You must obtain the appropriate permit from ______ prior to beginning any UST installation.

• A. The local building official
• B. The local fire department
• C. The EPA regional office
• D. The county tax assessor

Answer: (A)

Securing a permit before starting an underground storage tank installation is about ensuring the work meets local safety and construction standards. The local building official is the authority who reviews plans, checks for code compliance, and issues the permit that authorizes excavation and installation, along with requirements for proper containment, venting, and integration with the site’s systems. The fire department may be involved to confirm fire-code compliance, but they typically don’t issue the installation permit. The EPA regional office handles federal environmental regulation, not local permitting, and the county tax assessor deals with taxes, not construction permits. So, obtaining the permit from the local building official before beginning work is the correct step.