Texas City, TX Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

The Liquefied Petroleum Gas subchapter of the Texas City Code of Ordinances, §§ 96.15 through 96.19, is short and specific. Section 96.18 is the storage rule: storage of any liquefied petroleum gases in any container, either above ground or underground, is prohibited inside of or underneath any building in the city. The rule is not limited by container size or by the type of building, so a cylinder kept in a garage, basement or crawl space falls inside the prohibition as written.

Section 96.16 governs the equipment. Anyone who installs or equips any residence, business house, apartment house or other building with equipment must use only a standard grade of pipe or piping, and all appliances must be a standard grade and type. Any system that uses any form of manufactured or liquefied petroleum gases must bear the label of approval or listing of Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.

Section 96.17 covers installation and repair. Equipment must be installed or repaired in a workmanlike manner that complies with all laws and the regulations of the city, the regulations of the fire code adopted by § 96.01, and the regulations recommended by the National Fire Protection Association. Equipment cannot be placed in operation or used until the City Inspector approves the installation, and the installer pays an inspection fee set by the City Commission for each piece of equipment when requesting the inspection. Section 96.19 requires all liquefied petroleum gas sold within the city to be treated with a malodorant so leaks are easily detected.

Fire code permits sit on top of this. Section 96.02(D) lists storage and dispensing of liquefied gas among the operational permits, and the Exhibit A fee schedule prints storage or dispensing of compressed gas and liquified gas at $50 ea.