St. Charles County, MO Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Storage cap
- 2,000 gallons water capacity per installation
- Governing code
- 2021 Fire Code, adopted by § 500.400
- Enforcing agency
- Fire Code Official, Div. of Building/Code Enforcement
- First-offense fine ceiling
- $200 combined with court costs
- Permit required
- Construction permit under Fire Code § 105.6
- Adopted
- Ordinance No. 17-061, July 5, 2017
Summary
St. Charles County's Fire Code caps liquefied petroleum gas storage under Section 6104.2: no single installation in the unincorporated county may hold more than 2,000 gallons of water capacity. The Fire Code Official, housed in the Division of Building and Code Enforcement, administers the limit through the adopted 2021 Fire Code as locally amended.
6104.2 Maximum capacity within established limits. As defined by the applicable ordinance of the fire district having competent jurisdiction restricting the storage of liquefied petroleum gas for the protection of heavily populated or congested areas, the aggregate capacity of any one (1) installation shall not exceed a water capacity of two thousand (2,000) gallons (7,570 L).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4863880; v61 updated 2026-05-11; through 05-11-2026).
Full Breakdown
400 adopts the 2021 St. " The rule sits in Chapter 61, Location of LP-Gas Containers, and applies wherever the fire district with jurisdiction has adopted the restriction; St. Charles County did so countywide through Ordinance No. 17-061 (adopted July 5, 2017) and updated the Fire Code most recently by Ordinance No. 25-085 (December 15, 2025). 6 before an LP-gas system can be installed, altered, or expanded on a property. Appeals of a Fire Code Official decision run through the Board of Appeals referenced in Section 108.
Because the limit is tied to total installation capacity rather than tank count, a property owner combining multiple tanks or cylinders into one supply system must keep the combined water capacity at or under 2,000 gallons; exceeding it turns an otherwise permitted residential or agricultural LP-gas setup into a code violation.
Violations & Fines
Violating the Fire Code, including the Section 6104.2 storage cap, is a misdemeanor under Section 109.4: each day a violation continues after notice has been served is a separate offense. Fines follow the escalating property-violation schedule in Section 109.4(1), starting at up to $200 combined with court costs for a first violation within twelve months and climbing to $450 for a fourth violation in the same period.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much propane can I store on unincorporated county property?
Do I need a permit to install a propane tank?
What happens if my LP-gas storage exceeds the limit?
Who enforces the LP-gas storage limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Charles County
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