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Fire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm Permit in Westminster, Colorado

Separate permits issued by the Westminster Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau for new fire sprinkler systems (NFPA 13, 13R, 13D — 2019 edition) and fire alarm systems (NFPA 72 — 2019 edition) and their modifications, under the City's adopted 2021 International Fire Code with local amendments. Required before the City's Building Department will issue the associated building permit; deferred submittals are not accepted.

Verified 2026-08-14 · Source

When you need this permit

  • The City of Westminster does not allow deferred fire permits — all required fire system permits must be approved before the Building Department will issue a building permit; the Building Division has also confirmed fire suppression and fire alarm permits are no longer accepted as deferred submittals
  • Fire sprinkler plans must be reviewed and sealed by at least a NICET III (Water Based Systems) Technician or a Colorado-registered Professional Engineer; fire alarm plans require at least a NICET III (Fire Alarm) Technician or Colorado PE
  • Fire sprinkler drawings must include all relevant items from NFPA 13-2019 §27.1.3 and/or NFPA 13R-2019 §8.1.7; fire alarm plans must contain all relevant items from NFPA 72-2019, Chapter 7
  • A 10% safety factor (from static/residual pressure) is required for NFPA 13 and 13R systems; a 5% safety factor is required for NFPA 13D systems, per IFC (2021) 903.3.1.3 as amended by the City
  • A separate fire permit is required for the underground fire line for NFPA 13 and 13R systems, in addition to the sprinkler system permit itself
  • A scope-of-work letter may be submitted in lieu of full shop drawings for qualifying modifications to existing systems (sprinkler: ≤20 heads impacted; alarm: ≤10 devices impacted), each subject to detailed eligibility criteria and required to be stamped by a NICET III technician or Colorado PE
  • Permanent, weatherproof FDC/FACP/Fire Sprinkler Riser Room identification signage is required: white letters on a red background, minimum 4-inch-tall letters with a 1/2-inch stroke, per City amendment to IFC 509.1
  • City of Westminster IFC amendments apply, including 901.4.7.5 (sprinkler riser/pump rooms at grade, accessible from outside), 903.1.2 (anti-freeze systems must be listed), 903.3.2.1 (residential sprinkler heads prohibited in light-hazard occupancies), and 905.3.1/905.3.9 standpipe exceptions
  • Expedited (48-hour, Monday-Friday) review is available based on current workload, at a fee of two times the standard plan review fee
  • A hydro test is required for all fire sprinkler modifications exceeding 20 heads or any brand-new system installation, at the discretion of the AHJ

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Fire Department Construction Permits (sprinkler/alarm systems)Assessed under the same valuation-based Building Division Fee Schedule used for building permits generally, per the City's Fees page ('Construction permits: Based on valuation and assessed in accordance with the building permit fee schedule') and Fee Schedule PDF (V3-2026)
Per Fee Schedule
Fire Department Operational Permits, per eventApplies to operational (not construction) fire permits; City of Westminster Fee Schedule / Fees page
$100.00
Expedited Plan ReviewOptional 48-hour (Mon-Fri) expedited review, subject to current Fire Prevention Bureau workload
2x the standard plan review fee

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Fire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm Permit permit actually take in Westminster?

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Inspection process

  1. 1

    Rough Wiring/Piping Inspection

    Fire alarm rough wiring is inspected by the City's electrical inspector (scheduled via eTRAKiT, standalone or with the overhead electrical inspection); sprinkler systems must be pretested by the contractor before the fire inspector arrives

  2. 2

    Underground Fire Line Flush

    Required for new underground fire line installations; a Westminster Fire Inspector must be present for the super flush, per NFPA 24

  3. 3

    Hydro Test

    Required for fire sprinkler modifications exceeding 20 heads or any new system installation, at AHJ discretion

  4. 4

    Final Inspection

    Conducted by a Westminster Fire Department Inspector; as-built drawings must be uploaded prior to this inspection or the inspection will result in a partial pass

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

Tips

  • A joint inspection is preferred when a project has multiple related fire permits (e.g., sprinkler and alarm) — request them together through eTRAKiT rather than separately.
  • Deferred fire permit submittals are not allowed in Westminster — all fire sprinkler/alarm permits must be approved before the City will issue the associated building permit, so submit fire system plans early in the project timeline.
  • The underground fire line for NFPA 13/13R systems needs its own separate fire permit, distinct from the sprinkler system permit itself — budget for both.

Frequently asked questions

Westminster requires a fire sprinkler & fire alarm permit for: The City of Westminster does not allow deferred fire permits — all required fire system permits must be approved before the Building Department will issue a building permit; the Building Division has also confirmed fire suppression and fire alarm permits are no longer accepted as deferred submittals; Fire sprinkler plans must be reviewed and sealed by at least a NICET III (Water Based Systems) Technician or a Colorado-registered Professional Engineer; fire alarm plans require at least a NICET III (Fire Alarm) Technician or Colorado PE; Fire sprinkler drawings must include all relevant items from NFPA 13-2019 §27.1.3 and/or NFPA 13R-2019 §8.1.7; fire alarm plans must contain all relevant items from NFPA 72-2019, Chapter 7; A 10% safety factor (from static/residual pressure) is required for NFPA 13 and 13R systems; a 5% safety factor is required for NFPA 13D systems, per IFC (2021) 903.3.1.3 as amended by the City; A separate fire permit is required for the underground fire line for NFPA 13 and 13R systems, in addition to the sprinkler system permit itself; A scope-of-work letter may be submitted in lieu of full shop drawings for qualifying modifications to existing systems (sprinkler: ≤20 heads impacted; alarm: ≤10 devices impacted), each subject to detailed eligibility criteria and required to be stamped by a NICET III technician or Colorado PE; Permanent, weatherproof FDC/FACP/Fire Sprinkler Riser Room identification signage is required: white letters on a red background, minimum 4-inch-tall letters with a 1/2-inch stroke, per City amendment to IFC 509.1; City of Westminster IFC amendments apply, including 901.4.7.5 (sprinkler riser/pump rooms at grade, accessible from outside), 903.1.2 (anti-freeze systems must be listed), 903.3.2.1 (residential sprinkler heads prohibited in light-hazard occupancies), and 905.3.1/905.3.9 standpipe exceptions; Expedited (48-hour, Monday-Friday) review is available based on current workload, at a fee of two times the standard plan review fee; A hydro test is required for all fire sprinkler modifications exceeding 20 heads or any brand-new system installation, at the discretion of the AHJ. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Westminster — Department of Community Development, Building Division at 303-658-2075 before starting work.

In Westminster, the published Fire Department Construction Permits (sprinkler/alarm systems) is: Per Fee Schedule. Additional published fees: Fire Department Operational Permits, per event — $100.00; Expedited Plan Review — 2x the standard plan review fee. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Westminster does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Westminster — Department of Community Development, Building Division at 303-658-2075 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm Permit Application (eTRAKiT); Stamped Shop Drawings; Product Data Sheets; Record of Completion / Contractor's Material and Test Certificate. Depending on your project, Westminster may also ask for: Scope of Work Letter. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Westminster requires 4 inspection(s) for a fire sprinkler & fire alarm permit, in order: Rough Wiring/Piping Inspection, Underground Fire Line Flush, Hydro Test, Final Inspection. Schedule each through City of Westminster — Department of Community Development, Building Division (303-658-2075).

Apply through City of Westminster — Department of Community Development, Building Division at 4800 W. 92nd Avenue, Westminster, CO 80031. Phone: 303-658-2075, email: permits@westminsterco.gov. Office hours: Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (front office); residential permit review walk-through times: Tuesdays 1–4:30 p.m. and Thursdays 9 a.m.–noon; all permits must be applied for online via eTRAKiT. Official information: https://www.westminsterco.gov/621/Building-Division.

No. The City of Westminster does not allow deferred fire permits — all required fire system permits must be approved before the Building Department will issue the associated building permit.

At minimum a NICET III technician (Water Based Systems for sprinkler plans, Fire Alarm Engineering for alarm plans) or a Professional Engineer registered in Colorado in a related field.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-14.

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 Westminster building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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