El Dorado County, CA Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

3 for snow-load areas of 100 pounds or more, covering all new liquefied petroleum gas installations and existing installations reconnected after an unscheduled service interruption. Two-stage regulator systems are mandatory. The first stage regulator installs under the tank's hinged gauge cover with its atmospheric pressure aperture pointed downward, plumbed to the yard piping riser with soft copper tubing so the tank can shift without breaking the line, and that riser must sit within 12 inches of the tank walls. The second stage regulator and riser go under the building eave, braced to the wall about ten inches below the regulator to resist lateral snow and ice loads, and need a protective cover approved by both the gas supplier and the Building Official.

Riser pipes cannot be embedded in concrete; any surrounding concrete must be held back at least one inch. At building permit application for any LPG system, the applicant must submit a three-copy plot plan showing tank location, proposed tank capacity in gallons, yard piping route, riser location, property boundaries, and building outlines and roofline, with the third copy forwardable to the local fire district as an emergency locator map. The tank centerline must be permanently marked with snow stakes at each end, tall enough to show above maximum anticipated snow depth, and maintaining those stakes is the LPG user's responsibility. Propane appliances and accessories cannot be installed below the first floor level or below grade.