Occupancy Permits
Commercial Occupancy Permit
Apply for an Occupancy Permit
A Commercial Occupancy Permit is required before occupying a commercial building or tenant space within Community Fire Protection District. This permit is not required for residential occupancies.
Before You Begin…Have Available
Business or Tenant Address
Business Contact Information*
Building Owner Contact Information*
Two After-Hours Contact Phone #s.
Payment Method for the $100 Application Fee
*Contact information includes address, email, and phone #.
Apply online through our Permit Portal
All online occupancy permit applications are now submitted through the Community Fire Protection District Permit Portal. Use the portal to create an account, submit your application, pay the application fee, and track the status of your permit.
Use this permit for: New tenants, change of occupancy, or occupancy of a commercial suite or building space.
How it works
Create a portal account or sign in.
Select Occupancy Permit.
Complete and submit the application.
Pay the required occupancy permit fee at the time of submittal.
District staff will contact you to schedule the inspection.
An occupancy permit will be issued after the inspection is completed and no violations remain.
Do not occupy the space until the permit has been approved and issued.
Important notes
The occupancy permit application does not authorize occupancy.
The application fee covers the initial inspection and one re-inspection.
Credit and debit card payments are subject to the posted convenience fee.
You may also need approval from the applicable municipality or St. Louis County.
Temporary Occupancy
A Temporary Occupancy Permit is available when a commercial space needs to be occupied for a limited time, or before all work on the building is complete — for example, a seasonal or short-term tenant, or an event held in a commercial space.
Temporary Occupancy Permit is a separate selection in the Permit Portal. Select it in place of the standard Occupancy Permit when you apply. If you are not sure which one applies to your situation, contact the Fire Marshal's Office at (314) 428-1128 before you apply.
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.
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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After you submit your application through the SmartGov permitting portal, Fire District staff will review it for completeness. You may be contacted for additional information or documents.
Once the application is complete and the required fee has been paid, the Fire District will contact you to schedule the occupancy inspection. If corrections are identified during the inspection, complete the required corrections and request a reinspection. The occupancy permit will be issued after all applicable requirements have been satisfied.
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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.
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Log in to the SmartGov permitting portal and open your 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, 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. A building or tenant space may not be occupied until the occupancy permit has been issued. Submitting an application does not authorize occupancy, and neither does passing the inspection — the permit must be issued. If you need to occupy a space for a limited time or before all work is complete, a Temporary Occupancy Permit may be available. Contact the Fire Marshal's Office at (314) 428-1128 to discuss your situation.
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Yes. An occupancy permit is required whenever a new tenant occupies a commercial building or tenant space, and whenever the occupancy of a space changes — even if the type of business is the same as the previous tenant's.
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A Temporary Occupancy Permit allows a commercial space to be occupied for a limited time, or before all work on the building is complete — for example, a seasonal or short-term tenant, or an event held in a commercial space. It is a separate selection in the Permit Portal; select it in place of the standard Occupancy Permit when you apply. If you are not sure which one applies, contact the Fire Marshal's Office at (314) 428-1128 before you apply.