Southampton, NY Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Flammable gas permit trigger
- 2,000 gal individual / 4,000 aggregate
- Nonflammable gas trigger
- 10,000 gal individual / 20,000 aggregate
- Residential LPG install
- 1-2 family homes exempt
- Permit issuer
- Fire Marshal
- First offense fine
- up to $250
Summary
Storing more than 2,000 gallons of propane or other liquefied gas at one location, or 4,000 gallons in aggregate, requires a Fire Marshal permit in the Town of Southampton outside the villages under Town Code § 164-5A(3), part of the Chapter 164 hazardous-materials permit system.
A. A permit must be obtained from the Fire Marshal to conduct any of the following operations ... (3) Compressed and liquefied gases. (a) More than 2,000 gallons' individual water capacity or an aggregate water capacity of 4,000 gallons of flammable compressed gases. ... (d) More than 2,000 gallons' individual water capacity or an aggregate water capacity of 4,000 gallons of flammable liquefied gas.
Full Breakdown
Section 164-5A(3) lists "Compressed and liquefied gases" among the operations needing a Fire Marshal permit, setting thresholds: more than 2,000 gallons' individual or 4,000 gallons' aggregate water capacity of flammable compressed gases (subsection a); more than 10,000/20,000 gallons for nonflammable compressed gases (b); any temporary installation of flammable compressed gases at a place of public assembly (c); and more than 2,000/4,000 gallons of flammable liquefied gas (d), the category covering bulk residential propane storage. Separately, § 164-5A(13) requires a permit for "Installation of LPG system," but that clause itself notes "one- and two-family homes exempt," so a typical residential propane tank install for a single house does not need this particular permit; only the larger bulk-storage thresholds in (3) trigger Fire Marshal review regardless of building type.
Applications go to the Fire Marshal on Town forms with Town Board-set fees (§ 164-5F, § 164-5O), are nontransferable and location-specific (§ 164-5B), and a denial can be appealed to the Town Board within 15 days (§ 164-5N(1)). The Chief Fire Marshal and Fire Marshals enforce the requirement and may summarily abate conditions presenting an immediate fire hazard (§ 164-4H). Section 164-6.4 separately makes hazardous accumulations of flammable material unlawful but expressly exempts "oil tanks, propane tanks, or other fuel storage structures for which a valid permit from the Southampton Town Building Department and/or Southampton Town Fire Marshal's office has been issued," so a properly permitted tank is not itself a violation.
Violations & Fines
Storing propane above the permit thresholds without Fire Marshal authorization is a Chapter 164 violation under § 164-6.5A-B: a first offense is punishable by a fine up to $250, a second up to $500, and a third or later offense up to $1,000 or up to 15 days in jail, or both, with each day counted separately; an unpermitted hazardous accumulation can instead be charged as an unclassified misdemeanor carrying a $1,000 to $3,000 fine under § 164-6.4C.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much propane can I store in Southampton before I need a permit?
Does installing a home propane tank need a separate Town permit?
Can an unpermitted propane tank be cited as a hazardous accumulation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Southampton
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