Should We Expect a Limit on Gas in Colorado This Summer?

With the 4th of July holiday behind us, Colorado moves into the second half of summer with gas prices trending higher in July than they were in June. Road trips and vacations have more of us out enjoying the Centennial State, while those traveling across the country may notice even higher gas prices in areas due to disruptions in fuel supply from the recent Hurricane Beryl.

Counties including Ouray, San Miguel, and Pitkin in Colorado are all paying some of the highest prices in the state for gas heading into mid-July. This has some Colorado residents wondering about stockpiling gasoline. While there is no reason to expect a limit at this time, just how much gasoline a person is allowed to store in the state of Colorado?

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How Much Gasoline Can A Person Transport In Colorado?

The Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Law (Federal Hazmat Law) limits the transportation of hazardous materials such as gasoline throughout the United States. The Federal limit for transporting gasoline by an individual is generally 20 gallons. Colorado does not impose a more strict limitation than this, allowing a person to fill up to 4 5-gallon gas cans that meet the requirements of both the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

How Much Gasoline Can A Person Store at Home?

According to the American Petroleum Institute, most states and local governments usually allow no more than 25 gallons of gasoline to be stored in approved containers or an approved tank at one's residence. This is simply a general guideline and further research should be done with your local governing agencies to be compliant with exact limitations.

Average Price of Gas in Colorado

According to AAA.com, Premium gas prices in places like Vail, Denver, Colorado Springs, Durango, and Glenwood Springs all crept up over the $4.00 mark just in time for the 4th of July. Colorado's average for Regular Unleaded gasoline is around $3.46 this week with the National Average closer to $3.51 as of July 9th, 2024.

Mesa, Montrose, and Delta counties are currently averaging below $3.46 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline as of July 9th.