We explain how much an SPCC Plan costs on average - and the variables that impact that price.
Are you frustrated with trying to figure out what an SPCC Plan really costs?
Do you feel like every consulting or engineering website avoids the question and pushes you toward a generic “contact us for an SPCC quote” form, without discussing price at all?
If this sounds familiar, you're in the right place. In this article, we’ll break down SPCC Plan costs, explain the main factors that affect pricing, and share examples of what facilities often spend when it comes to SPCC pricing.
By the time you’re done, you’ll have a clear sense of whether a new SPCC Plan fits into your budget, what kind of investment hiring a consultant might require, and if a do-it-yourself approach could be more cost effective for your situation.
In a world of tight budgets, understanding the cost or expected price of anything is necessary to factor into your operating expenses. Money is very important, and we understand you'll need to know at least a ballpark price of what you can expect to pay. Frankly, most people have no idea what one will cost, and getting a quick quote from a consultant can be like pulling teeth. At RMA, we believe cost should be clear and upfront, because that’s exactly the kind of information we’d want in your position.
SPCC Plan Cost Range: What You Can Expect to Pay
The short answer is that a professionally prepared SPCC Plan typically runs anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000 or more, depending on the complexity of your facility. Most facilities fall somewhere in the middle, with a ballpark range of $3,000 to $6,000 per location for an SPCC Plan developed by a qualified, competent, consultant.
Want a faster way to see what your plan might cost? Try the estimator below for an instant snapshot of your SPCC Plan range. It only takes a minute and doesn’t ask for any personal information.
Now that you’ve seen your SPCC Plan price range from the tool above, it’s worth taking a closer look at what really goes into that number - or at least the factors that we would consider when looking at a project! SPCC Plan pricing isn’t pulled out of thin air, it’s shaped by the size of your facility, the amount of oil you store, the complexity of your site layout, and the level of detail required to stay compliant. Each of these factors plays a role in determining whether your SPCC Plan costs sit closer to the low end of the spectrum or trend toward the higher side.
In the sections ahead, we’ll walk through these drivers step by step so you can better understand why your estimate landed where it did and what that means for your budget. And if you still have questions about the cost of an SPCC Plan or want to talk through your specific situation, you can always reach out here and we’ll make sure you get the clarity you need.
Top Six Factors Impacting the Price of an SPCC Plan.
There can be a wide range in the price of an SPCC Plan, because like buying a car, a pool, or going out to dinner, the price can vary with different options, choices, and features.
1 - Facility Location & Complexity vs SPCC Pricing
The size and layout of your facility have a big influence on the cost of an SPCC Plan. A small site with just a couple of tanks often requires less time on the ground and a simpler plan overall, though travel to more remote locations can add to the expense.
Larger or more spread-out operations tell a different story. A facility that spans several acres, with multiple storage areas, buildings, or tank farms, demands a more detailed evaluation and a more comprehensive plan.
As square footage increases, so does the likelihood of additional tanks, containment structures, and drainage systems that all need to be reviewed, measured, and documented. That added complexity means more effort is required to create your plan, and naturally, that effort is reflected in the final cost of your SPCC Plan.
2 - The Type of SPCC Plan vs Costs
Not every SPCC Plan is created equal, and the EPA breaks them into three main categories.
- Tier I SPCC Plans are the simplest and cheapest option. They’re available to facilities with less than 10,000 gallons of total storage and no single tank larger than 5,000 gallons. The EPA even provides a free fill-in-the-blank template available here. For some, that means compliance could technically cost nothing. The catch is that the template isn’t always crystal clear, doesn’t cover every site-specific detail regulators may expect, and can easily leave gaps that come back to bite you later. It’s one of those government tools that looks great on paper but often leaves facilities underprepared in reality.
- Tier II SPCC Plans cover facilities that are still under the 10,000-gallon threshold but have at least one tank larger than 5,000 gallons. These plans require more detail than Tier I, and while they can still be self-certified, they’re not always as straightforward as they sound. Many facilities underestimate the extra calculations, diagrams, and documentation needed, which means what looks like a “mid-range” plan can still be surprisingly complex and time-consuming.
- PE-Certified SPCC Plans are required once a facility has more than 10,000 gallons of storage. They must be reviewed and stamped by a licensed Professional Engineer. In some cases, you may need a PE-certified plan even if you’re under that threshold, such as when your state has stricter rules (Kentucky is one example) or if you have a history of spills.
As you move from Tier I to Tier II to PE-certified, the level of detail, the time commitment, and the cost all increase. What seems simple at first often carries more strings attached than facility operators realize, which is why getting clear on the right category for your site is such an important first step.
If you're wondering what the difference in these SPCC Plans is, scroll below to check out our SPCC Recommended Reading which covers everything you need to know about SPCC Plans!
3 - Where is your facility located?
Most SPCC Plans begin with an in-person site visit. For example, when we do SPCC Plans, we walk the property, look over your storage, gather measurements and site details, and run the necessary calcs to work through and document your operations within your plan. In rare cases, an SPCC Plan can be put together remotely, but for most facilities, a physical walkthrough is the starting point.
Travel is a factor that can influence price. If your operation is close to a major highway or city, costs stay low. But once you’re tucked away in a remote corner, things change. Travel costs can add up quickly for single site projects (more on this in a second). We’re not talking luxury travel here, but the reality is that travel logistics do add to the overall cost of an SPCC Plan.
Where your facility is located also matters because state spill prevention rules aren’t always identical to the federal SPCC regulations. States like Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Michigan, and New Jersey, for example, have their own spill prevention requirements layered on top of EPA’s. If your plan needs to address both federal and state expectations, it naturally becomes more complex, and more expensive.
That added complexity shows up in the form of extra checks, added language, and sometimes direct coordination with state agencies. Submitting documents, confirming compliance with multiple programs, and tailoring the plan to satisfy overlapping rules all take additional time. And just like with travel or site visits, that additional time translates to added cost.
4 - How Many SPCC Plans Do You Need?
The number of facilities that need SPCC Plans has a direct impact on cost. A single site will always be priced on its own, but once you have multiple locations, the pricing starts to shift. It’s a lot like buying in bulk—more facilities usually mean the per-plan cost comes down.
Travel expenses play a big role here as well. For one remote facility, the full cost of flights, rental cars, fuel, and time on the road gets absorbed entirely by that single project. But if several facilities can be covered during the same trip, those expenses are spread across the group. The result is that the travel cost per facility drops, and the overall pricing becomes more efficient.
That’s why companies with multiple locations often find that handling their SPCC Plans as a package deal makes more financial sense than tackling each one individually.
5 - Do you want an expert, or an intern, writing your SPCC Plan?
Another factor that plays into cost is the level of expertise behind your SPCC Plan. This is something many operations don’t think about, simply because they aren’t familiar with how the process of getting an SPCC Plan works. But it matters a lot! Think of it like buying anything else, the quality of what you get depends heavily on the person or company producing it.
Some firms prepare SPCC Plans all the time, and they'll send knowledgeable staff who know what to look for, can complete a site walkthrough quickly, and understand exactly how to document what regulators want to see. Others may send someone with little experience, or worse, assign the work to an intern who is still learning the basics (we see this all the time). In those cases, the price may shift in either direction, but the end product won’t carry the same level of reliability.
It’s also worth pointing out that the regulations don’t specify qualifications for writing an SPCC Plan. The EPA’s intention was to make SPCC compliance something facilities could handle pretty easily, which is why they have the free Tier I template that anyone can use. Unfortunately, that means if you hire someone, your plan could technically be drafted by anyone, from a summer intern fresh out of high school to the lead consultant at one of the nation’s largest environmental firms. Naturally, the credentials and experience of the person holding the pen will factor into what you pay, and more importantly, the quality of the plan you receive.
6 - How quickly do you need your SPCC Plan put together?
It seems like most facilities need an SPCC Plan right away!
But! The regulations actually give you some breathing room. From the moment that a plan is required (meaning when oil storage starts happening, not when you realized these regulations exist), you have up to six months to get it written, finalized, and in place at your facility.
That window of time can make a big difference. It gives you the flexibility to hire a consultant, schedule a site visit, review the finished plan, and complete your training without the stress of an immediate deadline. For many facilities, this means we can slot the work into our schedule without charging rush fees, which keeps your costs lower.
Travel is another area where planning ahead helps. Last-minute flights, rentals, and hotel bookings can get expensive fast. When there’s time to plan trips in advance, we can group site visits more efficiently, reducing those costs and passing the savings along to you.
In short, if you’re able to plan ahead and use the full grace period, you’re more likely to get a cost-effective SPCC Plan without the premium price tag that comes with last-minute projects.
BONUS! Bundling Services Can Lower Your SPCC Plan Cost
Another factor that can influence pricing is whether we’re already working with you on other projects. If we’re handling stormwater work, or managing other environmental compliance items at the same time, there may be opportunities to bundle services together, or pull info from other projects, making the up front work shorter. It’s the same idea as buying in bulk, when we’re already on-site or already digging into your facility’s records, it’s easier (and usually cheaper) to tackle everything together instead of treating each project as a separate job.
BONUS! How Customer Involvement Affects SPCC Plan Pricing
The flow of information between your facility and our staff (or whatever consultant you want to hire) also plays a role in SPCC Plan costs. When customers are responsive, able to provide documents quickly, and can track down site-specific details on their own, the process moves smoothly and efficiently. On the other hand, if gathering basic information requires significant back-and-forth, or if we need to spend extra time filling in gaps that could have been handled internally, the level of effort goes up. That additional effort can affect pricing, which is why clear and timely communication on your end is one of the simplest ways to keep your SPCC Plan as cost-effective as possible.
True Cost of an SPCC Plan
So what should you expect to pay for a good, solid plan prepared by a competent, experienced organization? Someone who really understands SPCC Plans, and can give you a normal, competitive quote? Here are our best, ballpark estimates for what you can expect to be an average price for an SPCC plan:
Tier I or Tier II self certified SPCC Plans could range from $2,500 to $5,000, give or take. Plans at this level are a generally needed at a wide range of businesses, including:
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Farms and other agricultural operations
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Auto repair and maintenance shops
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Small to mid-sized commercial or industrial facilities
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Offices, schools, and hospitals
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Data centers
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Warehouses with a few aboveground tanks
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Smaller construction or landscaping companies
Conversely, PE-Certified SPCC plans could range from $4,000 to $10,000+. If your facility doesn’t qualify for self-certification, your SPCC Plan must be certified by a PE. The main trigger is crossing the 10,000-gallon threshold, but that number isn’t as large as it sounds. Most people imagine a massive diesel tank fueling an entire fleet, but in reality, a handful of smaller tanks can put you past the cutoff. At this level, the higher price reflects more than just the engineer’s review. It includes detailed documentation, containment and volume calculations, and often a more comprehensive site visit to make sure everything is properly evaluated.
For some facilities, SPCC Plan development costs can easily exceed $10,000. That usually happens when the site has numerous tanks across multiple buildings, when the containment setup is complex and requires custom mapping, or when the plan has to satisfy more than one regulatory agency at the same time. Each of these factors adds time and detail to the process, which naturally drives up the overall cost.
Long Term SPCC Plan Costs
Your SPCC Plan needs to be used in order to be in compliance with the regulations, and that means keeping it up to date, inspections, training, and sometimes even some supplies or equipment costs
As always, shop around. Find someone you can trust, who can deliver a plan at a price you can afford. Don't overpay, but make sure you find a good, competent company that can deliver a plan that best suits your needs. If you're in the market for a plan or need yours updated, and would like some information, a quote, or just want to pick our brains, click here to contact us, or give us a call at 609-693-8301 to discuss your needs.
