Rock Hill, SC Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

Rock Hill adopts the 2018 International Fire Code through City Code Chapter 16 and the 2018 International Building Code, Residential Code, and Fuel Gas Code through City Code Chapter 10 (Buildings; Building Regulations), all as modified by the South Carolina Building Codes Council under Chapter 8 of the SC Code of Regulations (SC Reg 8-200 series). IFC Chapter 61 (Liquefied Petroleum Gases) is the operative chapter for propane and incorporates NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code) by reference at IFC Section 6101.2. NFPA 58 Table 6.4.1.1 governs above-ground LP-gas tank setbacks. For tanks with a water capacity of 125 gallons or less, the required minimum distance from any important building or property line is 10 feet. For tanks of 125 to 500 gallons water capacity, the minimum is 10 feet from buildings and 10 feet from any property line. For tanks of 501 to 2,000 gallons water capacity, the minimum is 25 feet from buildings and property lines. IFC Section 6109.13 caps aggregate LP-gas storage on Group R-3 (one- and two-family) lots at 500 pounds water capacity, which is approximately 125 gallons of propane. IFC Section 6109.7 prohibits LP-gas storage inside dwelling units and limits cylinders on combustible balconies of Group R-2 multifamily buildings to a single LP-gas cylinder with a water capacity of 2.7 pounds or less unless the building is fully sprinklered. Gas piping installation must additionally comply with the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC). South Carolina separately licenses the LP-gas industry through the SC Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board under S.C. Code Title 40 Chapter 82 (LPG Industry Regulation), which requires licensure of dealers, installers, and gas-piping contractors. Building permits for tank installations, gas-piping work, and gas-fired appliances are issued by the Rock Hill Permit Application Center (803-329-5590), and the Rock Hill Fire Marshal may require an IFC Section 105.6 operational permit for any LP-gas storage above the residential aggregate threshold or for commercial use.