Gas stations are not benign. Through fueling and underground venting, they release volatile organic compounds, including benzene, a carcinogen. The WHO has stated there is no safe level of benzene exposure, and the U.S. EPA recommends schools screen for health risks when located within 1,000 feet of a gas station. A 2018 study by the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health examined the release of vapors from gas station vent pipes and found that benzene emissions could pose health risks up to 525 feet away. Other studies have examined the link between residential proximity to gas stations and health risks, including childhood leukemia.

The City can enforce the parking code and fire code that currently are in existence. The City also can void permits when developers present erroneous and incomplete information in their application, rather than allowing permit applicants to address deficiencies after-the-fact.

Read more about existing parking requirements: Gas stations today are able to meet parking requirements because the Permitting Center allows them to count their fueling spots as parking spots. However, the code as written specifies parking spots “shall only be used for parking, and are not to be used for any other use, including but not limited to, the sale, display or storage of merchandise.” The practice of allowing gas stations to count their fuel spots toward parking violates existing code and enables some developments to exist on lots they would otherwise not fit on. 

Read more about existing fire code requirements: In practice, gas stations today do not have their plans reviewed for fire safety until after construction & permit approval is complete. This is counter to the code as written which charges the Division of Fire Protection as having "the primary duty of conducting inspections, reviewing plans for construction." The practice of allowing gas station developments to avoid fire review until after construction and permit approval, enables developments to proceed that could pose a hazard to life and safety. As an example, site plans next to homes today are approved even if fuel operations can't reliably comply with federal fuel delivery safety requirements mandating a 300 ft separation from open flames (like fire pits and grills). These are the types of safety risks a fire review prior to permit approval and construction could catch and mitigate.

In August 2026, Houston’s City Council expressed their commitment to pass a distance-based ordinance that would help address benzene and fire risks that gas stations present when they are built too close to homes.

The Houston Health Department is currently conducting a benzene study around gas stations next to homes, currently slated to end in October. This is the type of local data the City Legal Department has said is needed to justify increased setback requirements to protect residents from chronic benzene & VOC exposure.

The fire code should also be amended to make explicit the required fire review prior to permitting and construction and increase the setback distances currently found in that code, in order to protect residents from fire risks specifically. 

The following Super Neighborhood groups and civic clubs have expressed support for a city-level solution to gas stations by homes:

SN17 - Eldridge / West Oaks

SN28 - University Place

SN31 - Greater Meyerland Area, Harold Eaton

SN32 - Braeswood, Cheryl O’Brien

SN48 - Trinity / Houston Gardens super neighborhood

SN49 - East Houston & SN50 - Settegast (jointly)

SN55 - Greater Fifth Ward, Joetta Stevenson

SN71 - Sunnyside

SN72 - South Park, Travis McGee

SN83 - MacGregor, Tomaro Bell

Audubon Place Association

Camp Logan Civic Club

Carver Estate Civic Club

Clairmont Place Civic Organization

Crestwood Civic Club

District B United, Fred Woods

East Sunset Heights Association

East Houston Civic Club, Kimberly Lee

Friends of Fonde Park, Karina Yonekawa-Blest

Glenbrook Valley Civic Club, Joe Wilson

Groveland Terrace Civic Club 

Heathercrest Post Oak Village Civic Assoc

LaSalette Place Civic Club, Laura Tryon

Lindale Park Civic Club, Jennifer Demeules, Laura Monter

Linkwood Civic Club

North Montrose Civic Association, Leesa White

Northwood Manor Civic Club,Willie Nichols

Northfield I&II HOA, Susan Salahshoor

Progressive Fifth Ward Community Association, Erica Hubbard

Riverside Civic Association, Phyllis Moss  

Riverwood Estates Civic Club, Acqunita Earnest

Robindell Civic Club, Mavalin Mikeska

Southwest Manor Civic Club

Segundo Civic, Scott Singleton

Sunnyside Gardens Bayou Estates Civic Association, Travis McGee

University Place Association 

WAMM (Westheimer, Alabama, Montrose, and Mulberry) Civic Association, Kevin Sokol-White

West End Civic Club (WECC), Howard Watson

White Oak Terrace Civic Club, Felicia Light

Windsor Village Civic Club, Elizabeth Bell