- Agency
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Petroleum Storage Tank program
- Paperwork
- Notice of the ownership change, the new owner's registration and self certification, and tank records
- The clock
- TCEQ materials describe a 30 day window after the ownership change
Watch for: Assuming the tank registration moves to the buyer on its own. Someone has to tell TCEQ, and the new owner has to certify.
Why tanks get their own paperwork
Texas tracks petroleum storage tanks through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Underground tanks at a fuel site are registered, tested and certified, and the registration lists the owner.
When the owner changes, the state wants to know. A buyer who does not report can find the station out of compliance on day one.
The 30 day notice
TCEQ guidance says changes in ownership at a tank facility should be reported within 30 days. The new owner also makes a fresh certification for the tanks, and TCEQ accepts updates through its online system or its registration form.
Ask TCEQ which form it wants today. Forms and portals change, and the agency's own page is the right source.
Who does what
The buyer usually files the new registration, but the seller should hand over the facts: tank sizes, install dates, leak detection method and testing history.
Sellers should also be ready to prove the tanks were properly registered while they owned the station. Gaps in the old records become the buyer's question, and a buyer's lender may ask it too.
Fuel deliveries
Suppliers will not drop fuel into tanks that are not in good standing. Ask TCEQ and your supplier whether the delivery certificate is affected by the sale, so the pumps do not run dry the week after closing.
Records worth gathering
- Current registration and the last certification
- Release detection and tightness test results
- Any cleanup or leak history, with closure letters
- Insurance or financial assurance documents
Dispensers, signs and other equipment
Beyond the tanks, buyers look at dispensers, card readers, canopy lighting and brand signs. Ask whether a fuel supplier owns any of it, and whether a branding agreement ends or transfers with the sale.
Insurance matters here as well. The buyer's policy must be in place on day one, and your own coverage should stay active until closing is complete.
Environmental review
Many lenders ask for an environmental review of a fuel site before approving a loan. Order it early if the property is part of the deal, since findings can change the price.
See the pricing guide for fuel stations for how buyers weigh all this, and owning the building for the land.
When you are ready, request a free value check.
This page is general information and not tax or legal advice. Confirm every step with your attorney, your environmental consultant and TCEQ.