Plans & Inspections

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Fire prevention inspection services and enforcement in compliance with the California Fire Code. The Fire Prevention Bureau partners with business owners to ensure their continued safety in our community.

SCHEDULE AN INSPECTION HERE

Electronic Submittal

The process starts with the Community Development Department. As plans are routed through the application process, they are reviewed by SLOFD.

Submitted plans will be reviewed with a focus on Fire and Life Safety Standards of the California Fire and Building Codes. We review new construction and tenant improvements for:

Life-Safety Requirements
Fire protection, detection and alarm systems
Assembly use-occupancies
High-piled storage conditions
Title 19 occupancies and uses (licensed facilities, tents, assemblies)
Photovoltaic uses
Process installations using or removing hazardous materials
Requirements for Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Areas

By enforcing:

2022 California Fire Code (CFC)
NFPA 13 Installation of Sprinkler Systems (2022 Edition)
For further reference, see City of SLO Municipal Code.
State Fire Marshal regulations of Title 19 and 24 (California Fire, Building, Mechanical and Electrical Codes)
National Fire Protection Association standards

Resubmittals

Resubmittals are required when plan review comments identify corrections, or there are changes or deviations from the approved plan or additional forms are needed. It is important to resubmit through the permit portal updated digital plans, requested documents, and a narrative of changes using the correct process.

The contractor is responsible for notifying the inspector that revised plans were approved.

Plan Approval

Projects that require fire department permit or approval are listed in California Fire Code Chapter 1 Section 105, as amended by the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code. Any Installation, modification or alteration of a fire suppression or fire alarm system requires separate plan review and permit. To submit plans for review, complete an application with the Community Development Department permit portal. Your plans will be routed to the Fire Department for review. Plans are reviewed on a first-come-first-served basis. Our goal is to approve projects with the first submittal, because denying a project makes the process longer for everyone. The San Luis Obispo Fire Department’s Developers Guide and Business Continuity and Emergency Planning Toolkit can provide assistance to design professionals prior to plan submittal.

Permits

Inspections

All requirements and inspections must be completed prior to receiving final approval (permit sign-off) from the Fire department. Schedule inspections here.

If you have an annual inspection, an inspector will call you to set up your annual.

SLOFD conducts annual fire and life safety inspections at:

Apartments with 3 or more units
Hotels, Motels, B & B's, hostels
New Businesses
Senior Living Facilities
Fraternities/Sororities
Schools
Preschool/Daycare in a Commercial Building
Other Congregate Residences

Fees vary according to the type of property being inspected. Click here for our current fee schedule.

Submit a Fire Sprinkler/Alarm Testing & Inspection Report Here.

FAQ Box

How do I schedule a Fire inspection?

Fill out a request here.
If I fail to make corrections to a Fire Code violation, what happens?

If compliance has not been met after the period allotted by the initial issue of the Fire Inspection Notice, a 2nd Fire Inspection Notice will be issued; concurrently a penalty fee may be assessed to you. A subsequent recheck will be made, and if the conditions in violation are still found, a final notice will be issued by way of a Compliance Order. A subsequent recheck will be made, and if unsafe conditions are still found, a penalty fee will be assessed by way of an Administrative Citation. If conditions continue to exist, the matter will be forwarded to the City Attorneys' office, and additional fees will be assessed. Each additional re-inspection for non-compliance will be charged as
a penalty fee. If you have been assessed a penalty fee for noncompliance, you will not have your violation notice signed off as corrected until proof of payment is made.
Fire Inspector found a violation of the Fire Code in my building, what must I do?

If a violation is found during an inspection, a Fire Inspection Notice will be issued to record the type and location of the violation—if there is not a responsible party on site to receive the notice, it will be mailed to the property contact. Unless the violation poses an immediate fire, life, or safety violation, reasonable time will be granted to make the corrections.

More FAQs

City of San Luis Obispo, CA

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