Utah County, UT Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)

060's Defensible Space Requirements single out propane and fuel storage tanks for their own clearance standard, separate from the general grass, tree and dead-vegetation zones that apply to the rest of a WUI lot. ' In practice that means a homeowner with an above-ground propane or fuel tank must keep the ground cover inside a 10-foot circle around the tank cut low, and keep any overhanging tree or brush growth at least 3 feet clear of the top of the tank, so an ember cannot ladder from ground fuel or overhead branches into the tank's immediate area.

The requirement sits in the same section as the county's fire-hydrant clearance rule (3 feet on all sides, extending to the roadway) and its 50-foot dead-vegetation and tree-canopy standards, all reviewed by the Utah County Fire Marshal at the site-plan stage under the section's notification requirement. Because a fuel tank is a fixed hazard rather than a one-time construction feature, the clearance has to be maintained on an ongoing basis, not just verified when the building permit is issued; a Fire Marshal inspection after occupancy can cite a tank whose buffer has grown over.

The rule applies wherever the state's WUI overlay map places a Utah County parcel, and covers both bulk propane tanks used for whole-house heating or cooking and smaller fixed fuel tanks kept on a property.