<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000869805 <NAME> PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES XVII, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> US <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-Mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> Dec-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 214,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 257,000 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 471,000 <PP&E> 67,452,000 <DEPRECIATION> (19,003,000) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 48,920,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2,742,000 <BONDS> 4,650,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 40,000 <OTHER-SE> 41,488,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 48,920,000 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 10,909,000 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 6,028,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 267,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 466,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,148,000 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,148,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,148,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.33 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.03