Who Can Remove An Oil Tank In New Jersey
New Jersey answers this question twice, once for tanks in the ground and once for tanks in a basement, and the two answers are not the same.
This page sets out both, the three certification types behind them, and how to check a firm's record yourself before anybody quotes you.
Last checked 2026-08-26.
A Written Quote For Your Property
The address, the rough age of the house and where you think the tank sits are enough to start. You do not need paperwork or a tank size to ask.
Underground Tanks Need A Certified Closure Firm
For an underground unregulated heating oil tank, the requirement is specific about both the person and the company. NJDEP states that a closure certified individual working for a closure certified UST firm is required to remove underground unregulated heating oil tanks.
The requirements for that certification sit in the Underground Storage of Hazardous Substances rules at N.J.A.C. 7:14B. The Department of Community Affairs puts the same point in its own bulletin, stating that only NJDEP certified individuals and firms can perform services on unregulated heating oil tanks.
Sources: NJDEP UHOT homeowner FAQs, DCA Bulletin 95-1B. Checked 2026-08-26.
Three Certifications, Doing Three Different Jobs
There is not one tank certification in New Jersey, there are three, and they are issued separately: tank installation, tank closure, and subsurface evaluation. Subsurface evaluation is the one needed to oversee remediation.
In the state's own certified firm records the closure entries are split further. A CLOSURE certification permits a firm to close any underground storage tank, while an HHO CLOSURE certification permits it to close heating oil tanks only.
The qualifier that catches people out is what happens when a removal turns into a cleanup. NJDEP states that a closure contractor can only perform remediation services if they are also certified for subsurface evaluation. A firm that can lawfully take your tank out is not automatically a firm that can lawfully deal with what is found underneath it.
Sources: NJDEP UHOT homeowner FAQs, DCA Bulletin 95-1B. Checked 2026-08-26.
Aboveground Tanks Follow A Different Rule
The aboveground rule is the one most people get wrong, in both directions. NJDEP states that a New Jersey licensed HVACR contractor, a New Jersey licensed plumbing contractor, a homeowner, or a New Jersey licensed DEP contractor can remove an aboveground oil tank.
A homeowner is on that list, so removing your own basement tank is not automatically outside the rules. The same answer then rules something out explicitly: a contractor with a Home Improvement Contractor registration cannot remove an aboveground oil tank.
An HIC registration is the common credential for general home improvement work in New Jersey, which is exactly why it is worth checking rather than assuming.
Source: NJDEP UHOT homeowner FAQs. Checked 2026-08-26.
Checking A Firm Before You Hire It
You do not have to take a certification claim on trust. NJDEP publishes certified firm reports through its DataMiner system, and the record shows a certification type against each firm.
What you are looking for is the Cert Type column, and specifically CLOSURE or HHO CLOSURE for the removal itself, and SUBSURFACE EVALUATION if there is any prospect of remediation. NJDEP suggests exporting the report to PDF or Excel to make it easier to work through.
Source: NJDEP UHOT homeowner FAQs. Checked 2026-08-26.
Certification Where The State Is Paying
Where the UST Fund is funding the work, certification stops being a matter of good practice and becomes a statutory condition. Under P.L. 2006, c.58, effective 3 October 2006, all contractors performing work on non-regulated underground storage tanks, including homeowner heating oil tanks, where the work is funded by the UST Fund, must be certified in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14B-13.
Source: NJDEP UST Fund. Checked 2026-08-26.
Certification Questions
Can any contractor remove my underground oil tank?
No. NJDEP requires a closure certified individual working for a closure certified UST firm to remove an underground unregulated heating oil tank, under the rules at N.J.A.C. 7:14B.
Can I remove my own basement oil tank?
For an aboveground tank, NJDEP lists a homeowner among those who can remove it, alongside a licensed HVACR contractor, a licensed plumbing contractor and a licensed DEP contractor. An underground tank is a different matter and needs a certified closure firm.
My contractor has an HIC registration. Is that enough?
Not for an aboveground oil tank. NJDEP states directly that a contractor with an HIC registration cannot remove an aboveground oil tank.
What is the difference between CLOSURE and HHO CLOSURE?
A CLOSURE certification permits a firm to close any underground storage tank. An HHO CLOSURE certification permits it to close heating oil tanks only.
Does my closure contractor handle contamination too?
Only if they also hold subsurface evaluation certification. NJDEP states a closure contractor can only perform remediation services if they are certified for subsurface evaluation as well.
How do I verify a firm is certified?
Through NJDEP's DataMiner certified firm reports, checking the Cert Type column for CLOSURE, HHO CLOSURE or SUBSURFACE EVALUATION. NJDEP suggests exporting the report to PDF or Excel for easier review.
Ask About Your Own Property
General rules only go so far. Send the address and what you know and you get an answer about the property in front of you.
A Written Quote For Your Property
The address, the rough age of the house and where you think the tank sits are enough to start. You do not need paperwork or a tank size to ask.