of water capacity or more. Section 3404.3.2.4 requires a poured, wire-reinforced concrete pad, a protective fence sized to the tank, and posted warning signage reading 'PROPANE, DANGER, NO SMOKING' wherever a residential or commercial system exceeds that threshold.

Section 3404.3.2.4. Maintenance: Outside Installation — Aboveground — All tanks having a water capacity of 499 gallons or more. ... 3404.3.2.4.1. All installations shall be placed on a poured, wire-reinforced concrete pad. Thickness shall be determined by the weight of the tank. ... 3404.3.2.4.2. All tank installations must have a protective fence installed with the height to be determined by the size of the tank. ... 3404.3.2.4.3. Proper warning signs must be provided, including the following: "U.M. NUMBERS: PROPANE, DANGER, NO SMOKING." If in an area of a parking lot, "NO PARKING"; if in a parking area, proper bumper or bollards must be installed.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5012545; v22 updated 2026-07-13; through 07-13-2026).

Full Breakdown

4, Maintenance: Outside Installation, Aboveground, sits within § 203, Additions and Amendments to Code, in the Fire Code Part of Chapter 7, adopted under Ordinance 2020 (May 8, 2006) and amended by Ordinance 2045 (November 13, 2007). It applies once a tank's water capacity reaches 499 gallons, the threshold for a residential bulk LP-gas installation rather than a barbecue cylinder. 4). 4 governs the larger, permanently sited bulk tanks the Fire Marshal inspects under the same Chapter 7 permit program.

Violations & Fines

The Fire Marshal enforces installation and maintenance defects, such as a missing pad, fence or required signage, as Fire Code violations. Chapter 7's Part 2 has no standalone fine, so Chapter 1, § 215 applies by default: $50 to $1,000 plus prosecution costs, up to 30 days in default of payment, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pottstown regulate the propane tank for my home's whole-house system?
Yes, if it holds 499 gallons of water capacity or more. Section 3404.3.2.4 requires a concrete pad sized to the tank's weight, a protective fence, and posted 'PROPANE, DANGER, NO SMOKING' signage, plus ongoing upkeep of the pad, fence and surrounding grass.
Is this the same rule as the ban on storing a barbecue propane tank indoors?
No. Section 308.3.1.2 bars storing small, 20-pound cylinders inside a dwelling or on a porch or balcony. Section 3404.3.2.4 is a separate, larger-scale rule covering permanently installed tanks of 499 gallons or more sited outside the building.
Who inspects propane tank installations in Pottstown?
The Fire Marshal, operating under the Licensing and Inspections Department, inspects installations for compliance with Chapter 7's Fire Code amendments. A missing pad, fence or sign is enforced through Chapter 1's default penalty: $50 to $1,000 plus costs.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Pottstown

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All Pottstown rules

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