Find Massachusetts contractors for heating oil tank removal, closure in place, contamination checks, and cleanup of leaking home heating oil tanks.
How Massachusetts Handles Home Heating Oil Tanks
In Massachusetts, removing a home heating oil tank runs through the local fire department. Under the state fire code, 527 CMR 1.00, you need a permit from the head of the fire department to remove a fuel oil storage tank. The MassDEP and Department of Fire Services homeowner guide says local fire officials issue that permit, decide when conditions are safe for excavation, and make sure contamination is measured when the tank comes out. Federal UST rules do not apply to home heating oil tanks, because 40 CFR 280.12 excludes tanks storing heating oil for consumptive use on the premises.
Whether Massachusetts requires removal depends on whether the tank is still in use. The MassDEP homeowner guide says state law does not require removing a residential underground tank that is not leaking, though your community may. The state fire code, 527 CMR 1.00, treats a tank with no filling or draw off for more than 12 months as abandoned, and abandoned tanks and piping must be removed. Closing an underground tank in place is allowed only if the fire department approves, and the guide says that typically happens only when removal would jeopardize the structure of the house. The tank must be cleaned and the soil checked before it is filled with sand or concrete. The guide's hiring checklist asks for a contractor who knows the state and local tank rules, can spot signs of contamination, gives a written contract with a specific cost estimate, and is insured.
Nationally, a clean removal of a standard 275 to 550 gallon residential underground tank runs $1,500 to $3,500, a national planning range rather than a Massachusetts price. The MassDEP and fire service guide warns that removal quotes usually leave out a replacement tank, sampling and testing, cleanup if a leak is found, and landscaping. Insurance matters if the tank has leaked. Under M.G.L. c. 175, section 4D, homeowners insurers must offer heating oil release coverage of at least $50,000 per occurrence for cleanup on your property and $200,000 per occurrence for third-party liability, with a deductible no higher than $1,000. An insurer may first require proof that your oil system meets M.G.L. c. 148, section 38J, whose tank definition excludes underground tanks, so ask your agent. MassDEP says on its site cleanup page for homeowners that most policies do not include this coverage. See our removal cost guide.
The state fire code, 527 CMR 1.00, requires the owner to get a contamination measurement no later than 24 hours after an underground tank and its piping are removed, taken where contamination is most likely. The MassDEP homeowner guide says the tank contractor or an environmental professional can take it, covering the condition of the tank, piping and soil, holes, stains, odors and photos. A soil sample is added if a leak is suspected or the tank is near a well, water supply, wetland, pond or stream. If contamination is found, the owner must immediately notify the head of the fire department and MassDEP. The Massachusetts Contingency Plan then sets reporting deadlines. Compare Massachusetts tank removal contractors or request a quote.
How much does oil tank removal cost in Massachusetts?
Nationally, a clean removal of a standard 275 to 550 gallon residential underground tank runs $1,500 to $3,500. That is a national planning range, not a Massachusetts price. The MassDEP and Department of Fire Services guide warns that removal quotes usually leave out a replacement tank, sampling and testing, cleanup if a leak is found, and landscaping. Get written estimates from your oil company, if it does removals, and from several contractors after they visit. Budget for the fire department permit too. Our removal cost guide explains the national range.
How do I choose a contractor for underground tank work in Massachusetts?
Start with the local fire department, which issues the removal permit under the state fire code, 527 CMR 1.00. The MassDEP and Department of Fire Services guide says the fire department should also observe the removal. The guide's checklist says to pick a contractor who understands the state and local tank removal rules, can spot signs of contamination, gives a written contract with a specific cost estimate, and is insured for the work. If contamination is found, MassDEP's Hiring a Licensed Site Professional page says you will need a Licensed Site Professional (LSP) to determine whether cleanup work is required. Ask your fire prevention officer about local rules before hiring.
Can I leave an old oil tank in the ground in Massachusetts?
Only with your local fire department's approval. The state fire code, 527 CMR 1.00, allows closing an underground tank in place only if the fire department approves, and a tank with no filling or draw off for more than 12 months must otherwise be removed. The MassDEP and fire service guide says approval typically comes only when removal would jeopardize the structural integrity of the house. The tank must be cleaned, and the soil around and under it checked for contamination, before the fire department permits filling it with sand or concrete. The guide adds that closing in place costs somewhat more than removal.
What happens if my Massachusetts oil tank leaked?
The fire code, 527 CMR 1.00, requires the owner to notify the head of the fire department and MassDEP immediately if contamination is found. The Massachusetts Contingency Plan has a rule written for tank removals. A headspace reading of 100 ppm or more of total organic vapors, from soil or groundwater more than two feet down and within ten feet of the tank or piping, is reportable to MassDEP in 72 hours. A sudden release of oil at or above the reportable quantity has a two-hour deadline. Other contamination at or above MassDEP's reportable concentrations, such as oil in groundwater or two cubic yards or more of oil-contaminated soil, generally must be reported within 120 days. Soil contamination can be exempt if a limited removal of no more than 100 cubic yards brings it below those levels in time. MassDEP's Hiring a Licensed Site Professional page says you will then need an LSP to determine whether cleanup is required.
Do I need to remove an oil tank before selling my Massachusetts house?
Not if the tank is still in use and not leaking. The MassDEP and Department of Fire Services guide says state law does not require removing a residential underground tank that is not leaking, though local rules may differ. If you stopped using the tank, for example after switching to gas, the rule changes. The state fire code, 527 CMR 1.00, treats a tank with no filling or draw off for more than 12 months as abandoned. Abandoned tanks and piping must be removed unless the fire department approves closing the tank in place. The guide also warns that a bank or buyer may ask for more testing or removal of a tank left in the ground. Keep the permit, disposal receipts, a drawing of the tank location, the contamination measurement and any lab results.
