Fire Department Permits

The Fire Department issues a variety of permits related to life safety and property protection. This page explains those permits. All of the permits discussed below are available through our Customer Permit Portal.

The following items are common among all permits issued by the Fire Department. If a process differs for an individual permit type, it will be noted on the individual permit's information section.

Online Data Application Requirements

When you're ready to apply for a permit, the City's online Customer Permit Portal will ask you for three key categories of information, including project information, project people, and project details. They are discussed below. First, for project information, you'll need to know the project name, address, and parcel identification number. Second, for project people, please note that the individual listed as the applicant will be the main contact for the project and will be responsible for paying fees and providing documents. For project people, you'll need to know who is the applicant, the owner, and the contact person or agent. For each of those persons, you'll need to have their name, address, phone number, and email address. Third, for project details, you'll be asked to enter pertinent data relating to the type of permit being applied for and scope of the project.

Review Process

Once the Online Permit Application has been accepted, an invoice will be emailed to the applicant for the payment of the application fees. Following payment, the applicant will be invited to upload supporting documentation and plans into ePlan Review. Plans are reviewed for compliance with the Florida Fire Prevention Code and any other applicable State and local regulations, if plans are not in compliance, the review will be denied and an "Applicant Resubmit Assignment Notice" will be sent to the applicant. The applicant responds to the comments by uploading the corrected supporting documentation and plans into ePlan Review. This cycle will continue until all the documentation and plans are approved as required by the Florida Fire Prevention Code and any other applicable State and local regulations.

Approval Process

The applicant will be notified when the permit application is approved and an invoice will be emailed to the applicant for the payment of the remaining permit fees. Once the permit fees have been paid in full the approved plans and permit placard will be uploaded into ePlan Review in a .pdf file for the applicant to download, print and place on the job site. Please note that Fire Alarm System permits have an option to expedite the permitting process. 

Revision Process

When there are changes to the approved plans of an issued fire protection permit, the applicant should complete and email the Revision to Fire Protection Permit Application form to the email address located on the bottom of the form. The Plan Review staff will review the submitted request form and the Applicant will be invited to upload the revised documentation and plans into ePlan Review. The submitted plans are reviewed for compliance with the Florida Fire Prevention Code and any other applicable State and local regulations, if plans are not in compliance, the review will be denied and an "Applicant Resubmit Assignment Notice" will be sent to the applicant. The applicant responds to the comments by uploading the corrected supporting documentation and plans into ePlan Review. This cycle will continue until all the documentation and plans are approved as required by the Florida Fire Prevention Code and any other applicable State and local regulations.

Inspection Process

Inspections are scheduled by calling 850-891-1800 using the Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS). Inspections are scheduled in the system as an a.m. or p.m. inspection, with the a.m. inspection meaning anytime during the day and p.m. meaning after 1 p.m. Inspections for a Fire Protection Permit are scheduled through the dispatch office at 850-891-7040 and a specific time and date is scheduled. Inspections may also be scheduled using the Customer Permitting Portal.

Project Completion

No building shall be used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued. A Certificate of Completion may be obtained (where a Certificate of Occupancy is not required) as proof that a structure or system is complete, per the approved drawings. These certificates are only issued when the project has received all the final inspections and has met all the provisions of the Florida Fire Prevention Code and other laws that are enforced by the department.