FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM PERMITS
FIRE PERMITS
Community Fire Protection District requires a permit for the installation, modification, or removal of fire protection systems and fuel storage tanks within the district. Fire permits must be reviewed and approved before work begins.
Fire permits are a separate permit category from building permits. If your project also includes commercial construction, a remodel, or a tenant finish, you will need a Commercial Building Permit in addition to the fire permit or permits below.
APPLY FOR A FIRE PERMIT
ONE PERMIT PER SYSTEM
Each fire protection system requires its own application. A build-out with both sprinklers and a fire alarm needs two fire permits:
A Fire Sprinkler System permit, and
A Fire Alarm System permit
Each application has its own plan set and its own review. All of your applications can be started from the same portal account and will appear together on your dashboard.
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*
Estimated cost of the fire protection work
Digital plan set ready for upload (pdf format required)
Ensure plans are designed to the 2021 I-codes and the applicable NFPA standards.
Supporting documents if required — cutsheets, calculations, and certificates.
*Name, mailing address, email, and phone number required.
These applications are for fire protection system and fuel storage tank work within the district. Commercial construction is permitted separately under Building Permits.
How it works
Create a portal account or sign in.
Select Fire Permits as the permit category, then select the permit type that matches your scope of work.
Complete the application and upload the required plans and documents.
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.
WHICH FIRE PERMIT DO I NEED?
Select the permit type below that matches your scope of work. Each one is a separate application in the Permit Portal. If your project includes more than one system, submit a separate application for each — a project with both a sprinkler system and a fire alarm system needs two fire permits.
| Permit Type | Use this permit for | Plans and documents to have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Alarm System | New fire alarm systems, control panel replacements, and additions or modifications to an existing system. | Fire alarm plans and equipment cutsheets are both required. Have your input/output matrix or sequence of operation included in the plan set. |
| Fire Sprinkler System | New sprinkler systems, sprinkler additions, and modifications to an existing system, including work in newly built-out space. | Sprinkler plans are required. Hydraulic calculations, a signed owner's certificate, cutsheets, and contractor's material and test certificates may also be uploaded. Know the edition of NFPA 13 used, the system type, and the occupancy hazard classification before you start. |
| Commercial Hood / Suppression System | New or replacement commercial kitchen hoods, wet chemical suppression systems, and tie-ins to the kitchen gas shutoff. | Hood and suppression plans are required; cutsheets and records of inspection and testing are optional. You will be asked whether the permit covers the hood, the suppression system, or both. |
| Alternative Fire Protection System | Clean agent, dry chemical, and other non-sprinkler suppression systems — for example, in server rooms or electrical rooms. | Fire protection system plans are required; cutsheets and records of inspection and testing are optional. |
| Above / Below Ground Fuel Tank (Install or Remove) | Installation or removal of above-ground or below-ground fuel storage tanks, including generator fuel tanks. | Construction plans that include a site plan and equipment cutsheets are required. Missouri DNR approvals may also be uploaded. |
| LP Tank | Installation of above-ground or below-ground LP (propane) tanks. | A site plan and construction plans are required. Have the tank capacity and clearance and setback distances available. |
| Underground Fire Main | New or replacement underground fire mains, including connections to the public water supply serving private hydrants or sprinkler systems. | A site plan and construction plans are required; contractor's material and test certificates are optional. |
Permit Requirements
| Important Notes | Requirements and Next Steps |
|---|---|
| Building Permits | A fire permit does not replace a Commercial Building Permit. Projects involving new construction, remodels, or tenant finishes require a building permit as well. |
| 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 permits with the applicable municipality. |
| Permit Fees | 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. |
| 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 |
| Inspections | Most fire permits require one or more inspections. Fire sprinkler system permits require several, including rough-in and final acceptance testing. The inspections required for your permit are listed in your application in the portal. |
| Before Work Begins | Plan review must be approved, all applicable fees must be paid, and the permit must be issued before 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. |
| ITM Reports | Routine inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) reports for existing systems are not submitted through the Permit Portal. Service providers submit ITM reports through The Compliance Engine. |
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.
FIRE 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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In most cases, yes. A fire permit covers the fire protection system itself. If the same project also involves commercial construction, a remodel, or a tenant finish, a Commercial Building Permit is required in addition. If a new tenant will be occupying the space, an Occupancy Permit is required as well. When in doubt, contact the Fire Marshal's Office before applying — it is faster to confirm up front than to have an application returned.
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Two. Each fire protection system is a separate application in the portal, with its own plan set and its own review. Submit a Fire Sprinkler System application and a Fire Alarm System application. Both can be started from the same portal account and both will appear on your dashboard.
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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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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, 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 7 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.
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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 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.
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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. -
Routine maintenance and like-for-like component replacement generally do not require a permit. A permit is required when a system is installed, extended, relocated, or modified — including adding or relocating sprinkler heads or alarm devices, changing system components or panels, or altering a system to serve a remodeled space. If you are not sure whether your scope requires a permit, contact the Fire Marshal's Office at (314) 428-1128 before the work begins. It is faster to confirm than to have work rejected at inspection.
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It depends on the system. When you open your permit record in the portal, the Inspections section lists the inspections required for that permit type. Fire sprinkler systems require the most, typically covering underground and rough-in work, hydrostatic testing, and final acceptance testing. If the Inspections section does not show what you expect for your permit, contact the Fire Marshal's Office at (314) 428-1128.
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All contractors must be licensed by St. Louis County for the type of work they perform. The contractor performing the work must be listed as a contact on the permit application.