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Chemical Storage Building Design

A well-planned chemical storage building protects people, water and property. This guide walks through the questions to ask before you build or remodel, and tells you where to confirm requirements for your state.

What should I decide before I build?

Start by listing what you will store now and what you might store in the future. Pesticides, fertilizers, fuels and cleaning products do not all belong together, and the building should suit the products that it will hold.

Next, talk to the people who set the rules. Your state department of agriculture, your local fire marshal, your building inspector and your insurance agent may each have requirements, and they differ by place.

Where should the building be located?

Place it away from wells, ponds, streams and drains, away from the house and from places where children play, and where responders can reach it in all kinds of weather. Ground that stays dry and does not flood is a better choice than a low spot.

Think too about the direction of runoff and the direction of prevailing winds. A site that seems convenient can turn out to be a poor choice after one wet spring. Setback distances come from your state and local rules and not from this page.

Think about people as well as products. Aisles should be wide enough to move through without bumping shelves, doors should open outward where local rules call for it, and there should always be more than one clear way to get out. Good lighting at the door, a place to put things down, and a spot to wash up all make safe habits easier to follow.

• Keep clear of water sources and drainage paths.
• Choose ground that stays dry and can be reached in any season.
• Check local setback and permit requirements.

What makes a sound structure?

Sound walls, floors and roofs keep weather out and product in. A smooth floor that can be cleaned and that does not let liquids soak into the ground makes spills far easier to manage.

Materials should suit the products stored, and the building should be built so that a fire in one part does not travel easily through the rest. A qualified designer or your extension office can explain what makes sense for your situation.

How should spills be contained?

Containment is the part of a design that is easy to skip and hard to add later. A floor that holds a spill and does not drain to the outside lets you clean up a mistake without it becoming a pollution problem.

Do not connect floor drains to ditches, wells or septic systems without checking the rules first. Ask your state agency what is allowed, and plan for how you will collect and dispose of anything that is spilled.

What about lighting, wiring, heat and ventilation?

Electrical systems in chemical storage should be installed and inspected by qualified people, because some products can be damaged by heat or can create hazards around ignition sources. Lighting should be bright enough to read labels.

Ventilation and temperature control also affect how products hold up and how safe the room is to enter. These details are covered in the separate article on ventilation, and the specifics come from the manufacturers and your local authorities.

How do I keep the building secure and organized?

Use a sturdy door and a lock, and post signs that name the building as a chemical storage area. Limit keys to trained people, and keep visitors and children out.

Inside, shelves should be strong, labeled and arranged so that products are easy to see and reach. Keep a current inventory and safety data sheets in a place that responders can find without entering. Review the whole setup each year.

How will I plan for growth and change?

Needs change over time. A building that suits you today may be too small, too close to a new well or out of step with a new rule five years from now, so leave room in the plan and revisit it.

Keep drawings, permits and inspection notes together. If you sell or lease the property, those records help the next person understand what the building was designed to hold and how it should be used.

• Leave space for new products and for safe aisles.
• Keep drawings, permits and inspection reports in one folder.
• Review the design whenever your products or neighbors change.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.