Licensing Services

PETROLEUM LICENSING

Under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Acts (NI) 1929 and 1937 the Local Authority is empowered to control and licence petroleum spirit and or petroleum mixtures in their area.

The storage of more than 275 litres (60 galls) requires a licence, which can be obtained, on payment of a fee, from Building Control Department, of Lisburn City Council.

Below is a copy of the schedule of fees. Petroleum must be stored in accordance with the conditions listed on the licence.

For the storage quantities below 275 litres of petrol used solely for motor vehicles including petrol driven engines and plant. These may be stored without a licence provided:-

• The Licensing Authority is informed, before the store is started, and subsequently on a yearly basis as long as the store is in operation. 
• That the storage place is more than 6m from the nearest building, highway or public footpath. 
• A sill is provided across the doorway of any building used as a store to stop spilled petrol from flowing out.

The total amount stored includes any petrol in the fuel tanks of vehicles parked in the storage area. Under the Petroleum Spirit (Motor Vehicles etc.) Regulation 1930 containers must be 5 litres (1 Gall), 9 litres (2 Galls) or 45 litres (10 Galls) capacity and made of metal.

If the above conditions cannot be met, the maximum amount, which may be stored without a licence, is 14 litres (3 Galls).

Under the Petroleum Spirit (Plastic Containers) Regulation 1983 storage may also take place, without a licence, in plastic containers, each having a nominal capacity of five litres or less.  Containers must conform to the specification detailed in the Approved Code of Practice associated with the regulations and must be marked or labelled with the approved information.

No more than two plastic containers of petrol may be kept in any motor vehicle.