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Petroleum storage certificates

Do you need to apply for a certificate, when to make an application, how to play for a certificate and how long will the process take. Will your premises be inspected, conditions that attached to the certificate, how to renew/transfer a certificate and who to contact.

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How do I make an annual fee payment?

You can make the annual fee payment for your petroleum storage certificate using a credit and debit card on the online form on the below below. Please contact us on (01482) 396096 to make payment.

This is for premises that are for dispensing premises. The fees are reviewed and set by the Government annually. The current fees per year are:

  • storage not exceeding 2,500 litres: £46.00
  • storage exceeding 2,500 litres but not exceeding 50,000 litres: £62.00
  • storage exceeding 50,000 litres: £131.00.

You can make payment with the above set fees for up to 10 years in advance.

A payment can be made using our online form here

Do I need to apply for a petroleum storage certificate and what happens if I do not apply?

Petroleum means any product of crude petroleum that has a flashpoint below 21°C. This includes petrol, benzene, pentane and any mixture that contains these products and has a flashpoint below 21°C. This does not include white spirit, paraffin, diesel oil or fuel oils.

The council is the petroleum enforcing authority for the storage of petroleum spirit in East Riding of Yorkshire. We need to make sure those keeping and dispensing petrol do so in a safe manner that is unlikely to cause risk to the public or environment.

A certificate will allow you to keep an approved quantity of petroleum. It is an offence to keep an amount in excess of this, or to keep licensable quantities of petroleum without storage certificate.

You need to make an application if you are storing petroleum:

  • as a retail petrol filling station and do not have a storage certificate or
  • as a commercial site not retailing petrol e.g. a farm, where there are petrol storage tanks and the petrol is dispensed either mechanically or electrically.

In any non-workplace or domestic situation, a petroleum storage certificate is not required. However, you may still need a non-workplace licence. This will depend on the individual circumstances of:

  • how it is being stored
  • in what quantity (more than 275 litres) and
  • the type of container used.

Where can I get further information on the safe storage and dispensing of petroleum?

For helpful information on the legal requirements and guidance on the safe storage and dispensing of petroleum, please visit the two website links below:

Health and Safety Executive (external website)

Association of Petroleum and Explosives Administration (external website)

How do I apply for a certificate to store petrol?

A complete application consists of the following documentation:

  • Application form
  • Appropriate fee (listed below)
  • A 1:100 scale drawing of the layout of the dispensing premises
  • A 1:100 scale drawing of the containment system for petrol at the dispensing premises, including storage tanks and pipework; and
  • A 1:100 scale drawing of the drainage system to store petrol at the dispensing premises.

The plans can be submitted by email to health.safety@eastriding.gov.uk. Incomplete applications may be returned.

You can apply for a petroleum storage certificate using the online form below:

Apply online for a petroleum storage certificate

How much will it cost?

The fee payable for a certificate depends on the quantity of petroleum being stored and the annual period applied for. The fees are reviewed and set by the Government annually.

The current fees (per year) are:

Licence to keep in a work place (each year of certificate)

  • storage not exceeding 2,500 litres: £46.00
  • storage exceeding 2,500 litres but not exceeding 50,000 litres: £62.00
  • storage exceeding 50,000 litres: £131.00
  • the cost of transferring a licence: £8.00
  • land search response on historic sites: £107 plus VAT.

Licence to keep petrol in a non-workplace (each year of certificate)

  • not exceeding 2500 litres: £46
  • exceeding 2500 but not exceeding 5000 litres: £62
  • exceeding 5000 litres: £131
  • the cost of transferring a licence: £8.00.

Storage certificates for dispensing premises may be granted on an annual basis, up to a maximum of 10 years.

Fees are not refundable neither can refunds be given where:

  • trading ceases, or
  • transfers to another take place part way through any certification period.

Storage certificates for domestic and other relevant premises may be granted on an annual basis, up to a maximum of 3 years and are non-transferable.

Please bear this in mind especially when applying for longer periods of certification.

How long will it take you to process my application?

We will consider the application before issuing, renewing or modifying or a certificate.

We may have to conduct site visits and require the production of other documentation to ensure that storage requirements are being met.

Once we have received your application together with the correct fee and any necessary documentation and we are satisfied that the premises meet storage requirements, we will agree to issue, renew or modify the certificate.

We aim to process your application as soon as possible. There is no statutory period for determining applications, however, we aim to determine applications within 28 days.

Tacit consent will not apply. This is because it is in the public interest that we must process your application before it can be granted.

If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please contact the Health and Safety Team

Will my premises be inspected or assessed?

Yes, for new applications or as regards material changes to existing certificates. The premises will be inspected and assessed as part of the application process.

Are there any conditions attached to the certificate?

There are no conditions that are attached to the certificate.

If my application is refused, how do I appeal?

If your application is refused, please contact the Health and Safety Team and we will discuss your application with you.

If you are refused a licence by the council you can appeal to the secretary of state under Section 44 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

How long does the certificate last and what is the renewal procedure?

For dispensing premises, the certificate remains valid until there is a prescribed change or until petroleum has not been stored for a continuous period of 12 months. You are not required to renew the certificate, however you must pay the annual fee and formal civil enforcement action maybe taken in the event of non-payment.

For non-domestic or relevant premises that hold a certificate under part 3 of the Regulations. The certificate can be renewed using the below online form link, and will lapse unless renewed. The renewal application must be submitted with the appropriate fee which is listed above. You can apply for up to three years.

How do I transfer a certificate or notify you of any changes that may affect my certificate?

How can I transfer a certificate to another person once it has been issued?

For dispensing premises the petroleum storage certificate remains with the dispensing premises. A new individual who takes over a certificated site must notify the council as petroleum enforcement authority before keeping petrol on the premises.

The notification must be made in writing and must include:

  • the individual's name and address
  • the address of the dispensing premises
  • the date on which the individual proposes to commence occupation of the premises.

Upon receipt of the transfer notification a member of the team will contact you to take the appropriate fee by telephone using a debit or credit card.

This notification must be given a maximum of 6 months and a minimum of 28 days before the day on which the individual proposes to keep petrol on the dispensing premises.

For non-domestic or relevant premises, the certificate is non-transferrable.

Who do I tell about a change that could affect my certificate?

Regulation 8 of the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 states that a prescribed material change to the storage arrangements specified in this storage certificate must be notified to the Health, Safety and Licensing Service on health.safety@eastriding.gov.uk at least 28 days before any work commences.

Schedule 1 of the Regulations lists prescribed material changes as:

  • the cessation of use of one or more of the petrol storage tanks;
  • the removal or permanent decommissioning one or more of the petrol storage tanks;
  • the installation of any tank, pipework or vapour pipework associated with the storage and dispensing of petrol;
  • the installation of any petrol pump, any other automotive pump, or dispenser in a new location.

Please be aware that the certificate will no longer be valid if the premises cease to be used for the keeping of petrol for a continuous period exceeding 12 months.

There is no fee associated with this.

How do I request historic information on petroleum storage?

We can check our records for evidence of petrol storage at a given address.

Information can be accessed about current or historic presence of underground petroleum storage tanks data relevant to a particular location in the East Riding only.

We may ask you for confirmation in writing from the registered landowner or current keeper for permission for the search to take place.

There is a fee for this search which is listed above. Please submit any requests for information to health.safety@eastriding.gov.uk, upon receipt of the request a member of the team will contact you to take the appropriate fee by telephone using a debit or credit card.

Who do I contact for more information?

For further information you can contact the Health, Safety and Licensing Service at health.safety@eastriding.gov.uk

Making a complaint

If you feel we have failed to provide you with good service or are concerned about the progress of your application, please contact us and we will endeavour to resolve any concerns you may have. We also have a formal complaints procedure. Please contact us on the above email for further information this process.

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