Walla Walla County, WA Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- External tank allowed only if
- Onboard propane tank disabled first
- Pressure valve
- Installed by propane supplier, matched rating
- Location
- Clear of pathways/parking pads, secured to ground
- Applies to
- RVs as primary residence in mobile home parks
- Permit required
- Installation permit, Section 15.08.040
- First-offense penalty
- $100 civil infraction (WWCC 15.08.080)
Summary
Recreational vehicles used as a primary residence in a mobile or manufactured home park in unincorporated Walla Walla County cannot add an external propane tank unless the RV's onboard tank is disabled and the external tank carries a pressure valve matched to the onboard tank's rating. External tanks must stay clear of pathways and parking pads and be secured to the ground.
Recreational vehicles may not be used as a primary and/or permanent residence unless located in a mobile/manufactured home park. ... E.No external propane tanks will permitted unless the onboard propane tank is disabled and the external tank is fitted with a pressure valve installed by a propane supplier to equal the pressure value rating of the onboard propane tank.F.External propane tanks must be located out of vehicle pathways or parking pads. External propane tanks must be secured to the ground to prevent overturning or damage to the line supplying the propane to the recreational vehicle.
Full Breakdown
Walla Walla County Code Section 15.08.075 sets the fire and installation standards for a recreational vehicle used as a primary or permanent residence, which the county code allows only inside an approved mobile or manufactured home park, never on an ordinary residential lot. Parts E and F of that section govern external propane storage for those RVs. An external propane tank is not permitted at all unless the RV's own onboard tank has first been disabled, and the replacement external tank must be fitted with a pressure valve, installed by a propane supplier, matched to the pressure rating of the disabled onboard tank.
Once installed, the external tank has to sit outside any vehicle pathway or parking pad on the site and be secured to the ground so it cannot overturn or damage the line feeding propane to the RV. These propane rules sit alongside the section's other fire and safety conditions for RVs used as year-round housing: a three-foot by three-foot landing at any entrance reached by more than two steps, protected water and sewer connections, schedule 40 PVC drain lines, and freeze protection for holding tanks.
The Walla Walla County Community Development Department's building official reviews all of this at the installation permit stage under Section 15.08.040 and can require inspections to confirm compliance before occupancy, with permit fees set under Chapter 3.08.
Violations & Fines
Placing or occupying an RV, manufactured home or commercial coach without a permit, or in violation of Chapter 15.08's requirements including the propane standards in Section 15.08.075(E)-(F), is a civil infraction under Section 15.08.080. The Walla Walla County sheriff, the public health administrator, the community development director or the prosecuting attorney can issue the citation. The penalty is one hundred dollars for a first offense and up to two hundred fifty dollars for each later offense within five years, with each day of violation counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a second propane tank to my RV if I live in it full time?
Where can the external tank be placed?
What if I install the tank without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Walla Walla County
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