Buried Oil Tank in Your Yard: What to Do in the Lehigh Valley
A pipe sticking out of the lawn or a vent line on the side of the house can mean an old heating oil tank is still buried on the property. Here are the options, with published prices and the state rules.
First, confirm it
An oil tank sweep checks the yard for a buried tank before you dig or buy.
Is removal required?
Pennsylvania's Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act (Act 32) excludes tanks "used for storing heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored" from its underground storage tank definition1, and DEP's regulations exclude them from the aboveground definition too2. DEP states plainly: "Home heating oil tanks are not regulated"3. So no state rule forces a homeowner to pull a working or old home heating oil tank. The real reasons people act are below.
Your options
- Remove it: the tank is dug out and the soil under it is tested.
- Abandon it in place: the tank is cleaned and filled. Ask your lender, insurer, and buyer whether they will accept that.
- Leave it: if it's documented as clean and empty, this may be possible, but it can complicate a sale4,5.
If it leaked
PA DEP's Underground Heating Oil Tank Cleanup Reimbursement Program can repay eligible cleanup costs for buried home heating oil tanks of 3,000 gallons or less, up to $4,000 per tank after a $1,000 deductible. Aboveground tanks are not eligible, and funds are limited6,7. See leaking oil tank help.
Published prices
| Job | Published figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Above-ground / basement tank removal | $500–$1,500 | 8 |
| Above-ground tank removal | average $1,100 | 9 |
| Underground heating-oil tank removal | $1,000–$3,000+ | 8 |
| Underground heating-oil tank removal | average $1,900 | 9 |
| Soil sample lab analysis | about $220 each, typically 2–3 samples | 9 |
| Tank sweep (magnetometry), residential lot | $250–$500 (Philadelphia source) | 10 |
Leaks change the picture: cleanup is a separate, larger project9,8. Figures are published ranges, not quotes.
Why it matters when you sell
- Disclosure: PA sellers must disclose known material defects on the property disclosure statement11.
- Lenders: under Fannie Mae's guide, when an appraiser knows of a hazardous condition, the appraisal must note it and be made "subject to" inspection by a qualified professional5. Lenders may ask for testing, soil sampling, or removal/closure documentation4.
- Insurers: standard homeowners policies may exclude gradual leakage and pollution cleanup4,10.
- Title insurance covers title defects, not contamination in the soil10.
- Environmental risk: a leaking tank turns a routine job into a cleanup project9.
Lehigh Valley towns with the most oil-heated homes
Municipalities we cover where at least 30% of occupied homes are heated mainly by fuel oil or kerosene, estimated by the Census12:
| Town | Fuel-oil share | Homes (± margin of error) |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Mount Bethel Township | 55.9% | 1,475 ± 243 |
| Lower Mount Bethel Township | 53.5% | 634 ± 117 |
| Washington Township (Northampton) | 53.2% | 1,030 ± 207 |
| Lehigh Township | 47.0% | 2,021 ± 304 |
| Lower Milford Township | 42.4% | 616 ± 132 |
| Plainfield Township | 41.6% | 1,045 ± 282 |
| Coopersburg | 40.3% | 442 ± 96 |
| Wind Gap | 39.9% | 603 ± 142 |
| Bushkill Township | 39.5% | 1,255 ± 210 |
| Pen Argyl | 39.2% | 545 ± 184 |
| Washington Township (Lehigh) | 37.5% | 1,020 ± 207 |
| North Whitehall Township | 33.6% | 2,017 ± 298 |
| Lynn Township | 32.3% | 551 ± 135 |
| Moore Township | 32.2% | 1,113 ± 208 |
| Bangor | 31.7% | 630 ± 197 |
| Williams Township | 31.2% | 818 ± 215 |
| Nazareth | 30.3% | 908 ± 208 |
For comparison: Allentown 14.1%, Easton 8.6%12. These are 5-year survey estimates; small towns have wide margins of error.
FAQ
Does PA DEP require me to remove my home heating oil tank?
No. Tanks storing heating oil burned on the premises are excluded from the state program, and DEP says home heating oil tanks are not regulated1,3. Owners usually act because of a sale, a lender, an insurer, or leak risk.
How much does oil tank removal cost?
Published figures: above-ground $500–$1,5008 (average $1,1009); underground $1,000–$3,000+8 (average $1,9009). Leaks cost more.
Can I sell a house with a buried oil tank in PA?
State law doesn't prohibit it, but you must disclose known material defects11, and the buyer's lender may require inspection or documentation5,4.
Get a free quote
Tell us where the tank is (basement, side yard, buried, or unknown) and whether you're buying, selling, or refinancing. Allentown Tanks will connect you with a qualified local tank contractor. (215) 434-1322 · Request a quote
Sources
- Act 32 §103 (UST definition excludes heating oil for consumptive use)
- 25 Pa. Code §245.1 definitions
- PA DEP Storage Tank Data ("Home heating oil tanks are not regulated")
- Kash Mortgage Group, PA buyer guide
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B4-1.4-08 Environmental Hazards Appraisal Requirements
- PA DEP Storage Tanks Financial Assistance (Underground Heating Oil Tank Cleanup Reimbursement Program)
- PA DEP, Apply for Oil Tank Cleanup Reimbursement
- Harned Durham Energy, heating oil tank removal cost
- Curren Environmental, PA oil tank removal cost
- Flagstone, Philadelphia oil tank guide
- 68 Pa.C.S. §7303 seller disclosure
- Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year Table B25040 House Heating Fuel, county subdivision geography (table-based summary file)
- PA DEP Installer/Inspector Certification (certified company list)
- USTIF Heating Oil Tank Program (voluntary, tanks of 3,000 gallons or more)
Sources accessed 2026-10-25 by TANKER Traffic.