What Is an “Unregulated Heating Oil Tank” in NJ?
If you read anything from the state about a home oil tank, you will meet the phrase “unregulated heating oil tank,” often shortened to UHOT. It sounds like a loophole. It is a category.
The definition
According to the NJDEP’s homeowner FAQ, unregulated heating oil tanks are all residential heating oil tanks and non-residential heating oil underground storage tanks of 2,000 gallons or less. Heating oil underground tanks serving residential buildings are considered unregulated heating oil tank systems.
What “unregulated” means
The program does not regulate how the tank operates. It does oversee cleanup once a discharge is discovered. In other words, the state does not inspect or license your tank in daily use, but if it leaks, a set of rules applies. Those rules are the Heating Oil Tank System Remediation Rules, N.J.A.C. 7:26F.
What follows from that
- No state requirement to remove a residential tank that has no sign of a discharge. See Is Oil Tank Removal Required in NJ?.
- A discharge must be reported immediately to the NJDEP hotline. See When to Call the NJ DEP Hotline About a Heating Oil Tank.
- Cleanup must be done by certified professionals, and ends with a No Further Action letter. See What Is a No Further Action Letter?.
- Removal of an underground tank requires a closure-certified individual working for a closure-certified firm.
Larger tanks at businesses
A non-residential heating oil tank above 2,000 gallons is not in this category. See Oil Tanks on Business Property in NJ: The 2,000 Gallon Line.
Septic tanks are not UHOTs
The NJDEP says it issues NFA letters only for unregulated heating oil tanks. A septic tank is not in that category, though your municipal construction office may have its own requirements.
Where to read the rules
The NJDEP homeowner FAQ links to the rules and forms.
Why this matters for a sweep
You cannot manage a tank you do not know about. A sweep finds buried tanks, and an exploratory dig identifies them. Call Oil Tank Scan NJ at 732-673-1584.
