The Charlotte Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau consists of management staff, plans examiners and fire inspectors who's primary duties are to maintain a safe living and working environment for our citizens, and to provide a support role to the firefighters of the Fire Department. All management, supervisory and field inspection staff are North Carolina State Certified Fire Inspectors.

 

Main Objectives

Currently under the leadership of the Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshal and supervisory staff, the Fire Prevention Bureau is responsible for completing four primary objectives:

• Complete inspections on a minimum of 90% of all businesses in accordance with the North Carolina Fire Code mandated frequencies.
• Maintain a continuous correction rate of 85% for all fire code violations.
• Maintain an 80% on-time completion rate on all scheduled plan reviews.
• Collect and record data on the light maintenance of all city-owned fire hydrants, perform acceptance tests of all newly installed private hydrants, and complete flow tests on city hydrants as requested by private entities.

Inspection of a vehicle spray booth.

Duties

In order to accomplish the stated objectives, the bureau's primary duties are:

• Perform routine inspections on all commercial businesses at the frequency mandated by the State.
• Properly identify and document all fire code violations and hazards.
• Issue permits for the storage, use and handling of hazardous materials, as well as hazardous and/or high-risk processes and conditions.
• Conduct plan reviews of all submitted plans for construction projects for both new and existing structures.
• Conduct inspections of all new construction to ensure compliance with provisions of the North Carolina Fire Code, prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
• Perform inspections and acceptance tests of newly installed fire protection and life-safety systems.
• Coordinate the testing, inspection and maintenance of the City's fire hydrant water distribution program.

Meeting at a local construction site.

 

Main Functions

The Fire Prevention Bureau encompasses the following five main branches in order to provide the most efficient and best customer service possible:

A team of inspectors responsible for the routine inspection of all existing commercial properties, as well as the response and handling of all customer service and complaint requests.

A team of inspectors responsible for the inspection and approval of all new construction, fire protection, and life-safety systems.

A team of inspectors responsible for the inspection of all schools, day care centers and group homes.

Flow test of a new standpipe system.

Inspection of above-ground tanks at a local ink manufacturing facility.

• A plans review division responsible for the review and approval of all submitted plans for new construction with-in the City limits and Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) areas. 
• An inspector assigned as the Fire Department's Water Supply Coordinator to oversee the inspection, testing and approval of all newly installed public and private fire hydrants.

For staff and other contact information, click on the "Staff" link, or contact the phone number listed below.

Contact Information

Inspections/Permits - 704-336-2101

Plans Review - 704-336-3814