Ohio: Is it legal to pump your own gas?
Ohio law expressly provides for filling stations offering self-service, under the state fire code and safety standards.
Ohio statute requires self-service stations to follow NFPA 30A as adopted in the state fire code, and bars the fire marshal from prohibiting unattended card- or key-operated self-service stations for that reason alone. Self-service islands must post a sign. The Ohio Fire Code allows attended self-service stations, and unattended ones under separate rules.
What the law says
(A) Each filling station offering self-service shall be operated in accordance with the most recent version of the national fire protection association standard number 30A, as that standard is incorporated into the fire code adopted by the state fire marshal in accordance with section 3737.82 of the Revised Code ... (C) The fire marshal shall not prohibit the operation of a filling station offering self-service solely because it is an unattended filling station that utilizes key- or card-operated self-service flammable or combustible liquid dispensing equipment.
Sources
- Ohio Rev. Code § 3741.14 Official · codes.ohio.gov
- Ohio Adm. Code 1301:7-7-23 (Ohio Fire Code, Chapter 23) Official · codes.ohio.gov
- Ohio Adm. Code 1301:7-7-23 (text) Mirror of official text · law.cornell.edu
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of State Fire Marshal
How bordering states compare
- Indiana Self-serve allowedIndiana allows drivers to pump their own gas. Its fire code amends the International Fire Code's self-service rules without banning self-service.
- Kentucky Self-serve allowedKentucky allows drivers to pump their own gas. Its fire code adopts NFPA 1, which permits self-service stations.
- Michigan Self-serve allowedMichigan has no law against pumping your own gas, and state fire rules treat customer self-service dispensing as normal.
- Pennsylvania Self-serve allowedPennsylvania rules expressly allow attended self-service gas stations, with an attendant on duty at the controls.
- West Virginia Self-serve allowedWest Virginia has no ban on self-service gas; its state fire code adopts the national code that covers self-service fueling.