Subject: Motor Fuel-Dispensing Facilities  

Revised: April 2025 

Purpose: A Motor Fuel-dispensing Facilities operational permit is required for the operation of automotive, marine and fleet motor fuel-dispensing facility.  

Fees: $300.00 Annually 

Requirements: A Motor Fuel-dispensing Facilities permit will be issued once an application has been completed appropriately, all applicable documents have been uploaded, and a hazardous materials permit has been applied for in conjunction with the Motor Fuel-dispensing Facilities permit.  

Applications will be completed electronically, and all required documentation shall be uploaded electronically. There shall be no paper submissions. Permit application shall be completed and submitted through the approved Harris County software program. Once the application is received along with all required documentation, the Fire Code Official will conduct a review. When the permit process is complete, and authorization is given, the applicant will be notified that the permit is issued, and the duration of the permit will be indicated.  

All Motor Fuel-dispensing Facilities permit applications will begin with generalized information requirements. This information will pertain to the property information/property owner’s information/application information/project name.  

When applying for a Motor Fuel-dispensing Facilities operational permit the applicant shall provide the following information: 

• Site map identifying: 

• • Location of all dispensing devices, showing a minimum of 10 feet from the lot lines and buildings having combustible exterior walls or walls that are not part of a 1-hour fire-resistance-rating, 

• • Showing that the fueling hose will not reach within 5 feet of the lot line, 

• • Showing 20 feet separation between all dispensing devices and fixed ignition sources, 

• • Location of the emergency disconnect switch no more than 100 feet away from the dispensing devices and not closer than 20 feet.  An indication that the installation height of the emergency disconnect switch is not less than 42 inches and not more than 48 inches measured from the floor level, 

• • Showing the layout of all fire lanes, knox boxes if applicable, and any other stored hazardous materials on-site, 

• Written statement indicating the type of fuel-dispensing facility (attended self-service or Unattended self-service) and certifying compliance with Chapter 23 of the adopted fire code 

• Copy of procedures for emergencies including fires, leaks, and spills 

• Written statement certifying that all attendees will not allow dispensing into non-approved portable containers 

• Upon request during an inspection of the facility, records of daily inspections of dispensing equipment and maintenance of the dispensing equipment shall be readily available for review by the Fire Code Official 

• Written statement certifying that the dispensing facility has posted signs for emergency procedures as required by section 2304.3.5, warning signs as required by section 2305.6, and dispenser operating instructions as required in section2304.2.3, of the adopted fire code  

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Motor Fuel-Dispensing Facilities shall provide an additional written statement certifying that the facility is in compliance with Section 2307 of the adopted fire code 

Compressed Natural Gas Motor Fuel-dispensing Facilities shall provide an additional statement certifying compliance with Section 2308 of the adopted fire code 

Hydrogen Motor Fuel-dispensing and Generation Facilities shall provide an additional statement certifying compliance with Section 2309 of the adopted fire code 

Marine Motor Fuel-dispensing and Generation Facilities shall provide an additional statement certifying compliance with Section 2310 of the adopted fire code 

If one or more of the requested documents does not apply to your location, please submit in writing a reason for not submitting.  

Denial: If it is determined that an application fails to meet the requirements as set forth in this standard or the applicant refuses to provide all required documentation, the fire code official shall not issue a permit, but shall return the application to the applicant with explanation for refusal.  

Revocation: The fire code official is authorized to revoke a permit where it is found that there has been false statements or misrepresentation as to the material facts in the application or supporting documentation on which the approval and issuance was based, the permit was issued to a different person or firm than named on the permit, the permittee failed, refused or neglected to comply with orders or notices duly served in accordance with the provisions of this code within the time provided therein, or the permit was issued in error or in violation of an ordinance, regulation or this code.