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MODEL FEES AND CHARGES PROGRAM
1. General.
1.1. Scope. Many agencies and jurisdictions charged with the
responsibility of reviewing plans, issuing permits and
conducting inspections relating to construction or
installation of automatic sprinkler systems, alarm systems,
hood and duct fire-extinguishing systems and other fireand life-safety systems for compliance with the NFPA 1,
Fire Code, and other laws and ordinances, and other
services provided, have determined that fees and other
charges are necessary to offset the cost of personnel and
equipment. Therefore, the following outline and examples
have been drawn up to assist jurisdictions in the
formulation of a uniform fees and charges program.
marshal to obtain a permit or service. Such an order shall
be considered as application made for the necessary
permit or service.
Fees are payable upon permit application. Failure to pay
for permit, plan review, or inspection fees imposed by this
fee schedule, within the time period specified, shall render
such permit null and void.
Exception: These permit charges shall not apply to
activities of nonprofit corporations or civic or fraternal
organizations that possess an Internal Revenue Service tax
exempt status. However, these groups will be assessed
plan review and inspection fees.
3. Standard Hourly Fee.
1.2. Initiating Correspondence. The first step in
establishing a fees and charges program is to write a letter
to the appropriate legal officer of the jurisdiction stating
the need, legal basis, and intent to establish a program of
this type. This letter should prompt a reply from the legal
officer advising the enforcing agency of the action
necessary to implement the program.
1.3. Fee Ordinance. In many jurisdictions, the legal officer
has advised the enforcing agency that a municipal
ordinance must be passed to allow for the charging of
permit and service fees. In such cases, this annex is
provided as an example.
Each jurisdiction will have to design its ordinance
according to its practices and local and state laws. This
annex is designed as an example and guideline. This
example is based on a permit fee and cost recovery
system. The permit fee can be a calculation of the
administrative costs of the service and the inspection and
plan review designed to calculate charges based on hourly
rate and the time spent working on the task.
Based on local considerations, it might not be appropriate
to charge for some permits or services.
2. Permit and Service Fees Ordinance.
2.1. Purpose. The purpose of this ordinance is to establish
fees for specific fire code permits as defined in NFPA 1,
Fire Code, as adopted by this jurisdiction and for the
establishment of fees for service performed by the bureau
of fire prevention.
2.2. Definitions. All terminology not defined in this annex
shall be defined as stated in NFPA 1, Fire Code, as
adopted by this jurisdiction.
2.3. Permits and Service Fees. A fee in accordance with
the following schedule shall be paid to the bureau of fire
prevention at the time of application for: (1) a
RENEWABLE PERMIT, (2) an INSTALLATION or
REMOVAL and ALTERATION PERMIT, (3) an
ACTIVITY PERMIT, (4) any OTHER SERVICE, (5) any
RECORDS, PHOTOGRAPHS, or DOCUMENTS, or (6)
a HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE PERMIT.
Such fee shall not be refunded upon failure of an applicant
to receive the permit. Failure to apply for necessary
permits or service can result in an order from the fire
There shall be a standard hourly fee of
dollars
($
), with a one-hour minimum, charged for all
inspection and plan review work unless specifically
exempted.
All reinspections (follow-up inspections) shall be charged
at the standard hourly fee with a one-half-hour minimum.
When a requester fails to cancel a requested inspection
prior to the time of the inspection, the first half-hour of the
standard hourly fee will be charged.
All inspections, plan reviews, and consultations shall be
charged this standard hourly fee, unless otherwise
specified.
The standard hourly fee shall be adjusted at a rate that
provides for cost recovery when the department is
requested to review plans or conduct inspections as an
extension to the normal work day.
4. Renewable Permit Fees.
4.1. General. When an inspection or plan review is
conducted by the bureau of fire prevention to ensure
proper design, installation, or permit compliance, the
standard hourly fee for the first hour of inspection or the
first hour of plan review, when required, shall be paid at
the time of application. Fees for subsequent hours of plan
review shall be paid prior to the issuance of the permit.
Fees for subsequent hours of inspection shall be paid prior
to issuance of a certificate of occupancy. The permit fee
shall be in addition to the standard hourly fee in
accordance with Table 4.1.
4.2. Combination Renewable Permit Fees. When
more than one type of renewable permit is required by
Section 1.12 for a single occupancy, a combination
permit can be issued for a single fee of
dollars
($
).
5. Inspection and Plan Review Fees for Installation,
Removal or Alteration of Equipment.
5.1. When an inspection or plan review is conducted by the
bureau of fire prevention to ensure proper design and
installation, the standard hourly fee for the first hour of
inspection or the first hour of plan review, when required,
shall be paid at the time of application. Fees for
subsequent hours of plan review shall be paid prior to the
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Copyright © 2012 National Fire Protection Association. This form may be copied for individual use other than for resale. It may not be copied for commercial sale or distribution.
FC FI-6
issuance of the permit. Fees for subsequent hours of
inspection shall be paid prior to issuance of a certificate of
occupancy. (See Table 5.1.)
6. Inspection or Plan Review Fees for Activity
Permits.
6.2. Fees for Other Services. When other services by the
bureau of fire prevention are required, the fees in Table
6.2 shall be paid.
7. Fees for Records, Photographs, and Documents.
7.1. The fees in Table 7.1 shall be paid for fire department
6.1. General. When an inspection or plan review is
conducted by the bureau of fire prevention to ensure
proper design, installation, or permit compliance, the
standard hourly fee for the first hour of inspection or the
first hour of plan review, when required, shall be paid at
the time of application. Fees for subsequent hours of plan
review and inspection shall be paid prior
to the issuance of the permit. A separate permit for a specific
period of time shall be obtained for each location where such
operations are performed. The permit fee shall be in addition to
the standard hourly fee in accordance with Table 6.1.
records, photographs, and documents, except for records
subpoenaed. (Note: Consideration should be given to any
laws regulating the release of public records.)
8. Annual Hazardous Materials Storage Permit Fee.
8.1. The annual fee is $
per quantity range, based on
quantities stored, manufactured, used in process, sold,
transported or otherwise utilized in the form of liquids,
solids or gases.
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Copyright © 2012 National Fire Protection Association. This form may be copied for individual use other than for resale. It may not be copied for commercial sale or distribution.