Skip to main content
PermitBase

Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm Permit (issued by Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District) in Show Low, Arizona

The City of Show Low adopts no fire code and issues no fire sprinkler or fire alarm permit of its own. Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040 ('The Building Codes of the City of Show Low') adopts the 2018 International Building Code, 2018 International Residential Code, 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 International Mechanical Code, 2018 International Plumbing Code and 2017 National Electrical Code — with no International Fire Code among them — and every current City permit application cover sheet directs applicants elsewhere for fire code: 'Fire Code Contact Timber Mesa Fire & Medical District at (928) 537-5100.' Fire code adoption and enforcement, fire protection system plan review, fire construction permits and fire inspections inside Show Low city limits are performed by the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District (TMFMD), an independent special district at 3561 E. Deuce of Clubs, Show Low, AZ 85901, (928) 537-5100, which adopts and enforces its own International Fire Code with local amendments. Fire sprinkler, fire alarm, CO2 and kitchen hood suppression plans are filed with the City of Show Low Building Department, and the same application plus one electronic plan set is filed separately with the District's Fire Prevention and Life Safety Division. The District states plainly that any associated plan review or inspection/permit fees are invoiced by the District and paid directly to the District — they are NOT City of Show Low fees and do not appear on any City fee schedule.

Reviewed 2026-08-15 · Source

When you need this permit

  • The City of Show Low adopts NO fire code: Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040 enumerates only the IBC, IRC, IFGC, IMC, IPC and NEC (read in full; the International Fire Code is absent from the list). Fire code jurisdiction therefore sits with the fire district, not the City.
  • City of Show Low Commercial Permit Application, 'City of Show Low Building Codes and Standards' block (read from a 200 dpi page render of page 2 of the 21-page PDF): 'Fire Code Contact Timber Mesa Fire & Medical District at (928) 537-5100.' The same line appears on the City's Residential, Solar and Addition permit applications.
  • TMFMD adopts and enforces the International Fire Code with its own local amendments (District Fire Code page); the amendment document currently published by the District is '2018 IFC Amendments and Recommendations — Adopted 9-26-2022'.
  • SUBMITTAL ROUTE (District Plan Review Procedures page, City of Show Low section): submit all construction plans to the City of Show Low Building Department as required; submit the appropriate District application and one set of electronic plans (PDF) or a file-download link for fire plan review to the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District Fire Prevention and Life Safety Division, (928) 537-5100. Once reviewed, plans are delivered back to the City of Show Low Building Department for pickup.
  • The District states: 'All fire sprinkler, fire alarm system, CO2 system, and kitchen hood suppression system plans are to be submitted to the City of Show Low Building Department,' with the appropriate District application and one electronic plan set submitted separately to the District.
  • The District states: 'Any associated plan review or inspection/permit fees will be invoiced by the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District and paid directly to the District' — a separate process from the jurisdictions the District serves (Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Navajo County).
  • SPRINKLER SUBMITTAL MINIMUMS (District Fire Sprinkler System Installation or Modification Permit Application): 2 hard-copy sets signed and stamped by a NICET III or IV or an Arizona Design Professional, or 1 PDF copy on digital media; hydraulic calculations (PDF); product specifications (PDF with specific products highlighted or indicated); and the City or County building permit number, which is REQUIRED. Review will not be completed until all required information is provided.
  • SPRINKLER SMALL-PROJECT RULE: any addition/modification involving fewer than 21 sprinkler heads on an EXISTING NFPA 13/13R/13D/combination system does not require a complete plan submittal provided a completed permit application, a check for the appropriate fee, and a letter from the Arizona-licensed fire sprinkler contractor addressing hydraulic sufficiency, remote-area impact, exact head count and reason, work schedule, and code compliance are provided. Paint booths, pipe-schedule designed systems and other special-application sprinkler systems always require a complete plan submittal, no exceptions, and there is a limit of ONE 'less than 21 sprinkler head' construction permit per sprinkler system without a complete plan submittal.
  • FIRE PROTECTION UNDERGROUND: fire lines shall be visible during hydrostatic testing; center loading of the pipe is acceptable but all joints, valves, thrust blocks and fittings must be visible. The District's fire line inspection covers supply piping from inside/outside the building(s) to the point of connection to the supply water main at the street or the water main loop, plus piping to a remote FDC where installed.
  • FIRE ALARM SUBMITTAL: all plans and specifications for fire alarm systems must be sealed by an Arizona design professional qualified in fire alarm system design or by a NICET/CSA level III or higher; shop drawings, floor plans, riser diagrams and battery/voltage-drop calculations per NFPA 72 are required. Plans must be reviewed and approved with a permit issued and on site prior to work beginning, and contractors must be licensed by the State of Arizona to perform the work. Contractor
  • INSPECTION SCHEDULING (District Inspections page): any construction-phase inspection by the fire district must be requested a minimum of 48 business hours in advance, and approved plans bearing the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District stamp must be on the job site — no inspections or tests will be conducted without them, and their absence results in a reinspection fee. If a contractor is not ready, the inspection must be cancelled at least two (2) hours before the scheduled time or a reinspection fee may apply.
  • The City's own Commercial Permit Application pre-submittal checklist separately lists 'Fire sprinklers and types', 'Fire alarm' and 'Location to the nearest fire hydrant(s)' among the items required in a commercial plan submittal — the City collects the information, but the fire review, permit and fees are the District's.

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Not ready yet — 0 of 3 required documents checked.

This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our checklist will assemble all of them, free →

Fee schedule

DISTRICT FEE (not a City of Show Low fee) — Fire Alarm & Detection System Plan Review & Inspections, new installation under 5,000 sq. ft.Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District 'Fire Code Plan Reviews and Permits' fee schedule, page 1, first table block, Revised 04-2017. Read from a 200 dpi PNG render of page 1 — the pdftotext extraction of this table paired labels with the wrong values and was discarded. Invoiced by and paid directly to the District.
$350
DISTRICT FEE — Fire Alarm & Detection System, new installation 5,001 sq. ft. and overTMFMD fee schedule page 1 (read from render), Revised 04-2017
$400 + $.005 per sq. ft.
DISTRICT FEE — Fire alarm modification (including tenant improvement)TMFMD fee schedule page 1, 'Modifications' rows under FIRE ALARM & DETECTION SYSTEM (read from render), Revised 04-2017
$100 for 1–6 devices; $150 for 7 or more devices
DISTRICT FEE — Automatic Fire Sprinkler System Plan Review & Inspections, new commercial installationTMFMD fee schedule page 1, AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM block (read from render), Revised 04-2017
$350 under 5,000 sq. ft.; $400 + $.005 per sq. ft. for 5,001 sq. ft. or more
DISTRICT FEE — Automatic fire sprinkler system modificationTMFMD fee schedule page 1, 'Modifications' rows under AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM (read from render), Revised 04-2017
$100 for 1–50 sprinklers; $150 for 51 or more sprinklers
DISTRICT FEE — Automatic Fire Sprinkler System (NFPA 13D/R/M residential) Plan Review & InspectionsTMFMD fee schedule page 1, residential sprinkler block (read from render), Revised 04-2017. NOTE: the pdftotext extraction of this exact block mis-paired these two values (showing $100 against 'New Residential Installation' and $300 against 'Modifications/Additions') — the page render is the authority.
$200 new residential installation; $100 modifications/additions
DISTRICT FEE — Alternative fire-extinguishing system plan review & inspectionsTMFMD fee schedule page 1 (read from render), Revised 04-2017
$300 new installation (foam, CO2, clean agent, chemical, etc.); $250 new installation commercial cooking (hood) single system
DISTRICT FEE — Fire pump, new installation and modifiedTMFMD fee schedule page 1 (read from render), Revised 04-2017
$450
DISTRICT FEE — Commercial Development Plan (new and remodel projects)TMFMD fee schedule page 1 (read from render), Revised 04-2017 — the District's general commercial fire plan review fee, which runs alongside the system-specific sprinkler/alarm fees
$350 for buildings up to 99,999 sq. ft.; $600 over 100,000 up to 249,999 sq. ft.; $1,200 over 250,000 sq. ft.
DISTRICT FEE — Re-inspection fee (after two inspections)TMFMD fee schedule page 2, OTHER FIRE CODE FEES (read from a 200 dpi render), Revised 04-2017. CONFLICT RECORDED, NOT RESOLVED: the District's own Fire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm permit-application web pages each state that if additional inspections become necessary they are billed at $150.00 per inspection. Both figures are as published; no District document located reconciles them, so confirm the applicable charge with the Fire Prevention and Life Safety Division.
$100
DISTRICT FEE — Expedited plan review (based on staff availability)TMFMD fee schedule page 2 (read from render); the same row states normal review time is 10 business days
$200 in addition to base fee
DISTRICT FEE — Violation feesTMFMD fee schedule page 2, VIOLATION FEES (read from render), Revised 04-2017
$150 no approved plans on site or failure to attend a scheduled inspection (15 minute wait time); $150 failure to install per approved plans; $250 failure to pre-test fire protection systems for acceptance

Review timeline

Plan reviewShow Low’s published plan-review target
10–10 business days

How long did your Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm Permit (issued by Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District) permit actually take in Show Low?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Fire Protection Underground (fire line hydrostatic test)

    Fire lines must be visible during hydrostatic testing; all joints, valves, thrust blocks and fittings visible. Covers supply piping from the building to the point of connection at the street main or water main loop, and to a remote FDC where installed.

  2. 2

    Fire Sprinkler Rough-In / 200# Test / Insulation

    Counts as one of the two inspections included in the District's sprinkler plan review fee

  3. 3

    Fire Alarm Rough Wire

    Counts as one of the two inspections included in the District's fire alarm plan review fee

  4. 4

    Fire Sprinkler Final Flow Inspection

    Second of the two inspections included in the District's sprinkler plan review fee; the contractor is responsible for pre-testing the system before scheduling

  5. 5

    Fire Alarm Final Acceptance Testing

    Second of the two inspections included in the District's fire alarm plan review fee; the District conducts final inspections of fire protection systems prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy by the City Building Department

See the full Show Low inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Show Low itself adopts no fire code — § 18.05.040 lists the IBC, IRC, IFGC, IMC, IPC and NEC and stops there. There is no City fire permit and no City fire fee line: none of the three fee schedules linked from the City's Fee Schedules page carries one, and none of the City's published permit applications (Accessory, Commercial, Fence, Short Term Rental Registration, Plumbing, Sign, Shed, Solar, Additions, Manufactured Home, Water/Sewer Connection, Residential) is a fire permit.
  • Every fee in this entry is a Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District fee, invoiced by and payable to the District — additional to, and entirely separate from, the City's valuation-based Building Permit Fee and Plan Review Fee.
  • The District's plan review fee includes two (2) inspections and approved revisions during construction; plans resubmitted or revised for a 3rd time are treated as a new submittal and subject to applicable fees. The Fire Marshal may require third-party review of any submitted plans at the developer's expense, and may waive fees at his discretion.
  • The City building permit number is a REQUIRED field on the District's fire sprinkler application — pull the City permit first, or the District review will not be completed.
  • Approved plans must carry the TMFMD stamp and be on the job site; the District will not conduct an inspection or test without them and will charge a reinspection fee.

Frequently asked questions

Show Low requires a fire sprinkler / fire alarm permit (issued by timber mesa fire and medical district) for: The City of Show Low adopts NO fire code: Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040 enumerates only the IBC, IRC, IFGC, IMC, IPC and NEC (read in full; the International Fire Code is absent from the list). Fire code jurisdiction therefore sits with the fire district, not the City.; City of Show Low Commercial Permit Application, 'City of Show Low Building Codes and Standards' block (read from a 200 dpi page render of page 2 of the 21-page PDF): 'Fire Code Contact Timber Mesa Fire & Medical District at (928) 537-5100.' The same line appears on the City's Residential, Solar and Addition permit applications.; TMFMD adopts and enforces the International Fire Code with its own local amendments (District Fire Code page); the amendment document currently published by the District is '2018 IFC Amendments and Recommendations — Adopted 9-26-2022'.; SUBMITTAL ROUTE (District Plan Review Procedures page, City of Show Low section): submit all construction plans to the City of Show Low Building Department as required; submit the appropriate District application and one set of electronic plans (PDF) or a file-download link for fire plan review to the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District Fire Prevention and Life Safety Division, (928) 537-5100. Once reviewed, plans are delivered back to the City of Show Low Building Department for pickup.; The District states: 'All fire sprinkler, fire alarm system, CO2 system, and kitchen hood suppression system plans are to be submitted to the City of Show Low Building Department,' with the appropriate District application and one electronic plan set submitted separately to the District.; The District states: 'Any associated plan review or inspection/permit fees will be invoiced by the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District and paid directly to the District' — a separate process from the jurisdictions the District serves (Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Navajo County).; SPRINKLER SUBMITTAL MINIMUMS (District Fire Sprinkler System Installation or Modification Permit Application): 2 hard-copy sets signed and stamped by a NICET III or IV or an Arizona Design Professional, or 1 PDF copy on digital media; hydraulic calculations (PDF); product specifications (PDF with specific products highlighted or indicated); and the City or County building permit number, which is REQUIRED. Review will not be completed until all required information is provided.; SPRINKLER SMALL-PROJECT RULE: any addition/modification involving fewer than 21 sprinkler heads on an EXISTING NFPA 13/13R/13D/combination system does not require a complete plan submittal provided a completed permit application, a check for the appropriate fee, and a letter from the Arizona-licensed fire sprinkler contractor addressing hydraulic sufficiency, remote-area impact, exact head count and reason, work schedule, and code compliance are provided. Paint booths, pipe-schedule designed systems and other special-application sprinkler systems always require a complete plan submittal, no exceptions, and there is a limit of ONE 'less than 21 sprinkler head' construction permit per sprinkler system without a complete plan submittal.; FIRE PROTECTION UNDERGROUND: fire lines shall be visible during hydrostatic testing; center loading of the pipe is acceptable but all joints, valves, thrust blocks and fittings must be visible. The District's fire line inspection covers supply piping from inside/outside the building(s) to the point of connection to the supply water main at the street or the water main loop, plus piping to a remote FDC where installed.; FIRE ALARM SUBMITTAL: all plans and specifications for fire alarm systems must be sealed by an Arizona design professional qualified in fire alarm system design or by a NICET/CSA level III or higher; shop drawings, floor plans, riser diagrams and battery/voltage-drop calculations per NFPA 72 are required. Plans must be reviewed and approved with a permit issued and on site prior to work beginning, and contractors must be licensed by the State of Arizona to perform the work.; INSPECTION SCHEDULING (District Inspections page): any construction-phase inspection by the fire district must be requested a minimum of 48 business hours in advance, and approved plans bearing the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District stamp must be on the job site — no inspections or tests will be conducted without them, and their absence results in a reinspection fee. If a contractor is not ready, the inspection must be cancelled at least two (2) hours before the scheduled time or a reinspection fee may apply.; The City's own Commercial Permit Application pre-submittal checklist separately lists 'Fire sprinklers and types', 'Fire alarm' and 'Location to the nearest fire hydrant(s)' among the items required in a commercial plan submittal — the City collects the information, but the fire review, permit and fees are the District's.. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Show Low Building Safety Department at 928-532-4053 before starting work.

Per the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District fee schedule (Revised 04-2017), a new commercial automatic sprinkler installation is $350 under 5,000 sq. ft. or $400 plus $.005 per sq. ft. at 5,001 sq. ft. and above; a modification is $100 for 1–50 sprinklers or $150 for 51 or more; a new NFPA 13D/R/M residential installation is $200 and residential modifications/additions are $100. These are District fees paid directly to the District, not City of Show Low fees, and each plan review fee includes two inspections.

Show Low's published plan-review target for a fire sprinkler / fire alarm permit (issued by timber mesa fire and medical district) is 10–10 business days.

You'll need: Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District — Fire Sprinkler System Installation or Modification Permit Application; Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District — Fire Alarm System Installation or Modification Permit Application; City of Show Low Commercial Permit Application. Depending on your project, Show Low may also ask for: Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District — Commercial Hood System / Suppression System or Modification Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Show Low requires 5 inspection(s) for a fire sprinkler / fire alarm permit (issued by timber mesa fire and medical district), in order: Fire Protection Underground (fire line hydrostatic test), Fire Sprinkler Rough-In / 200# Test / Insulation, Fire Alarm Rough Wire, Fire Sprinkler Final Flow Inspection, Fire Alarm Final Acceptance Testing. Schedule each through City of Show Low Building Safety Department (928-532-4053).

Apply through City of Show Low Building Safety Department at 180 N. 9th Street, Show Low, AZ 85901. Phone: 928-532-4053, email: jwilhelm@showlowaz.gov. Office hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (or by appointment), per the City of Show Low Building Safety page. The general Permits & Applications page separately lists City Hall hours as Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (excluding holidays), and appointments are recommended (928-532-4050). The Inspection Line (928-532-4055) requires inspections to be called in 24 hours in advance; as of October 1, 2024, the cutoff for next-day inspections is 3:00 p.m. (previously 5:00 p.m.) — requests after 3:00 p.m. are scheduled two business days out.. Official information: https://www.showlowaz.gov/o/cosl/page/building-safety.

Show Low, Arizona has adopted: Arizona has NO statewide mandatory building code floor for general construction — code adoption is a per-city/county authority under state enabling statutes (A.R.S. Title 9). The City of Show Low independently adopts and administers its own construction codes through its Building Safety Department; it does not defer permitting to Navajo County. Source: City of Show Low Municipal Code Title 18, Chapter 18.05 (Building Codes), showlow.municipal.codes/Code/18.05.040.; 2018 International Building Code (IBC), together with its appendices and supplements, published by the International Code Council, adopted by reference (Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040). Source: City of Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040.; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, published by the International Code Council, adopted by reference, with Chapter 11 (Energy Efficiency) specifically excluded from adoption (Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040). Source: City of Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040.; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted by reference (Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040). Source: City of Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040; confirmed current on the City's live 'Show Low Codes & Standards' page (showlowaz.gov, page last updated 7/8/2021) and on the City's 2025/2026 permit application cover sheets (Residential, Commercial, Solar, Addition applications).; 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted by reference (Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040). Source: City of Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040.; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted by reference (Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040). Source: City of Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040.; 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), published by the National Fire Protection Association, adopted by reference (Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040) — one edition behind the 2018 ICC family set. Source: City of Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040; confirmed current on the City's live 'Show Low Codes & Standards' page and 2025/2026 permit application cover sheets.; Fire Code: Show Low does not administer its own fire code — fire code jurisdiction and inspections are handled by Timber Mesa Fire & Medical District (928-537-5100), per every current City of Show Low building permit application cover sheet (Residential, Commercial, Solar, Addition). Source: City of Show Low permit application cover sheets, current as of 2025-2026 revisions.; ADA Accessibility: American National Standard ADA Accessibility Guidelines (2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design) are adopted and required for new construction and alterations. Arizonans with Disabilities Act standards (A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 9, Article 8) and implementing rules, declared a public record by City of Show Low Resolution No. 772, are adopted as an amendment to the IBC for both public entities and public accommodations/commercial facilities (applying to new construction and alterations commenced after September 3, 1996). Source: City of Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040.; Future code editions: when the City Council adopts a newer edition of the International Codes by resolution, either the most recent or the immediately previous edition may be used for building design for 12 months after adoption; the two editions' provisions may not be intermingled in a single building's design, and after 12 months only the newest adopted edition applies. Source: City of Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.040.; Manufactured/mobile homes: as of March 28, 2025, the City of Show Low no longer issues manufactured home or factory-built building placement permits; both a City of Show Low Building Permit and a State of Arizona Manufactured Home Installation Permit (Arizona Department of Housing, Office of Manufactured Housing) are required for any manufactured home work still processed by the City. Manufactured/mobile homes must display a HUD compliance decal dated within 10 years of the building-permit application (or successor HUD standard), per City of Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.050. Source: City of Show Low City Permits & Applications page (showlowaz.gov/o/cosl/page/city-permits-and-applications); City of Show Low Municipal Code § 18.05.050.. Local amendments apply — see the Show Low overview page for the full list.

The Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District, not the City. The City of Show Low adopts no fire code (Municipal Code § 18.05.040 lists the IBC, IRC, IFGC, IMC, IPC and NEC only) and its permit applications direct applicants to 'Contact Timber Mesa Fire & Medical District at (928) 537-5100' for fire code. Sprinkler and alarm plans are filed with the City Building Department, and the District application plus one electronic plan set is filed with the District's Fire Prevention and Life Safety Division; the District invoices and collects its own plan review and inspection fees directly.

Sources & verification

Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-15.

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Show Low building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

Other permits in Show Low

Residential Building Permit (New Construction)Residential Addition / Remodel PermitElectrical / Plumbing / Mechanical Like-for-Like Replacement PermitResidential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) PermitEV Charger / EVSE PermitCommercial Building PermitComplimentary Fence PermitShed / Accessory Structure PermitSign PermitChange of Use / Certificate of Compliance

Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm Permit (issued by Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District) in other cities

Apache Junction, ArizonaBenson, ArizonaBisbee, ArizonaBuckeye, ArizonaBullhead City, ArizonaCamp Verde, ArizonaCarefree, ArizonaCasa Grande, Arizona

Compare fire sprinkler / fire alarm permit (issued by timber mesa fire and medical district) fees across Arizona →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Now live

Build your Show Low project checklist

Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Show Low — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.

Get started →