Fire Prevention

The Fire Department inspects all buildings, except single-family homes and duplexes. The City of Berkeley and the State of California mandate some buildings to be inspected annually.

Request a fire prevention inspection of a project, building, or indoor event. Inspections may be done on a drop-in basis or, in some cases, by appointment. Emergency response may affect your inspection timing.

Request a fire inspection

The fire inspection request you can make depends on the type of building, facility, or event you have.

Construction project inspections

To request an inspection for a construction project, call (510) 981-5585. Please provide:

• Permit number
• Address
• Type of inspection
• Point of contact (name and phone number)

Community Care Licensing Inspections (includes small and large family daycares)

The Fire Department performs Fire Safety Inspections for these facilities as required by the State. If your facility would like to pay for a pre-inspection to identify any issues that need to be addressed, you can request one by calling (510) 981-5585. Please provide:

• Address
• Facility type
• Point of contact (name and phone number)

For more information on fire and life safety requirements, review the Family Daycare Pamphlet. 

Indoor Entertainment Event (IEE) Inspection

IEE inspections are required for indoor events with 50 or more people.

Business License Application

Make sure you have the correct business license application for your establishment. Once Zoning has approved your license, you can request an inspection by calling (510) 981-5585.

What fire inspections cover

Fire inspections usually cover common areas. You may need to be present if we need access to inspect the facility.

To request a copy of an Annual Inspection Report, you may call (510) 981-5585 or email bfdfireprevention@berkeleyca.gov. Please provide the address of your property.

The Berkeley Fire Code requires existing fire escapes to be examined every five years by a registered design professional to ensure they are structurally safe, in working order, and easy to access in emergencies.

Submit a copy of your Inspection Report by email bfdfireprevention@berkeleyca.gov, fax (510) 981-5579, or by mail at:
Fire Prevention Division
Berkeley Fire Department
2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704

Help Protect Your Property in an Emergency 

During an inspection, a Knox Box might be requested by the Fire Department to help protect and access your property during emergencies. Knox Boxes are secured boxes commercial property owners can use to store keys, building maps, fire plans, and other important documents for emergency access and purposes. In emergencies, first responders need to gain access to a property quickly and a Knox Box allows rapid entry and reduces property damage. 

Facilities with high occupancies, multiple stories, and facilities that serve vulnerable populations should consider installing a Knox Box. The 3200 series box works well for facilities with many tenants who are young, elderly, or have access and functional needs. Multiple types of Knox Boxes might suit your budget and property needs. Consider a Knox Box if your property falls into one of the below categories: 

• Commercial and Industrial buildings
• Schools and campuses
• Retail and hospitality locations
• Government buildings
• Multi-residential communities
• Secure community pools
• Healthcare and medical centers
• Senior or assisted living facilities
• Hazardous waste facilities 

Apply for a Knox Box for Your Property 

Knox Boxes comply with the California Fire Code Once you order a Knox Box, the application is sent to the City for review and approval. Once approved, the Knox Box will be sent to you for installation and the Fire Department shall place the key in the Knox box with the owner present. Alternatively, owners may drop off the Knox key in a clearly labeled envelope at their responding district’s Fire Station closest to them.

Order a Knox Box:

1. Visit the Knox Box website and add “California” as the location on the pop-up screen.
2. In the “Local fire department/agency” search bar, type “Berkeley Fire Dept”.
3. In the next pop-up box, select the red button next to the listing that best describes your property.
4. Once selected, the next screen will display the available products to order.
5. Select a product category from the drop-down menu, select a product, and add your order details.
6. Lastly, add your order to the cart and check out as a guest or create an account to finish your transaction.

Pay fire inspection bill

Property owners will receive a bill if:

• The Fire Department inspected their property, OR
• They had fire code violations that were not resolved within 14 days of their initial inspection

Inspection fees vary but are charged at $125 per quarter hour (15 minutes). Payments should be made out to the “City of Berkeley.” Payments can be made by calling 311 or can be submitted to Revenue Collections. Send payments by mail to the address that appears on the bill:

City of Berkeley
Finance – Treasury Division
PO Box 1910
Berkeley, CA 94701

The City’s Finance Department sends the billing statements, usually in the month following the inspection. Fees are due within 60 days of the billing date. If payment is not received on time, a 20% late fee is added to the bill. For additional billing questions or to change your address, call the Department of Finance – Revenue Collections at (510) 981-7200.

To contest a fire inspection bill, call (510) 981-5585. Contested bills will be reviewed by the Fire Prevention Division.