How much petrol you are legally allowed to store at home in South Africa

Motorists in South Africa are preparing for sharp petrol and diesel price increases next month by stockpiling fuel – something the local government has warned not to do.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has also created widespread fear over potential fuel shortages, which is being driven by messages calling for South Africans to stock up.

Despite the local government and the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa (FIASA) warning against panic-buying, those who do choose to stockpile fuel need to know that there are regulations and dangers involved.

As every municipality has its own bylaws regulating how flammable liquids are stored, as well as how much may be stored, TopAuto reached out to the City of Johannesburg, City of Durban, and City of Cape Town to compare the differences between South Africa’s largest metros.

The only municipality to respond by the time of publication was the City of Cape Town.

The city’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews, told the publication that it depends on how a resident intends to store the fuel.

“In terms of the City’s Municipal Planning By-law and from a land use management point of view, it will depend on his or her personal use only – in a moveable container or fixed structure,” he said.

“Depending on the storage facility, this may require departures in terms of the zoning of the property.”

He added that Cape Town’s Municipal Planning By-law does not control the volume or type of fuel that may be stored in a resident’s personal capacity.

The quantity and type of fuel stored by an individual are instead regulated by bylaws related to flammable substances storage and community fire safety.

How much fuel you are allowed to store

According to City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse, the city’s bylaws are clear about the storage of large quantities of either petrol or diesel.

The bylaws mention that flammable liquids require adequate storage, as well as the appropriate certification if they are not stored in the fuel tank of any engine, motor vehicle, boat or lawnmower.

Flammable substances which do not exceed 200 litres and the closed cup flash point of such liquid is above 40ºC are not considered to be a J1 (high-risk storage classification) occupancy.

Diesel has a closed cup flash point of over 50ºC, which means 200 litres of diesel can be stored without the need for a flammable store or a flammable substance certificate from the local authority.

Should you wish to store more than 200 litres, you will need both a flammable substance certificate and a flammable store.

Petrol, on the other hand, is classified as a flammable liquid of a danger group, and requires any person who stores more than 40 litres to make use of a flammable store.

The 200 litre regulation is also in effect, requiring any person to apply for a flammable substance certificate from their local controlling authority, and make use of a flammable store.

Cape Town’s bylaws clearly state that no person may store or use a flammable liquid of a danger group in excess of 200 litres, unless they have obtained a flammable substance certificate from the controlling authority.

The erecting of flammable stores is also highly regulated, requiring the owner or person in charge of the installation to be familiar with these bylaws.

Should a person not adhere to the bylaws and storage regulations and instead contravene them, they may be liable to a maximum fine or imprisonment as prescribed in the Fire Brigade Services Act.