Lehigh Valley Oil Tank Guide for Home Buyers & Realtors
A free, printable reference for buyers, sellers and agents in Lehigh and Northampton counties. Every number links to its source. Feel free to share or link to this page. *Allentown Tanks is a referral service, not a contractor, and this guide is not legal advice.*
1. Quick checklist
- [ ] Ask the seller: current or past oil tank? Fill or vent pipes? Removal paperwork?
- [ ] Look for clues: fill or vent pipes outside, capped oil lines in the basement1
- [ ] Read the seller's disclosure; PA requires disclosure of known material defects2
- [ ] No records on an older oil-heat home? Order a sweep1
- [ ] Tank found? Get soil samples and a written report3
- [ ] Give the lender any closure certificate or contractor report it asks for4
- [ ] Check the insurance policy; gradual leakage and pollution may be excluded4,1
2. Decision flow
``` Oil heat now or in the past? |-- no records --> SWEEP ($250-$5001) |-- nothing found --> keep the sweep report |-- tank found --> SOIL SAMPLES |-- clean --> REMOVE (best paperwork) or ABANDON IN PLACE (keep closure docs) |-- contaminated --> CLEANUP; buried tank <=3,000 gal may qualify for DEP reimbursement (up to $4,000 after $1,000 deductible5) Basement tank you can see --> remove ($500-$1,5006) or disclose; not DEP-reimbursable ```
3. The rules in plain English
| Rule | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State tank program | Pennsylvania's storage tank law doesn't regulate most home heating oil tanks used on the premises; DEP lists home heating oil tanks as not regulated. Local rules, lenders and buyers may still require action | 7,8 |
| Seller disclosure | Sellers must disclose known material defects | 2 |
| Fannie Mae B4-1.4-08 | An appraiser aware of a hazard notes it and makes the appraisal subject to inspection by a qualified professional | 9 |
| Lenders | May require testing, soil sampling or closure paperwork | 4 |
| DEP reimbursement | Buried heating oil tanks of 3,000 gal or less; $1,000 deductible, up to $4,000 per tank; basement/aboveground tanks excluded | 5 |
| Local permits | Vary by municipality; the contractor confirms and pulls any required permit | - |
As of 2026; check current rules before relying on this.
4. Cost table
| Tank | Setting | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any | Above-ground, Lehigh Valley oil company | $500–$1,500 | 6 |
| Any | Underground, Lehigh Valley oil company | $1,000–$3,000+ | 6 |
| Any | PA averages: above-ground / underground | $1,100 / $1,900 | 3 |
| Sweep | Philadelphia, standard lot | $250–$500 | 1 |
5. Oil heat by town
Share of occupied homes heated mainly by fuel oil or kerosene, for every municipality we cover (ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates)10:
6. Print or share
Use your browser's Print button for a PDF. To link to this guide: https://allentowntanks.com/lehigh-valley-oil-tank-guide/
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 Census10:
| 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%10. 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. Pennsylvania's storage tank law doesn't regulate most home heating oil tanks used on the premises: tanks storing heating oil for use where it is stored are excluded, and DEP lists home heating oil tanks as not regulated7,8. Local rules, lenders and buyers may still require action, such as a permit, testing or removal before a sale.
How much does oil tank removal cost?
Published figures: above-ground $500–$1,5006 (average $1,1003); underground $1,000–$3,000+6 (average $1,9003). 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 defects2, and the buyer's lender may require inspection or documentation9,4.
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
- Flagstone, Philadelphia oil tank guide
- 68 Pa.C.S. §7303 seller disclosure
- Curren Environmental, PA oil tank removal cost
- Kash Mortgage Group, PA buyer guide
- PA DEP, Apply for Oil Tank Cleanup Reimbursement
- Harned Durham Energy, heating oil tank removal cost
- Act 32 §103 (UST definition excludes heating oil for consumptive use)
- PA DEP Storage Tank Data ("Home heating oil tanks are not regulated")
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B4-1.4-08 Environmental Hazards Appraisal Requirements
- Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year Table B25040 House Heating Fuel, county subdivision geography (table-based summary file)
- 25 Pa. Code §245.1 definitions
- PA DEP Installer/Inspector Certification (certified company list)
- PA DEP Storage Tanks Financial Assistance (Underground Heating Oil Tank Cleanup Reimbursement Program)
- USTIF Heating Oil Tank Program (voluntary, tanks of 3,000 gallons or more)
Sources accessed 2026-10-25 by TANKER Traffic.