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Residential Heating Oil Tanks
The typical home heating oil storage facility consists of a single 275 gallon aboveground tank located either in the basement or outside the home. Aboveground home heating oil tanks are primarily regulated by the State of Maine Oil and Solid Fuel Board. For more information regarding specific rules pertaining to residential heating oil tanks, please contact the Oil and Solid Fuel Board at (207) 624-8608. Depending on the oil storage facility size and set up, additional rules and authorities may apply. Please see the regulatory decision tree below.
If the home heating oil tank is larger than 1,320 gallons or the homeowner has multiple tanks exceeding 1,320 gallons on their property, then they are required to implement a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan in accordance with federal law. (EPA-Off Site)
If a residential tank is larger than 660 gallons and has underground product piping, then the underground piping must be installed and maintained in accordance with Maine DEP's Underground Oil Storage Tank Rules (Chapter 691).
The DEP has also established the Home Heating Oil Storage Tank Replacement Program to replace unsafe heating oil tanks for qualified home owners.
Report oil spills immediately!
Call 1-800-482-0777 from within Maine 24 hours a day.
Additional Emergency & Spill Response Reporting Telephone Numbers.