Retail & Consumer Goods UK-wide

Run a petrol station or forecourt

Storing and dispensing petrol is one of the most tightly regulated retail activities. You need a petroleum storage certificate before you store petrol, strict forecourt safety procedures under health and safety law, and — only for very large storage sites — COMAH major-hazard duties. Most forecourts also sell age-restricted products, so the shop side carries its own rules.

Guide summary

Get a petroleum storage certificate before you store petrol. Keep fire extinguishers, emergency shutdown systems and trained staff on your forecourt. Check if you need COMAH rules for very large storage. Follow age-restricted products rules for your shop.

  • Get a petroleum storage certificate before storing any petrol
  • Keep stored petrol within the certified quantity at all times
  • Maintain emergency shutdown, fire extinguishers and spill equipment
  • Stop ignition sources and train staff in emergency procedures
  • Check if your site stores enough petrol to need COMAH rules
  • Sell alcohol, tobacco and vapes only with age verification
  • Display fuel prices accurately and follow consumer law
  • Pay periodic fees to keep your petroleum certificate valid
On this page

Related guides in Health & Safety

If you sell automotive fuel you run two regulated businesses at once: a major fire-and-explosion hazard regulated through petroleum storage certification and health and safety law, and a shop that usually sells age-restricted products like alcohol and tobacco. This guide covers the fuel side; follow the age-restricted products guidance and the universal retail spine for the shop side.

Get your petroleum storage certificate

Run a safe forecourt

Check whether COMAH applies

Almost no retail forecourt reaches the COMAH thresholds — they are aimed at fuel depots and bulk storage. But if your site stores dangerous substances above the qualifying quantities, the duties are significant.

The shop side

Forecourt shops are full retail businesses: consumer rights and pricing law applies to everything you sell, fuel price displays must be accurate, and alcohol, tobacco, vapes and lottery sales carry age-verification duties and — for alcohol — a premises licence. Forecourt shops are exempt from Sunday trading size restrictions in England and Wales (Scotland has no restrictions). Follow "Run a compliant retail business" and "Age-restricted products" for these duties.

Where these rules apply

The Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 and COMAH cover Great Britain — in Northern Ireland, petroleum licensing operates under separate Northern Ireland legislation, and health and safety is regulated by HSENI. Check the Northern Ireland position separately if you operate there.

Official sources

Authoritative guidance for fuel retailers.