Fire Marshal's Office & Permits

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The Rochester Fire Marshal team is made up of a Fire Marshal, Assistant Fire Marshals, a Fire Protection Specialist and a Fire Inspector with the following duties:

Public Fire Safety Education. School programs, flyers, fire station open house and other contacts with the public for educational purposes.
Code Enforcement. Adopt and enforce state and local ordinances to make their jurisdiction a safer place to live, work and play.
Fire Inspections. Follow up on complaints, inspect new occupancies and conduct fire and life safety inspections of existing buildings and their contents to reduce hazards.
Fire Investigation. Often called on to conduct fire investigations to determine where a fire started and what caused it. When fires are determined to have been intentionally set, the fire marshal becomes an “expert witness” preparing a case for prosecution.

Permits:

The Rochester Fire Marshal's Office offers online permitting through the Citizen Access portal. Contact us at 507-328-2056 with any questions.

Citizen Access Permit Portal Guides

Making a payment through Citizen Access

Operational Permits:

Submitting an Operating Permit Application [PDF]
Address Entry Guide [PDF]
Document Requirements for Operating Fire Permit Submissions [PDF]
Scheduling an Inspection for your Business [PDF]
What to expect during your inspection [PDF]
Renewing your Operating Permit [PDF]

Fire Prevention Equipment Permits:

Submitting a Fire Construction Permit Application [PDF]
Address Search Guide [PDF]
Document Upload Requirements [PDF]
Fire Constructiont Inspection Scheduling [PDF]
Inspection Type Guidance [PDF]

Construction Permits

Construction Permits are issued to contractors of all new installations, modifications, or repairs of systems and equipment as required under city ordinance and section 105.7 of the fire code.

Area of Refuge
Auto Extinguishing System
Fire Alarm System
Emergency Responder Radio Coverage
Fire Pump
Fire Sprinkler System
Flammable or Combustible Liquid Tanks
Hazardous Materials
Liquefied Propane Tank
Spraying and Dipping Booth
Standpipe System

Application for these permits can be made through Citizen Access Permitting Portal.

Fire Operational Permits

Operational Permits are required under City ordinance and Fire Code for various business activities. Through inspections of properties, these permittable activities are identified for permit issuance. Multiple permit types can be included in one permit that will renew annually.

Some of the permit types required based on business operations can be found here [PDF].

Permit applications are made through Citizen Access permitting portal.

Firework Sales & Pyrotechnic Displays

Fireworks and pyrotechnic displays shall be limited to those intended specifically for public viewing outdoors and as are permitted pursuant to Minn. Stats. § 624.20 and chapter 56 of the fire code. Indoor pyrotechnic displays are permitted only in buildings protected throughout by an approved automatic fire sprinkler system. Public fireworks and pyrotechnic displays require application to the city for approval and in conjunction with a fire department operational permit, as specified in section 8-2-6, prior to conducting the display. Application can be made through the Citizen Access permitting portal.

Sale of Fireworks also requires a permit. Application can also be made through the Citizen Access permitting portal. Should sales occur in a tent or membrane structure, an additional permit would be required. See Temporary Tent and Membrane Structure Permits

Inspections

Mobile Food Unit Permit Application

Open Burning Permits

Open Flame Permits

Temporary Tent and Membrane Structure Permits

Additional Information:

City Ordinance - Fire

FIRE CODE - CURRENT CITY ADOPTED STATE FIRE CODE

The Compliance Engine

The Compliance Engine is a web-based service used by the Fire Marshal's Office to track and maintain code compliance. It is also used to reduce false alarm activity, and provide safer communities through third party inspection reporting and maintenance.

The City of Rochester partnered with Brycer,LLC & The Compliance Engine in April 2014. All compliant & non-compliant fire protection systems and containment backflow assembly test reports are required to be sent to The City of Rochester. These should be sent electronically by your respective testing/maintenance provider via The Compliance Engine's online system.

New User: For an overview of the program, visit The Compliance Engine website and watch the Third Party Inspection Reporting video.
Register for Online Trianing: Online Training is offered twice a week, Wednesday & Friday at 10:00 AM CST
User Login

Contact the Rochester Fire Marshal's Office with questions at 507-328-2056 or by Email.

Rochester, MN

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