The short version has not changed since the spring. Gas cans, whether full or empty, are not allowed on the Pierce County ferry under the county’s hazardous-materials rules. That has been the case all year, and it remains true today.
What is allowed is narrow. DOT-approved diesel containers are permitted, up to two five-gallon containers per vehicle. Gasoline in cans is not, regardless of size or whether the can is sealed.
Why it matters here
With the gas station closed, every gallon of gasoline on the island now arrives in a vehicle’s own tank. For most residents that covers daily driving. It does not cover generators, mowers, chainsaws, boats, and everything else that runs on gas and lives here year-round.
What is being worked on
The Anderson Island Citizens Advisory Board has been working with Pierce County on a permitting approach that would create a lawful path for moving fuel across. There is no finished solution to report yet. When there is movement, it will show up here.
In the meantime, the practical advice from neighbors is the same it has been: plan ahead, keep your tanks topped before you come over, and coordinate with people making mainland runs.
Where to check for changes
For the official hazmat rules and any updates to what the ferry will carry, the county’s ferry pages are the authoritative source. We will note any change here as soon as we hear it.