Fire Sprinkler & Alarm Permit in Poncha Springs, Colorado

Poncha Springs requires a fire sprinkler & alarm permit for: CCFPD's own Fire Alarm, Suppression, and Commercial Kitchen Hoods page, verbatim: 'Chaffee County Fire Prevention Division treats fire suppression (sprinkler) and fire alarm plan reviews as separate and distinct from other plan reviews, meaning there are separate processes and fees.'; Fire Alarm Reviews (verbatim): 'The Fire Prevention Division conducts all stages of fire alarm system reviews, including a plan review, rough-in inspection, and final acceptance. Alarm plans must be stamped by a NICET level 3, and install must be completed by a NICET level 2 or higher. Credentials may be requested for our examination during our on-site inspections. IFC 2021 and NFPA 72 are the applicable codes.'; Sprinkler System Reviews (verbatim, CONFIRMED ABSENCE of local review): 'The Fire Prevention Division does not currently offer sprinkler system plan reviews, or on site acceptance testing. If a sprinkler system is required, the builder/designer needs to reach out to the State of Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) for plan review and testing, or alternatively can hire a state certified third party contractor to perform this role.'; Commercial Kitchen Hoods: CCFPD does offer acceptance testing (separate from the fire alarm process), but a plan review is not required if a pre-engineered and listed hood system is used; Per CCFPD's Plan Reviews page, fire-related plan review is also triggered by 'a change of use e.g. from a residence to a restaurant' — relevant where a Poncha Springs change-of-use project involves a fire alarm or suppression system; The applicable fire code is generally the 2021 International Fire Code (per County Ordinance 2023-02, with local amendments available from the Chaffee County Clerk), though CCFPD's own site notes this can differ by project. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Two-agency split: Town of Poncha Springs (Town Zoning Criteria review, Town Building Permit Coversheet, Town Building/Utility fees, and 2% Building Construction Materials Use Tax, first step) + Chaffee County Building Safety Department (I-Code plan review, permit issuance, fees, and inspections, second step) at Town of Poncha Springs: 719-539-6882 (after-hours/on-call: 719-207-2293; fax 719-539-6898). Chaffee County Building Safety Department: 719-539-2124 (Option 1 for inspections, Option 2 for applications/fees); fax 719-530-9208 before starting work.

Chaffee County Fire Protection District bills fire alarm system plan review by device count: $150 for 10 or fewer devices, $200 for 11-20 devices, $250 for 21-50 devices, and $300 plus $5 per additional device above 50. This fee covers plan review, permit issuance, a rough-in inspection, and a final acceptance test.

Poncha Springs does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Two-agency split: Town of Poncha Springs (Town Zoning Criteria review, Town Building Permit Coversheet, Town Building/Utility fees, and 2% Building Construction Materials Use Tax, first step) + Chaffee County Building Safety Department (I-Code plan review, permit issuance, fees, and inspections, second step) at Town of Poncha Springs: 719-539-6882 (after-hours/on-call: 719-207-2293; fax 719-539-6898). Chaffee County Building Safety Department: 719-539-2124 (Option 1 for inspections, Option 2 for applications/fees); fax 719-530-9208 for current turnaround.

You'll need: CCFPD Fire Alarm System Plan Review Submittal. Depending on your project, Poncha Springs may also ask for: Colorado DFPC Sprinkler Plan Review Submittal (sprinkler systems only). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Poncha Springs requires 2 inspection(s) for a fire sprinkler & alarm permit, in order: Fire Alarm Rough-In Inspection, Fire Alarm Final Acceptance Test. Schedule each through Two-agency split: Town of Poncha Springs (Town Zoning Criteria review, Town Building Permit Coversheet, Town Building/Utility fees, and 2% Building Construction Materials Use Tax, first step) + Chaffee County Building Safety Department (I-Code plan review, permit issuance, fees, and inspections, second step) (Town of Poncha Springs: 719-539-6882 (after-hours/on-call: 719-207-2293; fax 719-539-6898). Chaffee County Building Safety Department: 719-539-2124 (Option 1 for inspections, Option 2 for applications/fees); fax 719-530-9208).

Apply through Two-agency split: Town of Poncha Springs (Town Zoning Criteria review, Town Building Permit Coversheet, Town Building/Utility fees, and 2% Building Construction Materials Use Tax, first step) + Chaffee County Building Safety Department (I-Code plan review, permit issuance, fees, and inspections, second step) at Town of Poncha Springs Town Hall: 333 Burnett Avenue, PO Box 190, Poncha Springs, CO 81242. Chaffee County Building Safety Department: 104 Crestone Ave., Room 125 (2nd Floor), Salida, CO 81201 (mailing: P.O. Box 699, Salida, CO 81201). Phone: Town of Poncha Springs: 719-539-6882 (after-hours/on-call: 719-207-2293; fax 719-539-6898). Chaffee County Building Safety Department: 719-539-2124 (Option 1 for inspections, Option 2 for applications/fees); fax 719-530-9208, email: Town of Poncha Springs: mail@ponchasprings.us. Chaffee County Building Safety Department: bdepartment@chaffeecounty.org (electronic plan submittals: eplans@chaffeecounty.org). Office hours: Town of Poncha Springs Town Hall: Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Fridays 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., closed weekends and major holidays, per the Town's own site footer. Chaffee County Building Safety Department: operates on a 4-day work week (Monday-Thursday), inspections performed Monday-Thursday excluding federal holidays; inspection requests must arrive by 4:00 p.m. the business day before the desired inspection date.. Official information: https://www.ponchasprings.us/planning-zoning and https://www.chaffeecounty.org/departments/building_department/index.php.

Poncha Springs, Colorado has adopted: 2021 International Building Code (IBC) — enforced county-wide by the Chaffee County Building Safety Department per the County's own Adopted Codes & Design Criteria page; the Town of Poncha Springs' own Land Use Code (Section 6.13.5.9) explicitly confirms IBC compliance is 'administered by the Chaffee County Building Department' for construction within Town limits; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC); 2021 International Fire Code (IFC); 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC); 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); 2023 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70 / NEC) — per Chaffee County Building Safety Department's Adopted Codes & Design Criteria page, the agency that actually issues and enforces electrical permits county-wide including Poncha Springs; 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities — Chaffee County Adopted Codes & Design Criteria page; Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (effective July 1, 2026) — Chaffee County Adopted Codes & Design Criteria page, BOCC Ordinance 2026-02 with local amendments; Colorado Model Electric Ready & Solar Ready Code — Chaffee County Adopted Codes & Design Criteria page; Town of Poncha Springs Land Use Code (adopted December 9, 2013, amended on an ongoing basis, most recently by Ordinance No. 2025-04) — governs zoning districts, setbacks, dimensional standards, ADU eligibility/design standards (Section 6.13), home occupations (Section 6.12), lighting standards (Section 5.15), and site work required before Certificate of Occupancy; reviewed by Town Staff (John Armstrong, Town Planner, per the Town's own Building Permit Coversheet) as the mandatory first step before the County's building-permit review begins; Town of Poncha Springs Ordinance #2008-11 (Building Construction Materials Use Tax) and CRS 29-2-105 — imposes a 2% Town use tax on building materials for any building-permit project, collected as part of the Town's own permit intake process, verified verbatim on the Town's own Exemption Certificate / Use Tax acknowledgment form. Local amendments apply — see the Poncha Springs overview page for the full list.

Not the local fire district. Chaffee County Fire Protection District's Fire Prevention Division does not currently offer sprinkler system plan review or acceptance testing; that work must be submitted to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) or performed by a DFPC-certified third-party contractor hired by the builder or designer.