Aboveground fuel tank setback distances
There's no single national number. How far a tank has to be from buildings and property lines depends on the fire code your state or county adopted, whether the tank is a standard UL 142 tank or a protected UL 2085 tank, what fuel it holds, and whether it's on a farm or a fueling site. The examples below range from 5 feet to 100 feet. Check with your fire marshal before you set a tank.
On this page
What sets the distance
- Your adopted fire code. Most states and counties use the International Fire Code (IFC) or NFPA 30, often with their own changes.
- The tank type. Protected tanks listed to UL 2085 get much shorter distances than standard UL 142 tanks (Oregon State Fire Marshal). See aboveground fuel tanks for the difference.
- The fuel. Gasoline is a Class I flammable liquid, with a flash point below 100°F (National Park Service). Class II liquids have flash points from 100°F to below 140°F, and include No. 1 and No. 2 fuel oils and kerosene (Colorado State University Pueblo); #2 diesel normally falls here.
- The use. Farm and construction-site tanks for private use often fall under separate, simpler rules than motor fuel dispensing sites.
Farm tanks: the IFC farm rule
The IFC has a separate section for storing and dispensing Class I and II liquids for private use on farms and construction sites. Utah County's fire marshal publishes it for unincorporated areas (Utah County Fire Marshal):
- Tanks are kept outside and at least 50 feet from buildings and combustible storage, with extra distance so vehicles and equipment being filled are also at least 50 feet from structures and haystacks.
- Tanks are marked with the product name, "FLAMMABLE—KEEP FIRE AND FLAME AWAY," and "KEEP 50 FEET FROM BUILDINGS."
- Permanent tanks are limited to 1,100 gallons unless they meet the full aboveground tank requirements; temporary tanks to 10,000 gallons.
- Fill openings need a locking closure, and the area has to be kept free of weeds and combustible material.
Utah County requires a permit for farm and construction-site tanks over 10 gallons of Class I or over 60 gallons of Class II or III-A liquid (Utah County Fire Marshal).
Fueling sites: standard vs. protected tanks
For motor fuel dispensing, the IFC table gives very different distances for standard and protected tanks. Oregon's fire marshal publishes these under the Oregon Fire Code (Oregon State Fire Marshal):
| Tank | From property lines or the far side of a public way | From the near side of a public way or an important building | Between tanks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (UL 142), any size | 100 ft | 50 ft | 3 ft |
| Protected (UL 2085), 6,000 gal or less | 15 ft | 5 ft | 3 ft |
| Protected (UL 2085), over 6,000 gal | 25 ft | 15 ft | 3 ft |
The same IFC table appears on local fire department checklists, sometimes with local footnotes (Central Arizona Fire checklist).
Field note: For farm and fleet tanks, I like Flameshield double-wall tanks. They're UL 142 tanks with a tight-wrap double wall, built-in secondary containment, interstitial monitoring, and a 2-hour fire test (JME Tanks spec sheet). Since the shortest distances in the table are written for UL 2085 protected tanks, ask your fire marshal how a Flameshield tank is treated where you are.
How states compare
| State | Rule | Distances |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | Farm fuel tank guidance, based on state rules and NFPA 30 | 10 ft from property lines and public rights-of-way; 5 ft from an occupied building; 3 ft between tanks; 20 ft from propane tanks; tanks under 1,100 gal need 40 ft of clear space around them (ND farm fuel tank guide) |
| Utah County, UT | IFC farm and construction-site rule | 50 ft from buildings and combustible storage (Utah County Fire Marshal) |
| Oregon | Oregon Fire Code, motor fuel dispensing | Standard tanks 100 ft from property lines, 50 ft from important buildings; protected tanks as little as 15 and 5 ft (Oregon State Fire Marshal) |
| Pennsylvania | Aboveground Class I and II motor fuel tanks, nonretail | 50 ft from buildings and 100 ft from property lines, cut in half for a 2-hour fire-rated tank (37 Pa. Code § 14.6) |
| Illinois | General storage of gasoline and volatile oils | At least 20 ft from the adjoining property line for tanks of 3,000 gal or less (Ill. Admin. Code tit. 41 § 160.30) |
These are examples, not a complete list, and local fire departments can add to them.
Other distances that come with a tank
- Propane: at least 20 feet between an LP gas container and a Class I, II, or III-A liquid tank (Oregon; North Dakota).
- Vent outlets: at least 5 feet from building openings and from property lines that can be built on (Oregon State Fire Marshal).
- Dispensers at fueling sites: 10 feet or more from property lines and from most buildings (Oregon State Fire Marshal).
- No smoking or open flames within 25 feet of fueling (Oregon State Fire Marshal).
- Vehicle impact: guard posts where tanks can be hit (Oregon; Pennsylvania).
Setbacks are separate from spill containment. For dikes and double-wall tanks, see secondary containment, and for whether you need a spill plan, Do I need an SPCC plan?
FAQ
Is there one national setback distance?
No. Setbacks come from the fire code your state or county adopted, usually the International Fire Code or NFPA 30, often with local changes. The same tank can need 5 feet in one place and 50 in another.
Does a double-wall tank get a shorter setback?
Not just for being double-walled. Shorter distances usually go with protected tanks listed to UL 2085, which are insulated and fire-tested (Oregon State Fire Marshal). Double-walled tanks can help with spill control; North Dakota's farm guide says double-walled or vaulted tanks don't need a dike (North Dakota farm fuel tank guide).
Who do I ask?
Your state fire marshal or local fire department, before you set the tank. Many require a permit and a site plan showing property lines, buildings, roads, and waterways.
Sources
- Utah County Fire Marshal: Aboveground fuel tank requirements (IFC farm and construction sites)
- Oregon State Fire Marshal: Aboveground tank application and installation guidelines (2024)
- Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority: Above-ground fuel tank checklist (IFC 2012)
- North Dakota: Farm fuel tank safety guide
- JME Tanks: 300-gallon double-wall Flameshield tank spec sheet
- 37 Pa. Code § 14.6: Aboveground tanks for Class I and II motor fuels
- Ill. Admin. Code tit. 41 § 160.30: Location of aboveground tanks (Cornell LII)
- National Park Service: Flammables and combustibles (RM-50B, ch. 29)
- Colorado State University Pueblo: Flammable and combustible liquids
This guide is general information. Your state and local fire code decide the distances at your site; check with your fire marshal before installing a tank.