Remove a buried residential tank
- Typical range
- $1,500-3,500
- What changes the price
- Depth, access for the excavator, patios or trees on top, disposal
Tacoma · University Place · Lakewood
Heating oil tank removal and decommissioning in Tacoma
Many older Tacoma homes still have a buried heating oil tank. Buyers, lenders and inspectors ask about it. Here's what the job involves, what it usually costs, and how to get quotes from local pros.
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Heating oil tank removal
At a glance
$1,500-3,500typical removal of a residential yard tank (statewide guides)
Permit firstTacoma Fire requires a permit before any tank work starts
30 daysto file the decommissioning report in Tacoma
Homes built before the 1970s often heated with oil from a tank buried in the yard. When the house switched to gas or electric, the tank usually stayed in the ground. It becomes a problem at sale time: a buyer's inspector may find a fill pipe or vent, the buyer asks for proof the tank was handled, and the deal waits.
There are two ways to deal with a tank you don't use: remove it (dig it up, clean it, haul it away) or decommission it in place (pump out the oil, clean it, and fill it with an inert material like sand or concrete slurry). Both need a permit in Tacoma, and both end with a report you keep for the next buyer.
How it works
- Tell us about the jobA short form, about two minutes. Free and no obligation.
- We pass it to up to 3 local prosIndependent businesses that do this work in your area.
- Compare quotes and chooseHire one, or nobody. Your contract is with them, not with us.
What it costs
Typical public ranges, not quotes
These are typical ranges from public cost guides, not quotes. Your price depends on tank size, how deep it is, what's on top of it, and whether the soil is clean.
Decommission in place (fill)
- Typical range
- $600-3,400
- What changes the price
- Tank size, fill material, permit and report
Soil sampling and lab test
- Typical range
- $300-1,500
- What changes the price
- Number of samples, rush lab work
Tank search / sweep (metal detector or ground radar)
- Typical range
- a few hundred dollars
- What changes the price
- Lot size, radar vs. metal detector
Cleanup if the tank leaked
- Typical range
- often 2-3x the removal cost, sometimes much more
- What changes the price
- How far the oil spread
If the soil test shows contamination, cleanup follows state rules and costs more. Washington's Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA) runs a heating oil program that has offered loans and grants for leaking residential tanks; check its current terms on plia.wa.gov.
How the job usually goes
- Find out if there's a tank. Look for a fill pipe or vent near the foundation, old oil bills, or ask for a tank search.
- Get 2-3 quotes. Ask each pro whether they recommend removal or decommissioning and why.
- The contractor pulls the permit. In Tacoma the Fire Department issues it to the contractor, before work starts. Permits aren't issued after the fact.
- The work. Oil and sludge are pumped out, the tank is cleaned, then removed or filled. Soil samples may be taken.
- The report. In Tacoma, a decommissioning report goes to the Fire Department within 30 days. Keep a copy for your sale file.
Local rules worth knowing
Tacoma: the Tacoma Fire Department requires a permit for each tank before any work, issued to the contractor. The work must be done or directly supervised on site by an ICC-certified UST decommissioner, and the report is due within 30 days. Source: Tacoma Fire bulletin.
University Place: a residential tank decommissioning permit (listed at $55 in the city's 2019 handout), with a notarized report. Source: City of University Place.
Other cities: rules differ. Ask your city's permit counter or fire marshal. We'll note it when we learn more.
Before you hire: a short checklist
- Ask for their WA L&I contractor registration number and check it on the L&I site.
- In Tacoma, ask who the ICC-certified decommissioner on site will be.
- Confirm they pull the permit and file the report, and that both are in the quote.
- Ask what happens, and what it costs, if soil samples come back dirty.
- Get the price for patching the lawn or patio afterwards in writing.
Questions
Do I have to remove an old oil tank I don't use?
Not always. Many owners decommission in place instead. But buyers and lenders often want proof that an unused tank was handled, so most owners deal with it before listing. A local pro can tell you which option fits your yard.
Removal or decommission in place: which is better?
Removal leaves nothing in the ground and is often preferred by buyers. Decommissioning in place costs less and avoids digging under patios, driveways or trees. Both need a permit and a report in Tacoma.
How long does it take?
The on-site work is usually one day. Scheduling, the permit and any lab results add days to a few weeks. If you have a sale closing date, put it in your request.
What if the tank leaked?
Then cleanup follows state rules and costs more. Washington's PLIA heating oil program has offered help for leaking residential tanks; check its current terms.
Are you a contractor?
No. We're a free referral service. We pass your request to up to 3 independent local pros, and you hire one of them, or none, directly.
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