Raleigh, NC Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Regulated tank range
- 40 lbs to 2,000 gallons
- Adopted standard
- NFPA 58, current edition
- State rule adopted
- N.C. Admin. Code Tit. 2, Ch. 38, Rule .0701(1)
- Bulk LP storage
- Industrial zoning only
- Enforcing office
- Office of the Fire Marshal
- Exposed valves
- Must be hooded or protected
Summary
Raleigh regulates liquid propane (LP) gas tanks from 40-pound cylinders up to 2,000-gallon containers under City Code § 2038, adopting NFPA 58 and the state LP-gas administrative code by reference for installation, handling and maintenance. Bulk LP-gas storage is also barred outside industrial-zoned areas.
Sec. 5-2038. - REGULATION OF LIQUID PROPANE GAS TANKS. (a) Definitions. (1) L.P. (liquefied petroleum) gas shall mean and include any materials having a vapor pressure not exceeding that allowed for commercial propane... (2) L.P. tank shall mean container; any tank or container ranging from forty (40) pounds normal L.P. gas capacity to two thousand (2,000) gallons used for the storage or handling of L.P. gas. ... (b) Adoption by Reference. ... (2) National Fire Protection Association, Pamphlet No. 58, current edition of 'Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases,' with the following exceptions: a. When two (2) or more containers are manifold to a single service, each container shall be considered independent of the other...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 69).
Full Breakdown
gas (§ 5-2038(a)). C. gas containers from 1 pound up to 2,000 gallons, and the current edition of NFPA Pamphlet No. 58, 'Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases,' with two local exceptions: where two or more containers are manifolded to a single service, each container is treated independently under the single-container rules, and all cutoff valves and regulating equipment exposed to rain, sleet, or snow must be protected by design or by a hood (§ 5-2038(b)). Separately, § 5-2037(c) restricts bulk storage of liquid petroleum gas to areas zoned for industrial use, prohibiting new bulk LP storage anywhere else in the City.
Permits for the related fire-prevention activities are issued by the Office of the Fire Marshal under § 5-2038(a)(3), and enforcement of the whole Fire Prevention Code falls to that office under § 5-2034.
Violations & Fines
LP-gas installations that don't meet NFPA 58 or the adopted state administrative code, or bulk LP storage sited outside an industrial zoning district in violation of § 5-2037(c), are Fire Prevention Code violations enforced by the Office of the Fire Marshal; the Fire Marshal can withhold or revoke required fire-prevention permits until a facility corrects noncompliant tank installation, valve protection, or siting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size propane tanks does Raleigh regulate?
What installation standard applies to home propane tanks?
Can I store bulk propane at a home or business in Raleigh?
Are there special rules for multiple tanks connected together?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Raleigh
Compare Raleigh to another location·View the North Carolina fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.