North Carolina Statewide Rule

North Carolina LP-Gas Storage Rules (G.S. 119-54, NFPA 58)

Some RestrictionsApplies statewide across North Carolina (2026)

Key Facts

Governing law: G.S. Chapter 119, Article 5
Enforcing agency: NCDA&CS Standards Division
Adopted code: NFPA 58 (02 NCAC 38 .0700)
Max fill level: 85% of water capacity
Building Code facilities: Exempt from Article 5

Last verified: July 31, 2026

Summary

North Carolina regulates propane storage statewide under G.S. Chapter 119, Article 5. The Board of Agriculture adopts a code of safety, NFPA 58 via 02 NCAC 38 .0700, governing the design, location, and installation of LP-gas storage tanks, and licenses the dealers who fill them.

It is the purpose of this Article to provide for the adoption and promulgation of a code of safety, and such rules and regulations setting forth minimum general standards of safety for the design, construction, location, installation, and operation of the equipment used in handling, storing, measuring, transporting, distributing, and utilizing liquefied petroleum gases and to provide for the administration and enforcement of the code and such rules and regulations thereby adopted.

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Full Breakdown

G.S. 119-54(a) directs the North Carolina Board of Agriculture to promulgate a code of safety setting minimum standards for storing, handling, and installing liquefied petroleum gas. The Standards Division of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services enforces those rules, which adopt NFPA 58 with state amendments at 02 NCAC 38 .0700. Anyone selling, storing, or installing propane equipment as a dealer must be licensed, and consumer tanks may not be filled beyond 85 percent of water capacity under G.S. 119-58. Facilities already covered by the State Building Code fall outside Article 5.

Violations & Penalties

Operating as an unlicensed LP-gas dealer or violating the adopted safety code lets the Standards Division deny, suspend, or revoke the dealer's license, and non-compliant tanks must be corrected or removed from service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to store or sell propane in North Carolina?

Yes. G.S. Chapter 119, Article 5 requires anyone selling, storing, transporting, or installing LP-gas equipment as a dealer to be licensed by the NCDA&CS Standards Division.

Which code governs propane tank installation in North Carolina?

NFPA 58, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, adopted with North Carolina amendments at 02 NCAC 38 .0700 under the Board of Agriculture's rulemaking authority.

How full can a propane tank be filled?

No more than 85 percent of the container's water capacity under G.S. 119-58, and only tanks equipped with a fill tube or gauge may be filled.

Sources

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