Propane Tanks, Fuel and Equipment: Clearance Around Them

How much clearance does a propane tank need for wildfire?

Ten feet of clear ground around the tank is the common minimum. Flathead County's wildfire prevention guidance tells Montana homeowners to maintain about 10 feet of clearance around propane tanks, clearing grass, weeds and brush in that area, and not to stack combustible materials near tanks. The Propane Education & Research Council's wildfire tip sheet says to clear at least a 10-foot area around the propane tank and gas grill of anything combustible, including leaves, brush, vegetation and rags. The Colorado State Forest Service's Home Ignition Zone checklist says to remove flammable vegetation within 10 feet of all propane tanks and gas meters, and NFPA's guidance says to clear vegetation from under large stationary propane tanks.

The gas meter is worth noting. CSFS includes it alongside the tank, and on many homes the meter or regulator sits right at the foundation in the same bed as the shrubs. It belongs in the noncombustible band described in our first five feet guide.

How far should a propane tank be from the house?

The IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home checklist, which IBHS opened to Montana homeowners in April 2026, gives two options for propane and fuel tanks. Option 1 is to locate the tank at least 30 feet from the home. Option 2 is to locate it at least 10 feet from the home and maintain a 10-foot noncombustible area around the tank, cleared to bare mineral soil and surfaced only with gravel, pavers, decomposed granite or concrete, with combustible items such as fences removed, then a reduced fuel area from 10 to 20 feet around the tank with grass under 4 inches and shrubs, small trees and dead vegetation removed. Healthy mature trees are allowed in both bands if pruned at least 6 feet above the tank.

CSFS's checklist says to keep aboveground tanks at least 30 feet from the home, preferably at the same elevation as the house. Where a tank sits is set by your propane supplier and the codes they work to, so moving a tank is a conversation with them, not a landscaping job. What a homeowner controls is the ground around the tank, wherever it is.

What should the ground around a propane tank look like?

Gravel or another noncombustible surface for the first 10 feet, then short grass. In practice that means pulling the weeds and grass that grow up around the tank legs, removing any shrubs, removing the woodpile or lumber that tends to collect beside it, and laying a gravel pad. The tank needs to stay accessible for delivery and service, so keep the pad clear of stored items as well as vegetation.

Trees over a tank are the other common problem. IBHS allows healthy mature trees if pruned at least 6 feet above the tank; dead limbs over a tank are a falling hazard as well as a fuel. Where the tree near a tank also carries a service line, our guide to utility shutoffs and trees near lines covers the utility side.

Where should gas cans and fuel be stored?

Away from the house, in proper containers. MSU Extension's WUI landscaping MontGuide says people who store their own gasoline or diesel for equipment should keep it in fireproof storage away from the home, visibly labeled hazardous or flammable. The garage attached to the house, the space under the deck and the corner of the porch are the common places fuel ends up, and all of them are within the zones the guidance is trying to keep clear.

Propane cylinders are a separate rule. PERC's tip sheet says to keep the grill and all propane cylinders at least 10 feet from any structure, and never to store, place or use a propane cylinder indoors or in an enclosed area such as a basement, garage, shed or tent. Spare grill cylinders belong outdoors, upright, away from the house and the woodpile.

What about mowers, ATVs and other equipment?

Keep them out of the first 5 feet. The IBHS checklist says not to park or store vehicles or equipment within 5 feet of the home, and names cars, motorcycles, boats, RVs, ATVs and golf carts. It also says movable items such as grills should be moved indoors or at least 30 feet away during Red Flag Warnings or extended absences.

Equipment use is the other side of this. Cutting, mowing and grinding in dry vegetation on hot, windy days can start fires, and Montana's fire restrictions can limit equipment use in high danger; our guide to Montana fire restrictions explains how they work. It is one reason we schedule fuel reduction work in fall, winter and spring rather than in the middle of fire season.

What about the barbecue grill and outdoor cooking?

PERC's tip sheet treats the grill like the tank: clear at least a 10-foot area around the gas grill of anything combustible, and keep the grill and all propane cylinders at least 10 feet from any structure. The IBHS checklist lists grills among the movable items that should go indoors or at least 30 feet away during Red Flag Warnings or extended absences. For built-in outdoor cooking areas within 30 feet of the home, IBHS asks for noncombustible countertops and horizontal surfaces, and at least 6 inches of noncombustible material at the base of combustible cabinets.

On a deck, that means the grill and its spare cylinder should not live tucked against the house wall. A grill on a noncombustible patio out from the house, with a clear area around it, meets both the propane guidance and the fire guidance.

What should I do with propane if a wildfire threatens?

PERC's guidance is to shut off the gas if a wildfire threatens your safety, by turning off the main supply valve on the tank if it is safe to do so, turning it to the right (clockwise). It also suggests turning off the supply valves near individual appliances, and closing any screen, door or damper on a propane fireplace or log set. Ask your propane supplier to show you where the valves are before fire season, not during it.

PERC also recommends keeping an adequate supply of propane in the tank, because during and after a wildfire fuel may not be available and roads may be closed to delivery. Add the propane supplier's number to the household plan described in our Ready, Set, Go evacuation guide.

What should I check after a fire?

PERC says to inspect gas lines and the tank for damage, check chimneys, flue pipes and vent connectors, and call the utility or propane supplier immediately if hazards are found. If you turned off the gas, or suspect appliances or equipment were damaged, it says not to turn the gas back on or use the appliances until a qualified service technician has inspected the system. Leave that to the supplier.

What can a landscaping or tree crew do around a tank?

The clearing work: removing the shrubs and grass from around the tank and meter, laying a gravel pad, pruning trees to clear the tank, removing dead limbs over it, and adding the tank to the regular mowing route so the 10 to 20 foot band stays short all summer. We do not move, connect or service tanks or gas lines; that is the propane supplier's job.

A clean tank pad is one of the quickest fixes in a defensible space plan. This guide is part of our Montana Wildfire & Defensible Space Guide. HJ Property Care & Tree Service handles the clearing, gravel and hardscaping, lawn care and tree pruning around tanks and outbuildings, and the wider fire mitigation work, across Missoula County and the Bitterroot Valley. Call HJ Property Care & Tree Service at (406) 215-7319 or request a free estimate and we will walk the property with you.

More resources