Fire and Rescue Alert:
Starting July 1, Fairfax County will implement updated fee schedules for Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) permits and plan review rates. The adjustments are intended to reflect the increase in costs related to personnel operations.
The Revenue and Records Branch is responsible for the collection of fees for services outlined in Chapter 61 and Chapter 62 of the Code of the County of Fairfax. Staff processes all Fire Prevention Code Permits and all Freedom of Information Act requests pertaining to fire protection systems, fire prevention code permits, building fire inspections, tanks and hazardous materials.
Methods Accepted: || CASH || CHECK || MONEY ORDER || CREDIT CARD ||
Authority to Charge Fees. Authority to charge fees originates from Chapter 61 and Chapter 62 of the Fairfax County Code and §2.2-3704 of the Code of Virginia.
Questions related to fee payments for billable services provided by the Office of the Fire Marshal should be directed to the Revenue & Records Branch at 703-246-4803.
For permit applications and information about installation permits required by the Office of the Fire Marshal, visit the Installation Permit Requirements area of our website.
Plans Review Fees - All Plan Types, All Review Time
Fees are due upon completion of the plan review process. Question related to plan review fees should be directed to the Revenue & Records Branch at 703-246-4803. Questions related to the plans review process and review status should be directed to the Engineering Plans Review Branch at 703-246-4806.
Acceptance Testing and Inspection Fees. Fees are based on an hourly charge of $180 per hour calculated on the quarter hour or part thereof, per inspector. Fees for fire protection equipment and systems performance tests and inspections, other equipment and systems performance tests and inspections, occupancy or pre-occupancy inspections, fire lanes and required retesting or re-inspections shall be imposed at the rate of $180 per hour calculated on the quarter hour or part thereof, per required inspector. This fee requirement is found in Chapter 61 of the Fairfax County Code.
Questions about acceptance testing and inspection fees should be directed to the Revenue & Records Branch at 703-246-4803.
Retesting of Existing Fire Protection Equipment and Systems. A re-inspection fee, based on hours reserved, shall be assessed when a scheduled test and re-inspection of existing fire protection equipment and systems is not cancelled more than 10 business days prior to the scheduled appointment. The re-inspection fee will be charged at the rate of $180 per hour calculated on the quarter hour or part thereof, per required inspector, and will be invoiced to the responsible company/party. This fee requirement is found in Section 901.6.3.1 of the Fire Prevention Code (as amended by Fairfax County).
Acceptance Tests. Re-inspection fees shall be based on the hours reserved to perform the test and will be charged at the rate of $180 per hour calculated on the quarter hour or part thereof, per required inspector. The following matrix is to serve as a guideline in determining when a re-inspection fee is required for acceptance testing and retesting. A minimum notice of 24 hours (one full business day) for test cancellation is required. This fee requirement is found in Chapter 61 of the Fairfax County Code.
ACCEPTANCE TEST/INSPECTION DISPOSITION / SITUATION | STATUS OF WORK | TEST PERFORMED? | FEE ASSESSED? |
---|---|---|---|
Inspection/Test Cancelled More Than 24 Hours Prior to Appointment * | N/A | No | No |
Inspection/Test Cancelled Less Than 24 Hours Prior to Appointment * | N/A | No | Yes |
Contractor Shows - Other Associated Companies/Trades Not on Site | Cannot Start Inspection/Test | No | Yes |
Inspector(s) Arrive - Nobody On Location to Facilitate Inspection/Test | Cannot Start Inspection/Test | No | Yes |
Inspection/Test Cancelled While Inspector(s) On Location - Test Not Started | Not Ready to Inspect/Test | No | Yes |
Regular Inspection/Test - Started But Not Completed | Not Ready or Failed - Fault of Contractor | Yes | Yes |
Regular Inspection/Test - Started But Not Completed | Not Ready or Failed - No Fault of Contractor | Yes | Yes |
Regular Inspection/Test - Started | Substantially Compliant - Minor Deficiencies | Yes | Yes |
Final Inspection | Deficient | Yes | Yes |
* 24 hours = 1 business day
Faulty Fire Alarm Inspections, Follow-ups, and Reinspection. A faulty or nuisance alarm is deemed to occur whenever the fire official or fire department officer in charge responding to a fire alarm call shall determine, after investigation, that faulty equipment initiated the alarm. Whenever faulty or nuisance fire alarm activations occurring in any occupancy exceed 3 in a 90-day period, the fire official may require the owner or occupant to conduct a witnessed test of the fire protection system causing the faulty or nuisance alarm. Witnessed testing shall be in accordance with Section 901.6.3.1 of the Fire Prevention Code (as amended by Fairfax County). Inspection fees shall be as in Table 107.2 and Section 109.6 of the Fire Prevention Code (as amended by Fairfax County) - $180 per hour, per inspector or $45 per quarter hour or part thereof, per inspector.
Questions about faulty fire alarms and associated inspections/tests should be directed to the Fire Protection Systems Branch at 703-246-4821.
Section 108.1 of the Fire Prevention Code authorizes the Office of the Fire Marshal to require operational permits (i.e., Fire Prevention Code Permits) for activities, processes, and occupancies regulated by the Fire Prevention Code. Once issued, Fire Prevention Code Permits (FPCP) allow the permit applicant to (i) conduct activities involving the handling, storage, or use of substances, materials, or devices regulated by the Fire Prevention Code, (ii) conduct processes regulated by the Fire Prevention Code which produce conditions hazardous to life or property, (iii) and/or to establish a place of assembly. Operational permits are also issued for the closure of fuel storage tanks (i.e., remove or abandon in place).
In Fairfax County and the towns of Clifton, Herndon, and Vienna, operational permits are known as "Fire Prevention Code Permits" (FPCP). FPCP requirements originate from Table 107.2 of the Fire Prevention Code (as amended by Fairfax County). The full list of Fire Prevention Code Permits and fees is available.
For permit applications and information about operational permits required by the Office of the Fire Marshal, visit the Operational Permits and Inspections area of our website.
Fees for copies and/or research of any document and/or information available under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Questions related to obtaining information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) should be directed to the Revenue & Records Branch at 703-246-4803.
$29 Per chemical, to a maximum of $264.