Do I Need an Inspection?

If a State or County agency requires a California Fire Safety Inspection Request (Form STD 850) as part of the licensing process, or if you have requested a change in the number/type of clients or the business name for a facility that already has an 850 clearance, you will need an inspection from OCFA. The licensing agency will forward a new or revised 850 form to us. Once we receive the form from the licensing agency, you will be able to request an inspection from OCFA.

Sober living homes where no treatment or counselling is provided on‐site generally do not require an inspection from the fire department.

How Do I Schedule My Inspection?

You can schedule your inspection on‐line. Click here to go to the on‐line customer portal. Set up an account if you don’t already have one and then click on the “Request a Fire Clearance” button.

Request your inspection at least two weeks in advance.

Please note: OCFA will not be able to schedule your inspection if we have not received the 850 form from the licensing agency.

How Much Does the Inspection Cost?

By state law, the final fire clearance inspection is exempt from fees. However, if more than one visit is required, or you request a consultation inspection to prepare for your final fire clearance inspection, there will be a fee.

Please see the current Prevention Field Services fee schedule. One or more of the following fee codes may apply to these facilities: M124, M125, M150, J200.

How Do I Prepare for My Inspection?

Prospective licensed care providers are encouraged to read OCFA Guideline F‐02.
This guideline provides detailed information that will help prepare you for a successful fire clearance inspection.

Please be aware that licensed care facilities may be subject to zoning or planning regulations and other requirements beyond those listed in the OCFA guideline. Prospective care providers are urged to contact the appropriate County or City agencies, including the Planning and Building Departments, to obtain all information related to converting your property into a licensed care facility.

I have a question. Who do I call?
If you have questions, please contact the regional office where your facility is located:

Do I Need an Inspection?

If a State or County agency requires a California Fire Safety Inspection Request (Form STD 850) as part of the licensing process, or if you have requested a change in the number/type of clients or the business name for a facility that already has an 850 clearance, you will need an inspection from OCFA. The licensing agency will forward a new or revised 850 form to us. Once we receive the form from the licensing agency, you will be able to request an inspection from OCFA.

How Do I Schedule My Inspection?

You can schedule your inspection on‐line. Click here to go to the on‐line customer portal. Set up an account if you don’t already have one and then click on the “Request a Fire Clearance” button.

Request your inspection at least two weeks in advance.

Please note: OCFA will not be able to schedule your inspection if we have not received the 850 form from the licensing agency.

How Much Does the Inspection Cost?

By state law, the final fire clearance inspection is exempt from fees. However, if more than one visit is required, or you request a consultation inspection to prepare for your final fire clearance inspection, there will be a fee.

Please see the current Prevention Field Services fee schedule. One or more of the following fee codes may apply to these facilities: M125, M150, J200.

How Do I Prepare for My Inspection?

Prospective licensed care providers are encouraged to read OCFA Guideline F‐03. This guideline provide detailed information that will help prepare you for a successful fire clearance inspection.

Please be aware that licensed care facilities may be subject to zoning or planning regulations and other requirements beyond those listed in the OCFA guideline. Prospective care providers are urged to contact the appropriate County or City agencies, including the Planning and Building Departments, to obtain all information related to converting your property into a licensed care facility.

I have a question. Who do I call?
If you have questions, please contact the regional office where your facility is located:

Do I Need an Inspection?

If a State or County agency requires a California Fire Safety Inspection Request (Form STD 850) as part of the licensing process, or if you have requested a change in the number/type of clients or the business name for a facility that already has an 850 clearance, you will need an inspection from OCFA.

The licensing agency will forward a new or revised 850 form to us. Once we receive the form from the licensing agency, you will be able to request an inspection from OCFA.

How Do I Schedule My Inspection?

You can schedule your inspection on‐line. Click here to go to the on‐line customer portal. Set up an account if you don’t already have one and then click on the “Request a Fire Clearance” button.

Request your inspection at least two weeks in advance.

Please note: OCFA will not be able to schedule your inspection if we have not received the 850 form from the licensing agency.

How Much Does the Inspection Cost?

By state law, the final fire clearance inspection is exempt from fees. However, if more than one visit is required, or you request a consultation inspection to prepare for your final fire clearance inspection, there will be a fee.

Please see the current Prevention Field Services fee schedule. One or more of the following fee codes may apply to these facilities: M124, M125, M150, J200.

How Do I Prepare for My Inspection?

Prospective licensed care providers are encouraged to read OCFA Guideline F‐01. This guideline provide detailed information that will help prepare you for a successful fire clearance inspection.

Please be aware that licensed care facilities may be subject to zoning or planning regulations and other requirements beyond those listed in the OCFA guideline. Prospective care providers are urged to contact the appropriate County or City agencies, including the Planning and Building Departments, to obtain all information related to converting your property into a licensed care facility.

I have a question. Who do I call?
If you have questions, please contact the regional office where your facility is located:

Do I Need an Inspection?

If a State or County agency requires a California Fire Safety Inspection Request (Form STD 850) as part of the licensing process, or if you have requested a change in the number/type of clients or the business name for a facility that already has an 850 clearance, you will need an inspection from OCFA.
The licensing agency will forward a new or revised 850 form to us. Once we receive the form from the licensing agency, you will be able to request an inspection from OCFA.

Additionally, any changes to the facility may require submittal of plans to the building department and OCFA Planning & Development Services and construction inspections prior to the fire clearance sign‐off.

How Do I Schedule My Inspection?

You can schedule your inspection on‐line. Click here to go to the on‐line customer portal. Set up an account if you don’t already have one and then click on the “Request a Fire Clearance” button.

Request your inspection at least two weeks in advance.

Please note: OCFA will not be able to schedule your inspection if we have not received the 850 form from the licensing agency.

How Much Does the Inspection Cost?
Please see the current Prevention Field Services fee schedule. One or more of the following fee codes may apply to these facilities: M121, M150, J200.

How Do I Prepare for My Inspection?

Please be aware that changes to existing buildings, other than cosmetic ones (paint, carpeting, and the like), generally requires submittal, review, and approval of plans by the local building department and OCFA. All work must be completed and construction-related inspections signed off before the 850 licensing inspection can be performed by OCFA.

Prospective licensed care providers are encouraged to read OCFA guideline E-01, which covers general Building Code requirements that may apply to tenant improvement work or a change in use or occupancy associated with a new daycare, and Attachment E, which covers Building Code requirements specific to daycare facilities.

I have a question. Who do I call?
If you have questions, please contact the regional office where your facility is located:

Do I Need an Inspection?

Some facilities may need a fire department “clearance” inspection in order to satisfy Medicare/Medi‐Cal, OSHPD, or another agency’s requirements but they don’t require a Form STD 850 as part of the State or County licensing process.

If your licensing agency does not require a California Fire Safety Inspection Request (Form STD 850) to be completed, but is requiring a general fire safety inspection or a “fire clearance letter,” please set up an inspection in our on‐line customer portal—click on the “How Do I Schedule an Inspection” section below.

If no fire safety violations are noted at the time of inspection, you will receive documentation from OCFA that you can provide to your licensing agency

How Do I Schedule My Inspection?
You can schedule your inspection on‐line. Click here to go to the on‐line customer portal. Set up an account if you don’t already have one and then click on the “Request a Fire Clearance” button.

Request your inspection at least two weeks in advance.

How Much Does the Inspection Cost?

Please see the current Prevention Field Services fee schedule. The M124 and M150 fee codes will apply. If multiple visits are required, the J200 fee code will apply.

In cases where your facility is also part of OCFA’s regular fire safety inspection program, the M121 or M123 fee code may apply. This fee will cover both the cost of the annual inspection and the fire clearance/licensing inspection when both can be completed at the same time.

How Do I Prepare for My Inspection?
Generally, a typical fire clearance inspection includes verification of compliance with general fire and life‐safety requirements. Some of the more common violations that may prevent you from getting a fire clearance sign‐off include:

• Missing or expired fire extinguishers
• Blocked exit paths
• Slide bolts, dead bolts that don’t release when the main handle is used, and other non‐compliant locks
• Inoperable or malfunctioning fire sprinkler or fire alarm systems
• Missing occupant load signs in breakrooms, classrooms, conference rooms, or other assembly spaces with 50+ occupants
• Missing or burned‐out exit signs or emergency lights (when such signs or lights are required by the Building Code)

I have a question. Who do I call?
If you have questions, please contact the regional office where your facility is located:

Inspections are performed either because state regulations require the fire department to inspect your facility or because the type of use or hazard is recognized by OCFA as presenting an elevated risk to occupants, the community, or the environment. Inspected facilities include, but are not limited to:

• High‐rise buildings
• Schools and daycares
• Restaurants and other businesses with commercial kitchens
• Places of worship, theaters, community rooms, gyms and other recreation spaces, and similar places of assembly with 50+ occupants
• Jails
• Facilities using or storing hazardous materials
• Hotels, motels, and residential buildings with three or more dwelling units

The majority of inspections are performed by firefighters. Not only does the inspection verify compliance with basic fire safety regulations, it allows emergency responders to become more familiar with the area they cover and provides an opportunity to pre‐plan for a fire or another emergency at the building or site.

The remainder of the inspections are performed by dedicated fire inspectors. Fire inspectors apply specialized knowledge of the code to larger and more complex buildings and operations.

The California Fire Code requires a permit for certain hazardous uses, operations, equipment, and materials. Some of the more common types of permits are:

OCFA charges fees to offset the cost of doing inspections in accordance with state law. Fees will vary depending on a variety of factors such as the type of facility, whether permits are required and what type are needed, and how many times the inspector must return to the site to verify that identified violations have been corrected.

What fees are charged?

Generally, an inspection will result in a base fee, M150, being charged. If more than two trips to the facility are required to complete the inspection or confirm that identified violations have been corrected, those additional reinspections will trigger additional M150 fees and potentially J200 reinspection fees.

Dedicated inspection fees may also apply to facilities with specialized requirements, such as daycares, clinics, and high‐rises, or those needing permits for certain uses, such as assembly occupancies, or those with hazardous materials, processes, or operations, such as chemicals or high‐piled storage.

See the inspection fee schedule for a complete list of fees.

Exempt Inspections

In accordance with the OCFA Board of Director’s policy, certain facilities such as public schools, libraries, and other public buildings are exempt from inspection fees.

See the exemption policy for a complete list of qualifying exemptions.

How Are Fees Calculated?

Fees are based on the cost of performing the inspection service. This cost accounts for the average time it takes to perform an inspection and includes a portion of the overhead and administrative costs related to OCFA’s inspection program. Periodic analysis is performed to ensure that the fees OCFA charges are in reasonable balance with actual costs based on data from time and financial studies, and fees may go up or down as a result.

The inspector issued a violation notice:

If you have a question on a recent inspection and the inspector issued a violation notice or gave you a business card, you are encouraged to contact that inspector directly at the number or email provided on the notice or card.

I have a question about my bill:

Please contact our Finance Department at ARRevenueUnit@ocfa.org or, for past‐due bills, call (714) 573‐6342.

I have a general question not related to an inspection that was just performed:

Prevention Field Services has five regional offices that focus our prevention efforts more closely to the risks of the individual communities.

The California Fire Code requires a permit for certain hazardous operations, equipment, and materials. Additionally, some uses require a permit and/or review and approval prior to making changes or occupying the building. Some of the more common types of permits and regulated uses include, but are not limited to:

If you don’t see your situation in the list above, please fill out this form or call your local Prevention Field Services office for assistance.

The process for approval depends on whether this is a modification to an existing permitted material, use, or operation or a new material, use, or operation.

Modification to Existing
If you are planning on modifying an existing or permitted use, operation, equipment, or hazardous material, it could be handled one of two ways depending on what you’re proposing.

Changes in quantities of hazardous materials may be handled through the local Prevention Field Services office where the proposed increase in quantity of materials currently used in the facility does not exceed 10%. Limited quantities of new materials may also be permitted where they do not exceed permit thresholds in Section 105 of the California Fire Code.

Minor changes like these generally require submission of an updated chemical classification for your facility to the fire inspector. Please see OCFA Guideline G‐04 for chemical classification packet instructions and refer to the Contact Us section below for the phone number of the local inspection office.

More significant changes in hazardous materials or modification of existing permitted and/or regulated operations, equipment, or uses requires submittal and approval of plans. Click here for more information.

New
New uses, operations, equipment, or hazardous materials typically require review and approval of a plan, one or more field inspections to verify compliance with the approved plan, and issuance of a permit.

Please fill out this form to see if a plan submittal is required. If so, click here to see more information on the plan review process.