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Oil Production Program

The City of Huntington Beach has a long history of oil production. Much of the land in the city was formerly leased or owned by oil companies and small independent oil operators. Managing the city's oil production facilities and performing tasks related to oil code enforcement is the primary responsibility of the Community Risk Reduction Division.

The responsibilities of the Community Risk Reduction Division include the following:

Review development plans located in the Methane District
Enforce the Huntington Beach Oil Code.
Perform annual oil well fire inspections
Review and approve oil well drilling permits and well abandonment permits
Respond to active oil well incidents.

Related Fire Department links include:

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the Methane District?

The methane overlay district (“methane district”) includes areas of Huntington Beach that may have higher than normal methane gas hazards. Methane is a naturally occurring flammable gas that is a by-product of decay and is also associated with current and former oil production.

All development projects within the methane district must be reviewed by the Fire Department. Plans will be reviewed to ensure that projects are compliant with the Huntington Beach Fire Code, Huntington Beach Oil Code, and City Specifications 422, 429, 431-92. For more information, please see the following City Specifications:

Is there an abandoned oil well under my property?

The California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) Well Finder application can be used to find the approximate location of oil wells throughout Huntington Beach.

Contact (714) 536-5411 for more information on developing a property with an abandoned oil well on the parcel.

I smell something that smells like gas. What can I do?

Natural gas odors can be many different things including natural and man-made. If you do not believe it is from a natural gas leak* - it may be from an infrequent phenomenon from an unknown source that the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) is investigating. The Fire Department is aware of this issue, and we do not believe it is an immediate life safety issue. The Fire Department is working with AQMD to promptly report the issue when it occurs. It is important that affected citizens call 1-800-CUT-SMOG or use their online complaint tool to identify the location, time, and duration of the odor. An AQMD phone app is also available for reporting purposes.

With the AQMD continuing to receive complaints, they have increased their investigation efforts. In addition, the agency has created a detailed informational page on their website which provides the status of their investigation. You are encouraged to access this link for further details: http://www.aqmd.gov/home/regulations/compliance/coastal-area-odor-complaint-response-information

Call 911 promptly if you suspect the gas odor is eminently dangerous to life or your property.

If you believe there is a natural gas leak in your home or business, immediately evacuate the area and from a safe location, call Southern California Gas Company (1-800-427-2200).

Information for Oil Well Operators

Huntington Beach Oil Code

The Huntington Beach Oil Code can be found in Chapter 15 of the Huntington Beach Municipal Code.

Other Regulatory Agencies:

Well Abandonment

For well abandonment procedures, please see the following City Specification:

422 Oil Well Abandonment Permit Process

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