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Fire Marshal Fee Schedule

Quick Links:	Construction Permit Fees	Plans Review Fees	Acceptance Testing Fees
	Cancellation Guidelines	Retesting Fees	Inspection Fees
	Faulty Fire Alarm Inspection Fees	Fire Prevention Code Permit Fees	Documents & Records Fees

OVERVIEW

This publication outlines the fee structure for billable services provided by the Office of the Fire Marshal. Billable services include, but are not limited to, plan review activities, inspection and witnessed testing of new/modified and existing fire protection systems, building fire and occupancy inspections, Fire Prevention Code Permits (FPCP), and FOIA records requests. Authority to charge the following fees originates form either Chapter 61 or Chapter 62 of the Fairfax County Code and §2.2-3704 of the Code of Virginia.

Fire Marshal Fee Changes Effective July 1, 2009 (Letter to Community & Industry)

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FEES

FEE CATEGORY		MINIMUM FEE
FPD Fire Permit Fee (Fire Alarm, Fire Lane, Fire Suppression, Sprinkler, Locks)		$85
DPWES Trade Permit Fee (Low-voltage, Mechanical)		$85 (plus additional fees for mechanical permits)
Mechanical Permit Application (PDF)	Low-voltage Permit Application (PDF)	FPD Fire Permit Application (PDF)

PLANS REVIEW FEES

FEE CATEGORY	MINIMUM FEE
Regularly Scheduled Workdays (Excluding Holidays), 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Plans Review Fee - All Plan Types, All Review Time	$128 per hour per reviewer or $32 per quarter hour or part thereof per reviewer
After-hours/Overtime (Excluding Holidays): Plans Review Fee - All Plan Types, All Review Time	$256 per hour per reviewer or $128 per half hour or part thereof per reviewer
NOTICE >> After-hours plans review services are not routinely available at this time. << NOTICE
Plans Review Inventory & Turnaround Time	Plans Review Walk-Through Guidelines

ACCEPTANCE TESTING FEES

Fees for acceptance inspections & testing required by the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC)

SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT TIME	FEE
Regularly Scheduled Workdays (Excluding Holidays): Monday-Friday (5:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)	$128 per hour per inspector or $32 per quarter hour or part thereof per inspector
After-hours/Overtime (Excluding Holidays): Weekday Evenings (3:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.) and Weekends	$256 per hour per inspector or $128 per half hour or part thereof per inspector
Acceptance Testing Scheduling Guidelines
NOTICE >> After-hours acceptance inspection and testing services are not routinely available at this time. << NOTICE
Notice: To avoid a reinspection fee, a minimum notice of 24 hours (one full business day) for test cancellation is required to cancel or reschedule any acceptance inspection/test appointment.

CANCELLATION GUIDELINES

The following matrix is to serve as a guideline in determining when a reinspection fee is required for acceptance testing and retesting. For an acceptance inspection/test, this fee shall be charged every time a request is made before the work is clearly ready to be inspected and/or tested, or is not cancelled in time to save an unnecessary trip by inspectors. In the case of witnessed retesting of existing fire protection systems, this fee will be charged whenever an inspection/test is not cancelled more than 10 business days prior to the scheduled appointment. The reinspection fee shall based on the hours reserved to perform the test and will be charged at the rate of $128 per hour calculated on the quarter hour or part thereof, per required inspector. The reinspection fee will be invoiced to the responsible company/party.

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	No
Regular Inspection/Test - Started	Substantially Compliant - Minor Deficiencies	Yes	No
Final Inspection	Deficient	Yes	Yes
Retesting of Existing Fire Protection Systems Only	Inspection/test is not cancelled more than 10 business days prior to the to scheduled appointment	No	Yes

* 24 hours = 1 business day

RETESTING FEES

Fees for the inspection & witnessed retesting of existing fire protection systems as required by the Fire Prevention Code (SFPC)

SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT TIME	FEE
Regularly Scheduled Workdays (Excluding Holidays): Monday-Friday (5:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)	$128 per hour per inspector or $32 per quarter hour or part thereof per inspector
After-hours/Overtime (Excluding Holidays): Weekday Evenings (3:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.) and Weekends	$256 per hour per inspector or $128 per half hour or part thereof per inspector
NOTICE >> After-hours inspection and witnessed retesting testing services are not routinely available at this time. << NOTICE
Notice: To avoid a reinspection fee, a minimum of 10 business days is required to cancel or reschedule any retesting inspection/test appointment.

INSPECTION FEES

INSPECTION ACTIVITY	FEE
Occupancy Inspections - All Use Groups	$128 per hour per inspector or $32 per quarter hour or part thereof per inspector
County & State Licensing Fire Inspections	$25 (Includes One Follow-up Inspection)
Office for Children Home Day Care Fire Inspections	No Fee
Technical Inspection	$128 per hour per inspector or $32 per quarter hour or part thereof per inspector
Two or More Follow-up Inspections Resulting From Non-Compliance	$128 per hour per inspector or $32 per quarter hour or part thereof per inspector
After-hours/Overtime: Holidays, Weekday Evenings (3:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.), and Weekends	$256 per hour per inspector or $128 per half hour or part thereof per inspector
NOTICE >> After-hours inspection services are not routinely available at this time. << NOTICE

FAULTY FIRE ALARM INSPECTION FEES

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.

INSPECTION ACTIVITY	FEE
Faulty Fire Alarm Inspections, Follow-ups, and Reinspection	$128 per hour per inspector or $32 per quarter hour or part thereof per inspector

FIRE PREVENTION CODE PERMIT (FPCP) FEES

Section 108 of the Fire Prevention Code requires operational permits for the following: Handling, storage, or use of substances, materials, or devices regulated by the Fire Prevention Code; Conducting processes which produce conditions hazardous to life or property; Establishing and operating place of assembly or similar occupancy such as a special amusement building, carnival, circus, fair, or festival. 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 Permit requirements and fees is available in PDF format for your convenience and ease of reference.

Fire Prevention Code Permit Requirements & Fees (PDF)

DOCUMENTS & RECORDS FEES

Fees for copies of any document and/or information available under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

SERVICE	FEE
Research	$20 per hour, each address
Copies, 8.5 x 11 and 8.5 x 14	35 Cents per page
Copies, Oversize (i.e. Construction Documents, Shop Drawings)	Actual Cost
Records Request - Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

	Office of the Fire Marshal Revenue & Records Branch 10700 Page Avenue Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Telephone: 703-246-4803 Fax: 703-246-4872

Fairfax County is committed to a policy of non-discrimination in all county programs, services, and activities. Upon request, the Office of the Fire Marshal can provide documents and publications in alternative formats and in different languages. Please call 703-246-4753 (TTY: 711 or 1-800-828-1120) or write us at the following address: Office of the Fire Marshal, 10700 Page Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22030. Allow at least seven to ten working days for preparation of material.

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