<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>351057</law_id><section_number>18.2-494</section_number><catch_line>Unlawful use of, filling or refilling, or trafficking in containers</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-495</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="52" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="11" identifier="12">Miscellaneous</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Liquefied Petroleum Gas Containers</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Unless a <span class="dictionary">qualifying emergency</span> is in effect, no <span class="dictionary">person</span> except the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> thereof or <span class="dictionary">person</span> authorized in writing by the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> shall fill or refill with <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span>, or any other gas or compound, a <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> container or buy, sell, offer for sale, give, take, loan, deliver, or permit to be delivered or otherwise use, dispose of, or traffic in a <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> container or containers if the container bears upon the surface thereof in plainly legible characters the name, initials, mark, or other device of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>. Nor shall any <span class="dictionary">person</span> other than the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of a <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> container or a <span class="dictionary">person</span> authorized in writing by the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> deface, erase, obliterate, cover up, or otherwise remove or conceal any name, mark, initial, or device thereon. <a id="paragraph-1307501" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-494/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> When a <span class="dictionary">qualifying emergency</span> is in effect, a residential customer who can demonstrate that he has less than a 24-hour supply of <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> shall first make a good faith effort to procure delivery of <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> from the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> container. If the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> container or other <span class="dictionary">person</span> authorized in writing by the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> is unable to make a scheduled delivery or fulfill the residential customer&#x2019;s good faith request within 24 hours, the customer may have an emergency supplier fill, refill, or otherwise deliver <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> into the customer&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> container, provided that the emergency supplier ensures that such <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> container, and the devices and pipelines operated in connection with such container, have been inspected and certified as required by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. Within five business days of filling, refilling, or otherwise delivering <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> to the customer&#x2019;s container, the emergency supplier shall give written notice to the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> container that includes (i) the name and address of the customer; (ii) the date of the filling, refilling, or delivery; and (iii) the amount of <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> that was placed in the customer&#x2019;s container. The emergency supplier shall assume all responsibility and liability for injury to <span class="dictionary">persons</span> or property related to the emergency refilling of the <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> container.
			When an emergency supplier delivers <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> to a residential customer pursuant to this subsection, neither such emergency supplier nor the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the <span class="dictionary">liquefied petroleum gas</span> container may charge any <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> or fee in addition to the filling, refilling, or delivery fees that are usually charged to other customers in the course of business during a nonemergency. <a id="paragraph-1307502" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-494/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 18.1-400.2; 1970, c. 442; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 2023, c. 531.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
