Gas Line & Propane Services in Ocala and North Central Florida

A Category V gas contractor in Florida is licensed under Florida Statutes to install, repair, alter, and inspect natural gas and propane fuel gas distribution systems. Category V is the broadest residential gas contractor category, covering all residential gas scopes including new line installation, appliance connections, propane system installation, LP tank installation, and gas appliance conversion. The license is issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and is verifiable at myfloridalicense.com. Always Fire & Gas holds FL Gas Contractor License #LI45277 (Category V), which authorizes all gas work described on this page and on the ten service pages in this section.

Yes. Gas installation, repair, and connection in Florida must be performed by a licensed gas contractor under Florida Statutes Chapter 489. A general contractor, handyman, or plumber without a specific gas contractor license cannot legally install gas lines, connect gas appliances, perform pressure tests, or pull gas permits in Florida. The permit for gas work can only be pulled by the licensed gas contractor, and the permit requires the gas contractor’s license number. Work performed without a permit is not inspected, is not documented in the county’s property record, and may create insurance liability and property sale issues.

Natural gas is delivered through the utility’s underground distribution lines at a continuous supply pressure determined by the local utility. A home on natural gas has unlimited supply as long as the utility’s system is intact. Propane (also called LP gas or liquefied petroleum gas) is stored in a tank on the property and delivered by truck. A propane system has finite supply determined by the tank size and fill level. Natural gas is typically delivered to residential appliances at about 7 inches of water column (roughly 1/4 psi). Propane is typically delivered at about 11 inches of water column after the second-stage regulator. Appliances are typically sold in natural gas configuration and must be converted with the manufacturer’s kit to operate on propane, or purchased in a propane-specific configuration. Always Fire & Gas installs and services both fuel types. For a fuller comparison, read propane vs natural gas for Ocala homeowners.

NFPA 54 is the National Fuel Gas Code, which governs the installation of natural gas systems in residential and commercial buildings. NFPA 58 is the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, which governs the installation of propane and LP gas systems including tank placement, burial depth, setback requirements, and distribution line installation. Florida adopts both codes through the Florida Building Code. When a licensed gas contractor sizes a gas line, confirms an LP tank placement, determines burial depth for a propane tank, or establishes the setback distance for a generator from a window or door, those determinations reference NFPA 54 or NFPA 58 as the applicable standard. An unlicensed contractor who does not reference these codes may install a system that passes visual inspection but fails a code compliance review at property sale or during an insurance claim.

Always Fire & Gas provides ten gas service scopes across North Central Florida under FL Gas Contractor License #LI45277 (Category V): natural gas installation (new service for homes converting from propane or electric), propane system installation (complete system for homes not on the utility’s natural gas distribution), LP tank installation and burial, LP tank upgrades and relocations, gas appliance installation (ranges, dryers, water heaters, outdoor grills, and generators), gas range conversion between natural gas and propane fuel types, gas fireplace and insert service, generator installation and relocation (dedicated supply line with lead contractor coordination), gas safety inspection, and gas services consultation (on-site assessment for buyers who need a licensed contractor to define the scope and price before committing to any service).

In Florida, a permit is required for any new gas line installation: running a new line from the meter or tank to an appliance location, installing a new distribution system, or adding a new branch line to an existing system. A permit is generally not required for a direct appliance hookup at an existing supply location where no new line work is performed – for example, replacing a gas range at a location where the gas supply, shutoff valve, and flex connector are all already in place. Appliance installations that require a new line run require a permit regardless of the appliance type or length of the new line. Always Fire & Gas pulls the permit on all scopes that require one and advises on permit requirements at assessment for any scope where the permit requirement is not immediately clear.

If you smell gas inside your home or adjacent to your gas meter or propane tank, leave the building immediately without using any light switches, phones, or electronic devices inside. Do not attempt to locate the leak or shut off any gas valves. Once outside and away from the building, call the gas utility’s emergency line (for natural gas) or your propane supplier’s emergency line, then call 911. Do not re-enter the building until the utility or emergency responders confirm it is safe. After the emergency is resolved and the leak is confirmed repaired, Always Fire & Gas is available to perform a licensed gas safety inspection of the system and provide written documentation of the system’s post-repair condition (see gas leak inspection). For non-emergency safety concerns – a gas odor that resolved, a previous installation you want inspected, an appliance that has been acting inconsistently – call (352) 282-0158 to schedule a gas safety consultation.