Fire protection system.
Columbus City Codes § 4113.75
in effect4113.75 - Fire protection system.
A. No person shall construct, install, alter or repair any fire protection system or fire suppression system in any building within the city without first obtaining a permit from the department to do such work and paying the fee prescribed therefor in the fee schedule; nor shall the owner or person having charge of any property within the city cause or allow any such work to be done on such premises without a permit having been first obtained therefor and the fee having been paid Upon proper application therefor, a fire protection permit for a fire alarm and detection equipment and/or fire protection system shall only be issued to an Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Licensing and Certification certified company that is duly registered with the department.
Exception: A fire protection permit may be issued to a person not certified by the Ohio Division of State Fire Marshall Bureau of Licensing and Certification. However, such person shall not be engaged in the business of servicing testing, repairing, or installing fire protection or fire fighting equipment for profit as stipulated in Section 1301:7-7-09 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC).
B. (a)
Fire protection system permits shall be required as follows:
(1) Residential Dwelling Units. Unless covered under a blanket residential permit issued under C.C. 4113.41 or an electrical permit issued under C.C. 4113.73, one fire protection system permit fee shall be required for each dwelling unit of an R-2, R-3 or R-4 use group.
Exemption: Except as required by C.C. 4113.75(B)(c), a low-voltage fire detection and alarm system installed in a residential building of an R-4 use group shall be exempt from the provisions of this section A battery-powered, automatic, household, fire-warning device in a residential building of an R-4 use group shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
(2) Other Than Residential Dwelling Units. For all other buildings not included in subsection (B)(a)(1) above a separate fire protection system permit fee shall be required for each certified address.
(b) The minimum fee for a fire protection system permit shall be as prescribed in the fee schedule.
(c) Fire Protection Permit—Fire Detection and Alarm System.
(1) A fire protection permit shall be required for a fire detection and alarm system as follows Fire detection and alarm systems include both line voltage (over 49 volts) and low voltage (49 volts or less) systems.
The fee calculation shall be based on a charge for each unit of the system, including but not limited to, outlets, detectors, alarms, horns, audible signaling appliances, loudspeakers and manual fire alarm boxes, or a minimum fee, whichever is greater.
Only a licensed electrical contractor shall be issued a permit to install a line voltage system.
All line voltage connections of a low voltage system shall be by an OCIEB licensed electrical contractor duly registered with the department, and shall require an electrical permit.
(2) The fire protection permit fee for a fire detection and alarm system shall be as prescribed in the fee schedule
(d) Fire Protection Permit—Automatic Fire Suppression System.
(1) A fire protection permit shall be required for an automatic fire suppression system and the fee therefor shall be as prescribed in the fee schedule.
No permit or fee shall be required for a portable fire extinguisher.
(2) Fire protection permit fees for automatic fire suppression systems shall be as prescribed in the fee schedule.
Miscellaneous Permits and Fees Required
(Ord. 1483-97 § 2 (part); Ord. 1669-01 § 23; Ord. No. 1443-2009, § 7, 11-16-2009)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT41BUCO_CH4113PEFE_4113.75FIPRSYFetched: 10/27/2026