What Is NFPA 58?
NFPA 58 is the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). It is a model code â a set of engineering standards developed by fire safety engineers, LP gas industry experts, and regulators â that establishes minimum safety requirements for LP gas storage, handling, and distribution systems. The current edition referenced by most jurisdictions is NFPA 58-2021.
NFPA 58 is not a federal law. No federal agency enforces it. It becomes law when a state or local government formally adopts it as part of their building or fire code. Most U.S. states and counties have adopted NFPA 58 either directly or through the International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), which incorporates NFPA 58 by reference.
How NFPA 58 Becomes Local Law
The adoption process works like this: NFPA publishes the model code. A state legislature or county commission votes to adopt it as part of the local building or fire code, sometimes with local amendments. Once adopted, it is enforced by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) â typically the county building department or fire marshal. This is why permit requirements and setbacks can differ between neighboring counties: one may have adopted NFPA 58 with amendments, the other may still be running on an older edition, and a third rural county may not have adopted a building code at all.
Key NFPA 58 Requirements for Homeowners
Container Location and Setbacks (Chapter 6)
Chapter 6 of NFPA 58 establishes the installation and location rules for LP gas containers (tanks). The setback distances in our Setback Requirements guide all come from Chapter 6. Key provisions include the minimum distances from buildings, openings, ignition sources, and property lines by tank size, and the prohibition on storing LP gas containers inside buildings or enclosed spaces.
LP Gas System Design (Chapter 5)
Chapter 5 covers the piping system that connects the tank to the home's appliances â pipe material, sizing, joints, burial depth, pressure testing requirements, and appliance connections. The gas piping permit you need in addition to the tank installation permit is enforced under these provisions.
Container Protection (Chapter 6)
NFPA 58 requires that above-ground LP gas containers be protected from vehicle impact where exposure exists (hence the guard post requirement near driveways), anchored in flood zones, and not placed in locations where they could be struck by falling objects or subject to physical damage.
Underground Containers (Chapter 6)
NFPA 58 has specific provisions for underground LP gas containers: minimum burial depth, bedding material requirements, cathodic protection requirements, vent pipe specifications, and the requirement that underground containers have accessible fill and service connections above grade. All of these drive the additional permit requirements for underground tanks.
LP Gas Dealers and Installers (Chapter 4)
NFPA 58 establishes qualification requirements for LP gas dealers and service technicians, including training, equipment, and operational procedures. Most states use these provisions as the basis for their LP gas contractor licensing programs.
What NFPA 58 Does NOT Cover
NFPA 58 is specifically for LP (liquefied petroleum) gas â propane and butane. It does not cover natural gas systems (governed by NFPA 54 / ANSI Z223.1). It also does not address the local permit application process, permit fees, or local enforcement procedures â these are entirely at the discretion of the local AHJ.
NFPA 58 Minimums vs. Local Requirements
This is the most important practical point for homeowners: NFPA 58 sets the floor, not the ceiling. Your local AHJ can â and often does â require more than NFPA 58 minimums. More stringent setbacks, additional inspections, specific pipe materials, higher pressure test durations â all of these are common local amendments. When NFPA 58 says "10 feet" and your county says "15 feet," your county wins. Always verify with your local AHJ before finalizing your tank placement.
The full text of NFPA 58 is available for purchase from NFPA at nfpa.org. NFPA also makes the current edition available for free read-only online access through their website. The code is highly technical and written for engineers and contractors â as a homeowner, our plain-language guides cover the sections most relevant to residential installations.
NFPA 58 is revised on a three-year cycle. Recent editions include NFPA 58-2017, NFPA 58-2020, and NFPA 58-2021. Many jurisdictions are still enforcing older editions â it is common for a county to be running NFPA 58-2017 even though NFPA 58-2021 is current. The specific edition your county has adopted is what governs your installation. For most residential applications, the differences between recent editions are minor.
The International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) is published by the International Code Council and is widely adopted by states that use the "I-codes" family of building codes. The IFGC incorporates NFPA 58 by reference for LP gas installations, so in practice the LP gas requirements are virtually identical. If your county says they use the IFGC, the setback requirements, installation standards, and permit processes are the same as NFPA 58 adoption. The key difference is which office â building vs. fire marshal â administers the permit, which varies by county.