Commercial Building Permits
Commercial Building Permit
Apply for a Commercial Building Permit
Community Fire Protection District requires permits for commercial construction projects within the district. Building permits must be reviewed and approved before work begins.
Fire protection system work — including fire alarm, fire sprinkler, hood suppression, fuel tank, and underground fire main installations — is permitted separately under Fire Permits. A project that involves both commercial construction and fire protection system work requires a building permit and a fire permit.
Occupancy Permit Required
An Occupancy Permit Application must be submitted with the Building Permit Application whenever work involves:
Construction of a new building, or
A new tenant moving into or occupying an existing space
Submitting both applications at the same time helps ensure the building or tenant space is reviewed for applicable fire and life-safety requirements before it is occupied.
Apply online through our Permit Portal
All online permit applications are now submitted through the Community Fire Protection District Permit Portal. Use the portal to create an account, complete the application, upload plans in PDF format, and track the status of your permit.
Before You Apply…Collect the Following
Project address
Scope of Work
Building Owner Information*
Contractor Information*
Architect/Engineer Information*
Digital plan set ready for upload (pdf format required)
Ensure plans are designed to 2021 I-codes.
Supporting documents if required.
*Name, mailing address, email, and phone number required.
This application is for commercial construction within the district. Fire protection system work is permitted separately — see Fire Permits.
How it works
Create a portal account or sign in.
Select Commercial Building Permit.
Complete the application and upload required plans.
Submit the application through the portal.
District staff will review the submittal and assess fees.
Pay fees through the portal or in person when notified.
Respond to review comments in the portal if revisions are requested.
Work may begin only after permit approval and issuance.
| Important Notes | Requirements and Next Steps |
|---|---|
| Residential Projects | Community Fire Protection District does not require building permits for one- and two-family dwellings. |
| Municipal Permits | Applying to Community Fire Protection District does not replace permit requirements of the municipality having jurisdiction. Applicants may also need to apply for building permits with the applicable municipality. |
| Permit Fees | Permit fees may be paid by check, debit card, or credit card. Credit and debit card payments are subject to a 3% surcharge with a $2.00 minimum. Electronic check (e-check) payments are subject to a flat $2.00 fee. |
| Digital Plans | Digital plans must be uploaded in PDF format. Before uploading, save files using the construction address as the file name. Example: 9411 Marlowe.pdf |
| Before Work Begins | Plan review must be approved, all applicable fees must be paid, and the permit must be issued before construction or installation work begins. |
| What Happens Next? | After submittal, Fire Marshal’s Office staff will review the application and plans. Applicants will be notified through the Permit Portal if additional information, revisions, or fees are required. |
Need help using the Permit Portal?
If you need help creating your account, starting an application, uploading documents, or checking permit status, contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at (314) 428-1128 or firemarshal@communityfpd.org. Please include the project address and permit number, if available, in your message.
After you create an account, watch for email messages from noreply@smartgovcommunity.com and check your spam or junk folder if you do not see the confirmation email.
Building Permit FAQs
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Community Fire Protection District enforces the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), and 2021 International Fire Code (IFC), along with applicable referenced NFPA standards and locally adopted amendments. The applicable requirements depend on the scope of work, occupancy classification, and whether the project involves new construction, an addition, alteration, change of occupancy, or an existing building.
A copy of our adopted ordinances with amendments can be found at the below link.
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Permit fees are based on the type and scope of work. Applicable fees are identified in the Fire District’s adopted permit fee schedule and are assessed during application review.
For occupancy permits, a $100 application fee is due when the application is submitted. This fee includes the initial occupancy inspection and one reinspection.
NOTE: Permit fees are due before permit issuance. Permit fees may be paid by check, debit card, or credit card. Credit and debit card payments are subject to a 3% surcharge with a $2.00 minimum. Electronic check (e-check) payments are subject to a flat $2.00 fee.
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A Fire District building permit is generally required for commercial construction projects, including new buildings, additions, alterations, tenant finishes, changes in occupancy or use, and work affecting fire- and life-safety features. Separate permits may also be required for fire protection systems, such as fire sprinklers, fire alarms, standpipes, commercial kitchen hood suppression systems, and other fire-extinguishing systems.
Contact the Fire Marshal’s Office before beginning work if you are unsure whether your project requires a Fire District permit. Early coordination can prevent delays and unplanned corrections.
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After an application is submitted through SmartGov, Fire District staff will review it for completeness. You may be asked to provide additional information, construction documents, system plans, specifications, site plans, calculations, contractor information, or revised drawings.
Once the application is complete:
Staff will review the plans for compliance with applicable Fire District codes and standards.
Review comments or correction items, if any, will be provided through SmartGov.
Submit revisions and a response to comments through the portal as requested.
After the plans are approved and required fees are paid, the permit will be issued.
Complete required inspections at the appropriate stages of work before concealing work or placing the space into service.
For occupancy permits, the District will contact the applicant to schedule the occupancy inspection after the application and payment have been received.
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Log in to the SmartGov permitting portal and open your issued permit record. Select the inspection-request option, choose the inspection type, select an available date, and provide any helpful site-access notes or contact information.
Inspections should be requested only after the permit has been issued and the work is ready for inspection. Do not cover or conceal work that requires inspection until it has been approved. If the requested inspection type or date is not available in SmartGov, contact the Fire Marshal’s Office for assistance.
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Log in to SmartGov and open your application or permit record. From the record, you can review the current status, plan-review comments, requested documents, fee balances, issued permit documents, inspection requests, inspection results, and correction items.
Use the email address associated with the application when logging in so your permit records are connected to your account. SmartGov is intended to allow applicants to follow a permit from application through final inspection.
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No. The Fire District does not require building permits or occupancy permits for one- and two-family dwellings. Other agencies may still require permits for residential work, including your city, county, utility provider, or the Missouri Department of Public Safety, depending on the project.
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When your permit is approved and all required fees have been paid, the issued permit and approved documents will be available through your SmartGov account. Download the approved plans and permit, maintain them at the job site, and make them available to the inspector upon request.
Only documents marked or identified as approved should be used for construction. Changes to approved plans may require Fire District review and approval before the work is performed.
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Most commercial projects require permits from more than one agency. Applying with Community Fire Protection District does not replace permits required by your municipality, St. Louis County, or the State of Missouri.
Permits issued by Community Fire Protection District:
Commercial Building Permit — commercial new construction, additions, remodels, tenant finishes, demolition, temporary structures, and high piled storage or racking.
Occupancy Permit — required before occupying a commercial building or tenant space. A Temporary Occupancy Permit is also available for short-term occupancies.
Fire Permits — fire alarm systems, fire sprinkler systems, commercial hood and suppression systems, alternative fire protection systems, above and below ground fuel tanks, LP tanks, and underground fire mains.
Permits and approvals issued by other agencies:
Depending on the project, you may also need permits or approvals from your municipality, St. Louis County, or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Requirements vary by location — contact the city where the project is located to confirm what it requires.
If you are not sure which permits your project needs, contact the Fire Marshal's Office at (314) 428-1128 or firemarshal@communityfpd.org before you apply. It is faster to confirm up front than to have an application returned.
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Revised plans, resubmittals, and post-issuance addendums are submitted through the Permit Portal on your existing application. Do not start a new application.
If your plans were returned with review comments, open the application in the portal, review the comments, and upload your corrected plan set to the same application. If your permit has already been issued and the scope of work has changed, open the permit in the portal and upload the revised documents under the “Post-Issuance Addendum/Revision” submittal.
Save revised files using the construction address and a revision note as the file name. Example: 9411 Marlowe - Revision 1.pdf
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Plan review is typically completed within 10 days of a complete application being received. Incomplete applications are returned during completeness review, which restarts the review period, so check that every required document is uploaded before you submit. You will be notified through the portal when your review is complete or if corrections are required.
NOTE: The 10-day review period is our goal, not a promise. Many factors can affect the actual amount of time it takes for our office to conduct a plan review (ie. project size/complexity, current workload, holidays, etc…). More often than not, we are able to complete a review earlier than the 10 day window. We just can’t promise it.
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No. All plans and permit submittals are made digitally through the Permit Portal in PDF format. If a screen in the portal asks you to acknowledge that three sets of construction plans have been provided, that acknowledgment is left over from the paper process — no paper sets are required. If you have a question about a specific submittal, contact the Fire Marshal's Office at (314) 428-1128.
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Submit the application only when the required plans and documents are ready to upload. An incomplete application will be returned during completeness review, which restarts the clock on your project. Optional submittals — supplemental documentation and proof of MEP permit finals, for example — can be added to the same application later.
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If corrections are identified during an inspection, complete the required corrections and request a reinspection through the portal. Do not cover or conceal work that requires inspection until it has been approved. [FILL IN: reinspection fee, if one applies]
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Inspection requests should be submitted at least 1 day in advance through the portal. Request an inspection only after the permit has been issued and the work is ready to be inspected.
**IMPORTANT**
INSPECTION REQUESTS ARE NOT CONFIRMED UNTIL SOMEONE FROM THE FIRE DISTRICT CONFIRMS THEM.
Occupancy Permit FAQs
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A $100 occupancy-permit application fee is due when the application is submitted. The fee includes the initial occupancy inspection and one reinspection, if needed.
Permit fees may be paid by check, debit card, or credit card. Credit and debit card payments are subject to a 3% surcharge with a $2.00 minimum. Electronic check (e-check) payments are subject to a flat $2.00 fee.
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An occupancy inspection confirms that a building or tenant space is ready for safe occupancy and that required fire- and life-safety features are installed, accessible, and operational.
The space should be substantially complete before the inspection is requested. Download the occupancy inspection checklist below to help prepare. This checklist is intended as a guide and is not all-inclusive; all applicable Fire District requirements and approved-plan conditions remain enforceable.
Arrange for a knowledgeable site representative and any necessary contractors to be available during the inspection, particularly when system testing, building access, or immediate corrections may be needed.