Fire Alarm Permit
What Is It?
You need an electrical permit when you are adding, replacing, or relocating fire alarm initiating devices, notification appliances, circuit power extenders, or control units. A plan review by the Seattle Fire Department is required for any new fire alarm systems regardless of number of devices. A permit is also required for adding or relocating 7 or more devices on any existing systems. This review is conducted as part of the electrical permit issuance process.
You may also need a business license if you are working in Seattle, even if your office is outside the city.
- Seattle Fire Department plan review
- Seattle Fire Department construction inspections
- Seattle Fire Department codes and documents
- Seattle Fire CAM 5002, Electronic File Standards - Shop Drawings for Fire Protection Systems
How Much Does It Cost?
There is a basic fee for fire alarms. Each fire alarm controller and each device (such as horn, strobe, speaker, etc.) costs an additional small fee. All fees are subject to an additional technology fee. See our Fee Subtitle for details. Additional Fire Department fees apply.
How Long Does It Take?
Our review time for your permit depends on how complex your project is and the quality and completeness of your original application.
Steps To Get Your Permit
Start your application. Complete the Electrical Permit Application online using the Seattle Services Portal.
- If you are applying for an existing system with 6 devices or less, you can submit an electrical permit: over the counter application.
- If you are applying for a new system (of any size) or adding and/or relocating devices in an existing system with 7 or more devices, you will need a Seattle Fire Department review of your plans. This review is conducted as part of the electrical permit issuance process.
You will need:
- The work site address and work activity location
- Work site owner or tenant contact name, address, and telephone number
- Contractor or installer information, including state electrical license number
- Description of work
- Scaled plans, not smaller than 11 x 17 inches. Your plans must include:
- Floor plan indicating the use of all rooms
- Riser diagram
- Location of all alarm-initiating
- Location of all alarm notification devices, including candela ratings for visible devices
- Location of alarm control, transponders, and notification power supplies
- Annunciation
- Power connection
- Battery calculations
- Voltage drop calculations
- Wiring types and sizes
- Manufacturer's data sheets with model numbers and information for equipment, devices, and materials
- Ceiling height and construction details
- Interface of fire safety control functions
Submit plans. Submit your plans and specifications through the Seattle Services Portal. We may contact you if we need additional information.
Pay fees. You will need to pay for your electrical devices when you submit your application. Seattle Fire will add review fees that you will pay before your permit is issued.
Make corrections and resubmit your plans. Once all of our reviews are done, you will receive an email telling you that corrected plans and/or additional information can be uploaded into your portal. Your project may require multiple correction rounds before our reviews are complete.
Pay final fees. We will notify you if you need to pay any final fees before we issue your permit.
Print your permit. We will notify you when we have issued your permit and the documents are available in your Seattle Services Portal. Print the permit and approved plan set.
Display your permit. Place your permit in a visible location on the project site.
Request an inspection. Call our 24-hour inspection request line at (206) 684-8900 before 7:00 a.m. on the day you need the inspection. You can also request an inspection online.